I am temporarily unlurked and being driven nuts!

Relax... breathe... breathe... breathe. Don't be so hard on yourself.

I won't give you any advice... as my hand quilting is probably not even as good as yours....

but remember -- this is supposed to be fun. And don't focus on individual stitches. After you've finished a small area... walk away for a few minutes... then come back and take a look at it... from a distance. Our critical eye alays benefits from a little time and space.

There's another method you might enjoy and get results to please you. Be a quilting heretic, baste your sandwich fairly closely, and don't use a hoop or frame -- just stitch it with a running stitch! It works basically the same as rocking the needle, but you use your thumb and forefinger on your right hand to work the needle in and out, and use your left hand underneath as usual with traditional rocking stitching. The thimble is used simply to push the needle through when it has 3 to 8 stitches on the needle. It really works very well, and makes your quilting portable. You do need to baste rather closely, with basting stitches less than an inch long and the lines about an inch apart, but the up side is that you never get stuck with pins. You will find that you can make very even, small quilting stitches, and the back looks pretty good, too! So here's my suggestion -- before you give up and get out the sewing machine, get some small scraps of fabric, a bit of scrap batting, and make a sample. You might like it!

I'm a piano teacher and the same thing happens to my students - ESPECIALLY my adults who tend to be accustomed to "doing it right the first time". These students want to play the new song right away, exactly the way I play it. helllooo-ooooo - you can't expect to be an expert without putting in the practice time - whether it's piano or quilting. Don't be so hard on yourself - there are going to be some quilts that aren't your idea of good looking. Knowing what I know about the more 'particular' piano students and some of my quilting friends - I'd bet that what you define as rubbish isn't really that bad, but of course, you won't believe me, will you?!

Musicmaker, laid back and willing to accept the results if they look ok when I gallop by on a horse.

As a relative beginning quilter (and one who hand quilts) myself, I'm also rather self critical of my work. I will tell you though, that every quilt I have done and given to someone has been received with joy and appreciation and not one of the recipients ever looked at the detail of the quilting stitches. Or if they did, had a clue as to what they were supposed to see. Instead, they saw a quilt made for them with love and were overjoyed. Keep practicing and you'll get better. And who's really going to look at the back!

As to 'technical' stuff, the only advice I have is, if you are using a hoop, make sure your work is fairly lose. It makes the stitching easier. I also find that for me, the smaller the needles, the better I work. I've become quite fond of Roxanne #12 betweens. I'm using #11's at the moment as I ran out of #12 and the smaller needles definitely make it easier to get more evenly spaced stitches.

Good luck. You CAN do this.

Kim in NJ

I think the 3 things that helped me was making myself use the smallest needle I could, and having a good thimble, and not having the quilt stretched so tightly on the frame. And don't worry about making teeny stitches. Concentrate more on making them *even* ... even if some of them are real toe- catchers. The small stitches will come later, after you've got your tecnique and rhythm down. I *did* buy lots of books on hand quilting. The hand position and technique seemed awkward at first, but I made myself do it, and I think now (lots of quilts later).... I think I do a pretty fair handquilting job. The hardest time I ever had was once when I chose a backing that was very heavy tone-on-tone. I think the suggestion to baste it good and just take it out of the frame might be good -- the quilting police won't break down your door, I promise. Just do it however it works best for you, and have FUN. Quilting is no fun if you're stressing about it. Good luck!

Sherry

ok when I gallop by on a horse.

Musicmaker, The galloping horse test was what I was going to suggest! Have to, since hand quilting just isn't going to be a part of my repertoire because of the RA in my hands. Instead of frustrating and discouraging myself because projects just don't get done if I attempt to hand quilt them, and I can't afford to send them out to be quilted, and machine quilting is now out too because of RA in shoulders, I will now tie my quilts and remind myself that they are just as precious as the hand quilted ones!

--Dreamweaver - you hang in there Fay!

*********************************************************************************************************************************************** Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence

Mourning Dove Salish

Be a quilting heretic, baste your sandwich fairly closely, and don't

Mary, That's what I did when I was doing it! It was easier for me to rock the quilt itself than the needle and it works! My stitches were starting to get smaller too, but alas I can't HQ anymore. Keep up the good work Fay! You'll get there!!!

-- Dreamweaver

*********************************************************************************************************************************************** Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence

Mourning Dove Salish

Maybe you'd benefit from some 'hands on' lessons. What are the chances that there's a closeby church quilting group or a senior center...friend, neighbor...anybody? who could demonstrate and let you watch and try. I'm betting they'd be tickled to give you a helping hand. Polly

I think the 3 things that helped me was making myself use the smallest needle I could, and having a good thimble, and not having the quilt stretched so tightly on the frame. And don't worry about making teeny stitches. Concentrate more on making them *even* ... even if some of them are real toe- catchers. The small stitches will come later, after you've got your tecnique and rhythm down. I *did* buy lots of books on hand quilting. The hand position and technique seemed awkward at first, but I made myself do it, and I think now (lots of quilts later).... I think I do a pretty fair handquilting job. The hardest time I ever had was once when I chose a backing that was very heavy tone-on-tone. I think the suggestion to baste it good and just take it out of the frame might be good -- the quilting police won't break down your door, I promise. Just do it however it works best for you, and have FUN. Quilting is no fun if you're stressing about it. Good luck!

Sherry

Thanks everyone for your support and ideas. I am using a largish hoop and the fabric does have some give within it. I have betweens/quilting needles. My thimbles don't have the depth of hole I'd like but I live in the country and it's really hard to find one I like that fits locally. Buying online is difficult when you actually want to look at the thimble close up. I did go for a drive cross-country this afternoon to look at a LQS, but no good thimbles there either. The batting is Matilda's Own Wool/poly mix. Roberta, my DIL is expecting her first child and lives 5 hours drive from her mum and an hour and a half from me. She also is married to my son who can be a bit trying at times. I think she could use a bright purple hug! I just hope I have it finished before she spawns. That will be June 2009! Polly, I think if I went near any Church group the walls would crumble! I did go to the local quilting group last month, but now we're full into the house building, I can't get away on the day's they meet.Most frustrating! SO, here's me off to practice. Or to trawl the internet for deeply dimpled thimbles. Once again, Thanks for your support. Fay In sunny Broadford, North Central Victoria Australia.

Believe me, the church walls will not even tremble, they let me in and I do enjoy making them vibrate. Recently our sweet very young pastor walked in as I was softly playing the opening hymn on our church's grand new organ. (Katrina clobbered the older one.) A little offended, Pastor lifted the coffee cup sitting on the rail between the choir and the congregation. "Is this yours?" he whispered. "Yes", I said. "I'm using it for a spit cup." He had to do some deep breathing before he began our worship service. God has a sense of humor too. I'm sure. Polly

"Fay" > Polly, I think if I went near any Church group the walls would

Howdy!

Bohin sells great thimbles; the one w/ the rim around the flat top is good for learning to control the needle, altho' its metal top is not as thick as the rounded thimbles. The thimbles come in several sizes, they don't taper to such a narow point the way many thimbles do (some of our fingers don't taper like that ). You can search online for a place to order them.

A smaller hoop, 12" or 14", may be easier to get your arms around, easier to hold when quilting. And, there's always the old tried & true formula: practice. ;->

Good luck!

R/Sandy