Great tip!! when you decide to hand quilt, you will eventually get a drop of blood on it somewhere, and this really works. Just part of being a hand quilter :lol: :lol:

There is a chemical reaction between the owners spit and thier blood that makes it come out. Doesn't work with someone elses spit or blood...
Cold water works too....but such a hassle to use... ;D

[quote=trupeach]

You're going to love it. There's something so relaxing about hand quilting and I wish I was able to do more myself. My stitches aren't perfect, but there's such a feeling of accomplishing something beautiful that it's addictive.

Granted, I'm absolutely hopeless with using thimbles and have collected quite a few over the years, and some are now residing in my thimble display cabinate. The best thing and only thing I've come across that works for me is... sticking plasters.
Before I start any quilting I wrap a few strips round my 'sewing' fingers with the padded gauze squares on top of each other. It's not the ideal solution, but it's comfortable, pain free and I won't lose it/them.

[quote=sewjoyce]Sewjoyce it makes perfect sense to me. You can make me a quilt anytime. (sans little red spots)

i hand quilt all time and use a 14 inch round hoop or an oval (good for the borders). I have never used a thimble. Seems to awkward to me, of course, i can not walk and chew gum at the same time. lol Have fun with the hand quilting!

I can't wait to see your handquilting :D:D:D

Odessa-
Thanks for the tweezer tip (no pun intended). I'll have to try that!
lots2do

I have hand quilted 24 quilts and gave it up - machine quilting is the only way to go for me. I have loads and loads of fabric and wanting to make quilts very fast, so I might have a chance to get lots of the fabrics I have made into quilts. Just me personally.

I usually hang my tweezers on a safety pin that is there basting the layers together. Makes it easier to find. I keep trying to remember to send it in to Fons & Porter to see if I get a subscription to their magazine...perhaps I shouldn't have put it out here until after I sent it to them??? :wink:

WElcome to the world of handquilting. I personally love it. The only things I machie quilt are items for people I know don't know how to care for a quilt properly or small children. I do like the decorative stitches on my machines and use them as often as possible. But when it comes to qulting there is nothing like handquilting. I use a leather thimble and I have also taught myself to use both hands. If you are a touch typer or play the piano it makes it easier to quilt in both directions as your hands are already trained to work equally. When I quilt with my left hand I use a shorter leather thimble on my thumb and push with it. If I am not using a stationary frame like my floor hoops but a lap PBC frame I only use the right hand and just turn the item being quilted around to go the other direction.

Good Luck