Thread: Hand quilting without thimbles (el naturel!) & HQ questions

Originally Posted by Happy Treadler

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. SO, when you say you pretty much mark the quilt as you go, isn't it difficult to mark it with the quilt already being sandwiched? Do you prefer then to thread baste as opposed to using safety pins?

I don't have any problems marking after the quilt has been basted with a low loft batting. Very often I do needlemarking and for that marking method it is better when the quilt is already basted. I thread baste, don't like safety pins because the quilting thread always tangles around them...

I am also a thumbnail quilter, I do not use thimbles of any kind. I have a very strong thumbnail and I quilt away from myself so turn the hoop often. For curves I go a little slower and take only one or two stitches at a time. I am in no hurry as hand quilting is my most favoured part of quilting.I tried all the thimbles and finger protectors etc but found it was like swimming fully dressed, I just had to work with my bare hands. I very seldom prick my finger, only once in a blue moon now.

Gal

OK, another question, anybody ever have problems with your needle bending? Are there better quality needles I should be using? I was using a sharp last night & ended up bending my needle. Wasn't even quilting that long.

I am SO enjoying getting back to hand quilting. :)

Originally Posted by Happy Treadler

OK, another question, anybody ever have problems with your needle bending? Are there better quality needles I should be using? I was using a sharp last night & ended up bending my needle. Wasn't even quilting that long.

Make sure your quilt isn't too tight in the hoop - that can cause bent needles. It is possible to get a pack of defective needles.

I use quilting betweens - I started with a size 9, which feels really long now, and worked my way down to using a size 11. I think betweens are a little stronger than sharps. I like Richard Hemmings and John James, but I always try new ones just in case I find a new favorite.

Janet

I totally agree with Janet about too tight in the hoop can cause bent needles. I was having a terrible time as well with bending needles. Then I discovered Roxanne needles and love, love, love them! I use #11 between of Roxanne brand. The Roxanne needles seem a bit heavier and they have a larger eye, although I still need my magnifying glass that is attached to my Ott lamp in order to thread them. They also stay nice and sharp. It takes me a really long time to bend Roxanne needles and it is usually because I am trying to load to many stitches on it going through a curve.

I second what Janet and Feline said - the more pressure you have to put on the needle the more you bend it. In the beginning of my "quilting career" ;-) I often used John James Betweens #12 or Richard Hemmings #12 and after a short time of using they were bent and out of shape although my quilt wasn't very tight in the hoop. I tried the #11 of JJ and it was much better.
I also found out that sharp needles are not as sharp and pointed as betweens, therefore they don't go through the layers of the quilt so easy.

I took a great hand quilting class years ago and the teacher had us using two thimbles. I had always used one and the callouses on the other hand were awful. She told me to wear them around the house daily so I could get use to them and when I first did it it was clumsy. That is the only way I hand quilt now when my arthritis isn't working up. Do mostly machine quilting on smaller quilts and the large ones go out to a very good friend who does an exceptional job.

i use a leather thimble w/ a "coin" in the middle of the finger. i like leather thimbles because i can still "feel", but got frustrated w/ the needle always wearing thru too quickly.

Haven't tried the dot thingys that go on your finger tip...maybe soon!

I use a thimble on my middle finger only - for pushing needle through. When I first started quilting I read everywhere that the quilt needs to be tight, well don't listen to that. I bent so many needles that way. I quilt is loose and the betweens have not bended as quickly. They do bend after a while just from using it for a long time. I mark as I go most of the time and I do not have a problem with that - I thread baste. As for the Aunt Becky tool - I have not been able to use it either. I need to feel the needle underneath the quilt - otherwise I can not catch the backing in the stitch. On curves I only take 1 or 2 stitches at a time. and I move my hoop around as I go. I only do 3 stitches at a time anyway. BTW, your quilting looks really good to me...