Hand sewing needles. What's the purpose of "Betweens" ?
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,430
I think you are fortunate to have your grandmother and mother's needles. I think you will find they are sturdier than those manufactured today. I like Richard Hemmings needles also and I have hand-quilted several large quilts.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Round Rock,Texas
Posts: 6,135
When I was a new quilter, I used size 9 betweens by Richard Hemmings. As I became more experienced I went to size 11 between. I like the Richard Hemmings needles because the eye is larger and easier to thread. Alas hand quilting and any other hand stitching isn't possible for me any more.
Sharon in Texas
Sharon in Texas
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Sacramento County, CA
Posts: 302
Thank you for this. I learned about the needle name "between" before I learned about quilting and it literally made no sense to me then. Between what, I thought.
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
So right. My kitchen knives choice are meat clever, slim bladed veggie knife, veggie peeler. Rarely the butcher knife.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 574
I'm of the notion that these days you don't have to hand quilt anymore! I know the ones who learned to hand quilt might not agree with me, but machine quilting has come a long way in my opinion! It's faster and more durable in my opinion.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 673
"Have to" has nothing to do with it. You don't have to paint, or sing, or dance. Hand quilting is an art form. Speed and durability, while practical, are beside the point when it comes to art. But out of curiosity, is hand quilting, when properly done, really less durable?
Last edited by Manalto; 09-01-2015 at 12:23 AM.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
I don't believe that hand quilting (which I do) is any less durable than machine quilting. As Manalto says, it's not something the 'has' to be done. I don't necessarily consider my hand quilting an 'art form' although I have been complemented many times on my abilities. I hand quilt because I like to do hand work. It's one of the reasons I started quilting. I like machine sewing as well so machine piecing and then hand quilting satisfy many crafty situations for me.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 673
Whether you call it an art or a craft, hand (or machine) quilting requires skill and an aesthetic sense to be successful. My point was that it's much more than a necessity. Compared to a lot of what I've seen that passes for art in today's world, many of the quilts posted on this site are of a much higher standard artistically - they combine technique, a sense of form, color and texture, they evoke a mood. Just look at the "Ugly Quilts" thread and try to argue with me!
Last edited by Manalto; 09-01-2015 at 03:53 AM.
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