Hand Quilting?

I have hand-quilted everything from potholder-size "mug rugs" to king sized bed quilts, and never use a hoop or a frame. I realize that my method is considered heretical by some folks, but there are actually quite a few of us to enjoy "lap quilting" and get rather good results. As to how I go about it -- First, I assemble the sandwich on table or floor, and pin it carefully. Then I get out leftover colored thread and baste rather closely -- stitches about 1" or so. I begin the quilting in the middle of the piece, and remove the basting as I go. If you enjoy quilting by hand, that's great! If not, don't do it! Life is far too short to mess with a technique you don't like. However, before you discard a technique, you owe it to yourself to get some proficiency in it, which will tell you whether your dislike is a real dislike rather than frustration at something new to you.

Oops! You had other questions I neglected. I use "between" needles, ranging from size 7 to 12, depending on my mood at the moment. (The larger the number the smaller the needle.) Some people prefer "sharps". Betweens are more traditional, but sharps work well, too. I tend to thread 6 or more needles all at once and park them on one end of an oblong pincusion, use them one by one, and park the empty needles on the other end of the pincusion. My fingers change size from season to season and even from day to day, so I have a supply of thimbles of various sizes and materials jumbled together in a small ashtray near the pincushion, threads, etc. I prefer 100% cotton "quilting" thread, and like using the Americana brand, which is a wee bit thicker than lots of common cotton thread, and doesn't seem to snarl like other threads do sometimes. Whatever brand you choose, you will probably have better luck with thread labeled as being for hand- quilting. The key is to use 100% cotton thread on 100% cotton material. If you happen to get a thread you really dislike, don't use it! It can become thread for basting, for kids' projects, etc., and can even (gasp!) be thrown away! When you find a thread you really like, go back to the store and stock up!

I use a 14" wooden hoop. I either pin or use a basting gun. If I pin, I take the pins out of the hooped area before I start quilting. That way I'm not so likely to catch my thread on the pins. My favorite thread is Gutermann's hand quilting thread.

Julia > Hello all. Been along time! I was out of touch with this group for quite

Well, gosh, Julia, I could have written exactly the same thing as you! This is exactly what I do, and the same thread, too!

Thread baste your quilt then remove the pins.

I used a large wooden embroidery hoop for my first hand quilting project. I already owned it and saw no reason to buy a quilting hoop just to see if I enjoyed hand quilting. I simply made sure I didn't tighten the outer hoop too tight and stress it so it might break. (Note: I've done embroidery so long that I pretty much know what it takes to break the lightweight embroidery hoops.) It worked so well that I am not likely to buy a quilting hoop until it, and all my other large embroidery hoops, are broken. I have hand issues and don't need to be holding the heavier quilting hoop at all.

When putting a quilt in a hoop it is important not to make everything drum tight. Drum tight will make it hard to quilt and will put undue stress on the hoop. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Mary, I would have written almost the same answers as you gave! I have never used a hoop. I cannot use a traditional thimble, and use a leather one instead, with nothing on my underhand. I cannot lap quilt, but instead use a table under me to provide support, quilting towards myself. The amount of reflection off the needle tells me my stitch size. Good lighting is a must; artificial is oaky if it is the right amount, otherwise natural daylight is best for me. I thread baste and also pin baste if it is not real closely thread-basted.

G> Oops! You had other questions I neglected. I use "between" needles,

Hi Debi! I know lots of people who handquilt with no hoop. It's just a different technique than used when the quilt is held more taut. If you develop your own technique, as long as it works for you and the stitches look nice, that's all that matters! (and that you're having fun). I think you just have to baste it really well though. My sympathies to you with those ##@@@ thread-hanging pins. I'd probably be mad enough to throw the whole thing in the yard by now. I absolutely love Mettler waxed quilting thread; 33% cotton, 87% poly. It quilts like a dream. The thread never breaks, ever and most importantly to me, it NEVER seems to snarl. After using it 1 time, I am an insufferable thread snob now. I use #11 Roxanne betweens. I like them too. The only quilting needle I don't like much so far is Clover. I somehow manage to bend them too easily. Good luck!

Sherry

Howdy!

Use a hoop.

Just because the shop owner doesn't use one doesn't mean you shouldn't.

I handquilted 2 table runners last week. One was long & narrow, I didn't use a hoop because it was a take-along project I was holding close to me, and I wasn't concerned about making my smallest stitches. The other got the hoop treatment (12", round, wood). One way to keep from pulling the smaller pieces out of square, and it makes them easier to hold on to: pin some extra fabric or some thin towels around the outer edges of your quilt sandwich, giving the hoop more surface to grab.

Loosely position your hoop over the quilt, remove the pins within the hoop (and under the edges, don't put the hoop on those pins, it will most likely force that pin to tear a hole in your fabric), then tighten your hoop and start quilting. Needle: the one that feels most comfortable to you. With a thimble & a finger cot. Handquilting thread. One strand. Gütermann handquilting thread is my favorite.

Good luck!

R/Sandy

Okay, I'm not an expert mind you... but if you look at this picture:

you'll see (at the top, as it'smostly finished at this point) TONS of safety pins. I pin every twoinches and then remove the two or three around where I'm working. Yes,I snag the pins once in a while. And no, I don't worry aboutperfection of stitches either. They are what they are. I'm sure thereenough other errors (points not matching for instance -- and do notlook under the buttons to check please) that a variety of stitch sizesaren't going to matter. Plus, well, my stuff is for use. How many people are going to really notice the size/uniformity of your stitches? Sure, a quilter will, but we'll also admire that you finished the project. And anyone rude enough to comment? Well, find a better class of friends.

Quilting is *supposed* to be fun. If you're not having fun, something's wrong. Yes, I've got one of those "attach to table" quilting loops ($50 from Keepsake Quilting though now they sell one you sit on that is similar. However, most of my quilting is done in doctor's offices -- those places are ((brrr)) frigid, so the quilt serves two purposes: keeps me busy, and warm.

Also, see my thimbles (near the top, a couple of leather ones with blue) And, the thread holder? That's a piece of felt/wool with a button sewn at one end to prevent the spool from coming off, though I'm sure a pretty ribbon would be great too. Inside the spool of thread on that felt piece is a spare needle (or two) I attach that to my project and always have it ready. It's rather handy.

Basically, I started at the bottom and worked my way across and up. Main advice: LOTS of safety pins. And too, there is a sense of accomplishment as each pin is removed. I probably had over two hundred pins. (Started pinning at the center and worked my way out)

It worked. Good luck. I suspect that you'll enjoy quilting by hand, especially smaller "take along" projects. You'll meet some of the nicest folks too!

Needle? I use a regular sewing needle (sharp point) -- have bunches, so there you go. For me, I don't see well enough to thread sharps, so I go with the ones that have a bigger eye.

Thread? Coats & Clark glazed 100% cotton quilting thread. I probably would try others at some point, but the budget is pretty tight and what I have works, so that's good enough. I was using wax (those little yellow bees wax things in the clear container they sell at Cloth World/JoAnn's) and also Thread Heaven (for needleworkers, but prevents snarls) -- but the C&C was working fine without it, so!

Hi Debi,

the quilting part of a project is not my favourite but now and then I take a notion to hand quilt the project I'm working on.

I always use a hoop. When I first started hand quilting I didn't and got really frustrated with the distortion that happened. I unpicked many a project before it dawned on me I had to get use to a hoop. (this doesn't happen over night so don't be put off) I have several sizes though the two I use mainly are a 14" round and a 16" square. I need to have it supported so I either sit with my knees up on a poofee and a cushion on my lap or sit at my sewing table and support the hoop on the edge of the table.

If doing an edge I use a piece of practice machine quilting sandwich made of muslin top and bottom and wadding/batting... which I've practiced my machine quilting on. (still not very good at that) I just pin it to the edge I'm working on then put it in the hoop. (you could also tack it if you prefer)

As has already been said on here, don't have it too tight in the hoop.

I like Gutermanns hand quilting thread best though I've used YLI too. Needles I use generally a number 10 between. I don't like clover either as they bend too easily.

Also if you have problems with your hands then a little round rubber disc is handy to pull the needle through tough areas like bulky seams.

There is also a little tool called Aunt Beckie? which is a metal thingy that you use under the quilt to help form those stitches. I haven't used it but I've seen a video demo on QNN and it looked really neat and it did look easy. (But then an expert was showing the method) For those of you in the UK the cotton patch have them. I'm thinking of getting one next time I order.

Oh and I also use a metal thimble but I think I'm going to have to try some other types as these days it doesn't seem to want to sit on my finger and keeps sliding off.

Hope to be of help...... one more thing. Invest in a good hand quilting book. I have a good one but it's up in the loft (another story) at the moment. I think it's by Maurine Noble and is called "Learn to quilt in a day then practice for the rest of your life". (apologies to the author if I've mixed you up with the lady of my machine quilting book) Anyway it has various excersises to get you going and is a very good book. IMO

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Elly

DLW" wrote:

I have started doing some hand quilting. In fact I am hand quilting my Dear Jane quilt (about a fourth done!) When I learned to hand quilt, many years ago, we used a square frame that you pinned the backing to, added batting and top and pinned it all together. (This was for a single block) We learned to do the "rocking stitch" method of quilting and it was fine. However, when I went back to hand quilting, my hands/fingers don't want to work that way, and I was working on something larger than the frame I had. So I bought a hoop....actually a couple of them. Even had one on a floor stand thing, but it didn't swivel. It turns out that I actually prefer not having a hoop at all. I use a technique that is really strange according to the people who have seen me do it, but it works for me. May not be the tiniest stitches, but the end result is fine. (Even had one of the local hand quilting teachers see one of my little practice pieces and say it was gorgeous!!!) I use a number 11 between needle, and like the ones from Roxanne. You get a lot of them in a little tube (with a tiny seashell glued to the top). I have used several different threads, but do like the Americana, which is inexpensive, but works. (Jo-Ann's, bulk bins... about a dollar or less a spool. It comes in several different colors.) Most thread that is labeled "hand quilting" is finished with a glaze (glacé)which takes the place of the beeswax. Many people forget that the beeswax needs to be heated to penetrate the thread. Otherwise it just comes off with the first couple of stitches through the fabric. That was one reason that the "Thread Heaven" was developed. It penetrates much more easily and does so without heating.

Have fun, not everyone enjoys hand quilting. And that is fine. As long as the projects eventually get finished whatever works works. Note: I use the betweens for almost all of my regular hand sewing, except embroidery.

Pati, in Phx

DLW wrote:

Ooops. forgot the pin question..... I use 505 basting spray and don't have to worry about pins or thread basting. It doesn't seem to impede the stitching at all either.

Pati, in Phx

DLW wrote:

Janice, thanks for the pic! I'm always amazed at the simple solutions you guys come up with. The thread holder! Why didn't I think of that? I quilt on a large frame that hangs from the ceiling. The thread spool rolls all over the place. I'm certainly going to use your idea!

Sherry

I've never used a frame or hoop either for hand quilting either, I'm with Mary.

Bonnie, in Middletown, VA

Hey SAndy--what's a finger cot? I keep hearing that word, and don't know what it is. For the bottom finger that goes under the quilt, I have one of those little tiny thimble-thingys that sticks to the fingertip with adhesive. Is that a finger cot? I ordered it from Keepsake because I was leaving too much DNA on the backside of my quilts :-)

Sherry

Thanks to everyone that has replied. I found this awesome hoop at Joanns that is made out of PVC pipe, it's square, comes in different sizes including a big standing one (which I'm getting with my next coupon) and there are these big clips that clip over the PVC to hold it like a drum. NOT too tight though but, just tight enough. I am using Gutermanns Hand quilting thread right now and I'm enjoying the heck outta this!! You can do so much more with the hand quilting! I will post pics when I get it done. It's adorable! Thanks so much again for all your help!! here is a link to show the hoop I'm talking about:

Debi

I have the square PVC frames, but generally prefer a wooden hoop. I tend to turn my work when the stitching changes direction and found that I too often ended up with the corner of the square ones in some awkward position. I often do switch to it when I do borders because I can get easily get closer to the edge. When I do borders I usually take two of the smaller PVC pipes and two of the longer ones to make a rectangular frame. The smaller PVC frames are also nice and portable because you can take them apart for transporting them.

Julia > Thanks to everyone that has replied. I found this awesome hoop at Joanns

Howdy!

A tiny piece of sticky tape (rolled into a tiny tube) stuck inside the thimble keeps it from sliding off my finger. A finger cot stays on the "pointer" finger all the time, easier to use (grabbing the needle) than the rubber circle (pick up, put down, pick up, put down, pick up from floor or search chair for where it rolled... ). I was about to re-order some of my favorites

I found a few pkgs mixed in w/ the scrap bundles. Cheers! R/Sandy--- enjoying this thread esp. when I recall my new-to-quilting s-i-l telling me a few months ago that "I'm doing everything by machine, you know hardly anyone hand quilts anymore," and I just nodded and said, "So true, only about 10 million of us." ;-D

Howdy!

Same thing we used to count money or when handling bundles of paper that had to be separated sheet-by-sheet. They're sold in bulk at office supply stores, but the Quilter's Rule brand are a better quality than most of the cheaper ones. At the LQS we called these "cat condoms." ...whatever... Segue to Finger Gloves, which are thicker than finger cots; some of the Finger Gloves are ribbed. Said to be good for machine quilting, grabbing the quilt to maneuver.

I don't use anything on the "under" finger(s). Don't have a big callous there, either, not anymore. After a while just the hint of the needle brushing against my finger(s) is enough to know "it's through, send it back the other way."

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