Thread: Hand sewing quilt patterns

I agree you should check out Jinny Beyers website she has plenty of free blocks and patterns

I love to hand peice. Ifound I can handpeice any pattern that is made for machine peicing

If I were going to hand piece I would definitely investigate Inklingo. You can buy patterns but also buy the ability to print your pieces on the wrong side of the fabric by using Inklingo templates and fabric backed with freezer paper. Inklingo has tons of shapes and ideas. I have bought a few of the larger shapes for machine piecing. The program prints the cutting edge and the sewing line and the pieces I have sewn have gone together beautifully. Read up on it. Linda Franz the owner is always available to help answer questions and get you through the process if confusion arises. I love it. There is a little fabric waste but you can work with it and alleviate some of it.

Ardco.com has metal templates for a variety of patterns in various sizes. I like to hand piece and have used several of their template sets to do so. They are metal backed with sandpaper type surface and have cutting line and sewing line therefore very accurate.

I love hand piecing. Take the time during the day to set up all the pieces then get comfortable in the evening and sew. Any pattern will work. I have made many different blocks this way. Just finished the BIG STAR by Jenny last night. It is a nice way to see if you like a block when you can just do one. I think the hardest thing for me is finding blocks I like that are all the same size.

Grandma's Flower Garden is a good handpiecing project. "Quilts from Grandmother's Flower Garden" by Jaynette Huff has some nice wall quilts that may be a good bed project.

I have a bad back, also, but have found ways to work around it. The first is to use a hospital tray table..the feet slide right under your sofa, bed or chair..and the height is adjustable with a hand crank..that way you can sit in your favorite chair or even in bed and still sew. The way to get around the foot pedal is to buy an old hand crank machine..they work great for piecing. Or..you can buy one of the computerized brother machines(at walmart for $139.00, and $199.00, depending on bells and whistles),that will sew without the foot pedal..you just use a button on the machine to start/stop, and a slider to set you speed..I got the hang of mine very quickly.I'm sure there are other brands and other stores, but I'm familiar with the brother, and like it very much for piecing when I'm out of commission and can't sit at my regular machine. Good luck to you!