loves_2_quilt

I am making a crumb quilt and would like to hand quilt it. I am wondering if all the seams make it more difficult to quilt. I have only quilted one quilt so far. I would like to quilt it in "fans".
Thank you for all your help.
D

kiffie2413

I don't know that all the seams will necessarily make it harder to hand quilt...I am thinking if you have a nice comfortable thimble and sharp needles that it will make it much easier to get thru the thickness of the seams...also depends on the batting you use..I use warm and natural on a lot of mine, and it is a thinner batting..but the density of it makes it seem thicker than some of the higher loft poly battings...Do you plan to use a hoop? That will make a difference, too with several seams involved. I am sure there will be others along with more experience than I to help you out...good luck with it, and don't forget to post pics!!
Regards,
Kif

Holice

I would not recommand warm and natural. It is difficult for some to hand quilt. In reading posts it appears that experienced hand quiltrs do make it work. However since you have indicated you have only quited one quilt. Don't make it more difficult on your self by using the W&N. Get a thinner poly batting or one of the poly/cotton battings that are thin. And Yes it will definitely be more difficult to hand quilt over all those seams.

Tartan

​The more seams you have to quilt through, the harder it is to hand quilt. Cotton batt tends to "grab" the needle which makes it harder to pull through the sandwich.

Traditional Quilter

I don't know what a crumb quilt is. However, quilting over the seams is doable, but a little tedious. But, if you want to quilt Baptist fans, go ahead. You probably won't be happy with another design. Just remember your stitches will be larger in the seam area. Some people do a stab stitch in the seams. I haven't been able to do this so that it looks good on the back. I just take fewer stitches on the needle and accept the larger stitches. Also, I agree with Holice. I wouldn't recommend Warm and Natural either. I don't like it for hand quilting. Go with a thin poly, or if you really want a treat go with wool. It's like quilting through butter. It's my preference.

starshine

[ if you really want a treat go with wool. It's like quilting through butter. It's my preference.]

Glad to see this. I am making my daughter a twin size quilt and she wants it hand quilted. I had purchased wool batting when it was on sale at JoAnns awhile ago. I am having to redo some of the flying geese so I had to take apart my strips to fix some. I hope to get it together soon and get started quilting.

Ranchwife

Warm and natural bearded horribly for me when I hand quilted on a dark colored border. I was using regular quilting thread and tried many sizes of needles before I just gave up on the bearding and plowed through the rest of the quilting. I switched to a wool batting and it is much better. I hand quilt by running the needle up and down, not a rocking stitch. I read somewhere the up/down stitch is easier over thick seams. Also, use a hoop - it eliminates puckers and makes it easier to handle the quilt.

117becca

Wow on the comments of W&N......I used to use it all the time and liked it quite well. I do use Dream Cotton now, it is a thinner cotton batting and my needle appears to go thru it easier than W&N. I only hand-quilt.

Bearding - if you're quilting on dark fabrics, then get a black batting where you won't notice the bearding as much. W&N does have a "right & wrong" side, but I don't know which is what and that is to minimize the bearding. Always make sure you're using a sharp/new needle.

Yes, cotton battings "grab" the needle, but I prefer that, it allows me to keep my needle in the position I want it, leading to even stitches.

Quilting thru seams - Some I can quilt thru, some I do a stab stitch (pushing the needle all the way thru to the bottom, and the pushing the needle up towards the top. Other times I will make the "stitch" look like it's there by just sliding the needle under the top layer, not going all the way thru the layers.

Can't wait to see your quilt.

helou

Thanks for asking. It sounds like I wrote it.. I have exactly the same question. Thank you ladies, for your comments.

NJ Quilter

I, like becca, use W&N all the time and only hand quilt. It's what I started quilting with and have continued with no issues. I guess I just don't know any better! Then again, I like Rowenta irons also - haha. Anywho...Yes, lots of seams can be painful when hand quilting but it can be done. Take your time and if needed, just do one stitch at a time in those areas. A fan pattern shouldn't be that painful with a crumb quilt I wouldn't think. Might be a bit late in the game for this thought, but pressing seams open helps tremendously in hand quilting as well...not quite as much bulk. Yes, you might have more of a bearding issue but that's not something I have problems from W&N either. Good luck and enjoy.