Hand Quilting Question
 

Well, I have decided to attempt to hand quilt my grandmothers flower garden quilt top. I have purchased a 20" wooden hoop.

I will practice on a smaller quilt top first. One of my friends told me to get a whole quilt to practice on. I went online to look for a small whole quilt to purchase. All of the ones I saw for for a full size quilt or larger.

What are your thoughts about practicing on a whole quilt. I like the idea that they have pre-printed lines/patterns for quilting. Also, any ideas of where to purchase a small wall size to practice on?

Thanks for any response.

I teach my students by having them buy a panel...something about the size of a baby quilt. Then I have them outline stitch whatever is on the panel. When they are done they have a baby quilt or lap sized quilt.

I am new to quilting and hand quilting as well. Years of sewing experience. Any way, I’m not sure you will like that big of a hoop. I'm doing and oversized King and it was too heavy and hard to hold the weight of the quilt and be able to reach far enough under to feel the needle. But I think it is a matter of experience and preference.

Two options come to mind to practice with. First get some clearance fabric don’t worry about the actual piecing of the fabric. However make your quilt sandwich and practice on it. Or try your local goodwill, salvation army and see if the have any thing that would work. I know it didn't take too long to get the hang of it and you can always rip out any stitches you do not like on the actual quilt. Hand stitches are easier to pull out.

I was told don’t worry about the length of the stitches just keep them the same. And most important enjoy yourself.

Diane

I second the comments on the 20 inch hoop. If you can't find a smaller one, you can always prop the hoop on the edge of a table. Just make sure to keep the sandwich fairly loose in the hoop.

You don't need to practice on a whole cloth quilt - I used scraps when I started, made a test sandwich and traced a stencil.

Good luck with your new venture.

Janet

Good luck quilting a Grandma's Flower Garden. One thing you could consider doing is having the quilt basted by a long arm quilter. That way the sandwich is already made for you and will make the quilting easer. I have one that I only have the last row of flowers to put on and then some border pieces and then it will be ready to quilt. A few years ago I did a lot of hand quilting and I think even with experience it will be difficult for me.

There's a simply quilts episode they still have on youtube and the whole show is on hand quilting. I hand quilt but not like a pro but she gives great advise on hand quilting in a frame. I'm inpatient and it takes me a long time to finish anything handquilted so I just dove in you do get better with practice. It's usually not the top stitches that are the issue it's the bottom stitches. Even the pros say they aren't always the same length as the top but the key is to catch that bottom fabric. Buy a good thimble you are comfortable with. I use size 10 needle but I bend them alot so I need the 20 pack!! I also cut corners and use cookie cutters for some shapes.

Good luck and have fun it is very rewarding!!

For my hand quilting classes I use the "No Slip Hoop". It is 14" and available from JoAnn's and other stores. It is constructed in a way that when you get the quilt fixed it doesn't slip or move. I find the 14" is large enough for large quilts.

Also for practice you might try 1/8" gingham check fabric. This will give you lines and spaces to practice your stitches. And......remember it is the evenness of the stitch and not the size that is important. Smaller stitches come with practice. Also, don't obsess with trying to make the back stitches the same as the top. Work for good penetration of the quilt so that all stitches come to the back. This also comes with practice.

Good luck -- I enjoy hand quilting -- I have a large round hoop but prefer an oval hoop since I seem to be able to manipulate and turn it better

Agree, 20" hoops are a bit awkward to hold and get your under-hand-arm across (most of us are not 20" long from inner elbow to bend of the fingers). 14" and 16" make things a lot easier I believe.

Jan in VA

Thanks to all of your replies. As always, I can count on the QB ladies to help me with ideas. I am going to try my hand quilting on some scraps of muslin fabric. Will then get a smaller hoop since it seems the 20" one is too big.

You might also try quilting with NO hoop. There is no law that says you need a hoop. I do it both ways. Depends on the size of the quilt and the quilting pattern for me. If I'm quilting a large quilt I'll typically thread baste as opposed to pin basting. One of the main reasons I prefer quilting with a hoop is that when I scrunch it up when I'm done for that session, it's easier to find where I left off! Otherwise, in the actual quilting itself, it doesn't seem to make a difference for me.

I hand quilt without a loop, and I have no problems doing that way at all. As far as practicing is concernedf, all you really need to do is get some inexpensive fabric or use something that you already have at home, get some stencils, a good marking pen ( I use the new fusion pens that come off when heat is applied), mark your sample and start hand quilting. I would suggest getting between needles for hand quilting ( I like size 9 because it is easy for me to thread, but a size 10would also work).
Have fun learning how to hand quilt.

Personally, I like the PVC Tubing frames, they come in all sizes and you can adjust them easily, the standing one
is for a larger quilt but is nice too. I know in Lancaster, they have shops of uncompleted tops, that sell very
reasonable. But if you just want to take muslin, trace something on it and follow the design, that is great to practice.
Another thought is when you hand quilt make sure when you enter with your needle stand your needle straight up
and down, when going into the fabric. It helps with making your stitches consistant and small. Good Luck, I love
handquilting, it is so relaxing and you can see progress right away. Good Luck, hope this helps.

Get a smaller hoop, obtain one of those red handkerchiefs with a nice design to it, layer it like a quilt and practice with that for a while. That would be small enough to perfect your techniques before tackling a regular quilt.