I'm diligently working on my lap quilt, and I'm feeling better and better about the quality of my stitches. I also have tried about 4 thimbles, and I think I'm just meant to use my fingernail after all. I will probably keep trying to train myself, though, because of the issue of wearing a hole through my nail. I did, however, find that the Thimble It stickers do work well for 'catching' my needle, but I still can't seem to feel like I've got as much control using them to push and SO much prefer my nail.

My question this cold and frigid day is I'm wondering what my 'goal' is for my stitching. Am I supposed to be aiming for a stitch that looks like machine stitching, or is my 'goal' the smaller the better? Seems like the smaller the stitching, the more space between them.

On another note, I did upgrade my needles and it made a world of difference that now I am not bending them anymore. I also ordered a small wholecloth panel that I'm planning on using as the centerpiece of a queen-sized quilt, and I'm looking forward to planning an original design. Thinking of doing more intricate paper-pieced stars in creams, tans, and browns. Does anyone know about these pre-printed panels? Will the markings just wash off in water? I also already received some wool batting for the quilt, and am excited to see how it will needle.

I appreciate all the help I get here and I am learning SO much. I thoroughly enjoy my handquilting evenings more and more.

Trina

Surely the smaller the better over a machine stitch.
Enjoying the process is first for me

i wish i had the guts to try it maybe soon

Oh you've GOT to try it! You'll surely get hooked. Just do as I did and make something for yourself (small lap quilt or something) so it's not as much of a big deal if the stitches start bigger. It gets much easier as time goes on. AND, I'm sure you'll have a lot of support here! ;)

Sometimes I think we have been so conditioned on hand quilting stitches per inch and what they should look like. I myself have fallen into that trap, constantly trying to count my SPI yada yada yada. After handquilting 3 bedsize quilts and about 3/4 of the way done with my 4th I have finally come to the realization I quilt for myself and have decided that what I should shoot for is what looks good to me. I try to shoot for even stitches, that appear to have about the same distance of stitch showing as not showing and even in that I am not always consistent but I am happy with the result. Hand quilting does not look like MQ and we should not try for that. However i have seen some post here that they do a type of backstitch HQ stitch that does give the appearance of MQ. Again whatever makes the quilter happy and is pleasing to their eye is what matters in the long run. Unless we are striving to enter quilts into judged shows it should really only be what is pleasing to each individual. Judging goes by a much stricter criteria. That said, maybe a new trend could be started, much like MQ has now dominated the shows as opposed to HQ.

Regarding the preprinted wholecloth... I have never tried one myself. The marks are supposed to wash out but are highly susceptable to heat. So if the wholecloth was exposed to any sort of heat before you purchased it (like being in a tractor trailer or shipping container in hot weather where the inside of the container reached over a certain temp) the risk is there that the marks will not wash out. I think there are mixed stories out there for both scenarios. Those that have had the marks wash out no problem and those that could never get rid of them and did nothing while the top was in their possession to permanently set the marks, like ironing or leaving in a window where direct sunlight may have set them. I would like to try one some day but may just do as Andrea (Born to handquilt) and design and mark my own.

PS what kind of needles did you end up getting?

I don't worry too much about my stitches, I don't have big ones & I don't do tiny. I really don't even worry about how many in an inch, worrying would take the enjoyment out of it. I do what I like :-)

Maybe I can help you.

Handquilting is my favorite. The quest is for even stitches , on the top and on the bottom. The number is not so important. When counting your number of stitches per inch.....an old quilter told me.....count the ones on the top and on the bottom for a total count.
Your thimble is important, one with a grid on the tip is the easiest one to use. The goal is for total control of your needle.
If I can help you more: [email protected]
Pat Jessop :D

There are hand quilting classes out there. In fact, I am teaching one at the end of this month.

Trina, I love hand quilting. I think the goal is to make uniform stitches. But they don't look like machine stitches, there is something about them that's different-hard to explain!
Mine got smaller over time- just by doing it a lot. But consistency is way better to aim for~!
It's sooooo relaxing for me! Have fun :D:D

Hi Trina,

Work for even stitches, and don't worry so much about how many - make yourself happy. Everyone quilts in their own way.

The markings on the preprinted wholecloth panels are supposed to wash out when you're done. I don't know if they're as susceptible to heat as the blue ink pens, but I'd be careful about exposing it to heat.

Janet

I did end up picking up some hand needles made by Bohin (made in France) that the gal in a Lancaster Quilt shop recommended. After the fact, I got the John James needles. The better quality needle really seems to make a difference.

I attached a 'beginning' picture, and a 'now' picture. The beginning picture is a border because originally this quilt was set up on a HUGE frame before we moved. I ended up basting it on the frame, and removing it, and now I'm happily quilting it on my new lap top hoop which I'm LOVING. The stitches are kind of hard to see because of the fabric, and I can't wait to finish the dark color because of this.

I look forward to working on the wholecloth (but it'll be awhile because I need to piece the stars!) because it will be much easier to see. This is the one I purchased: http://quiltingstencils.com/33feathe...medallion.aspx I really wanted to design my own, but I just fell in love with this center medallion. The rest of the quilt will be larger muslin squares so I can go crazy with marking my own designs there. This site was my inspiration: http://www.christianlanequilters.com...age/595756.htm LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!! I don't care if it takes me 3 years to do, but I just think they are so gorgeous. I will just enjoy the process.

Don't worry about the size of the stitches, consistancy is more important....the closer stitches will come with practice. Have fun , relax...and take breaks .

Can someone take a closeup picture of what theirs look like? I don't have anybody I know to compare stitches with, not that it really matters but I'm just curious. ;)

Here are links to some of mine. Easy to see the stitches because it is light thread on dark background. Actually I used the same thread on both. It is valdani varigated thread. It goes from white to a bright yellow. It is a 35 wt 100% cotton thread. Very nice thread, I would definitely buy it again. I use #11 Roxanne needle and hand quilting hoop.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-47093-1.htm

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-22344-1.htm

Here is a picture of me actually quilting but you can't tell too much from it except like you I don't use a thimble.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-29365-1.htm

These pictures were actually my first attempt at hand quilting. Took me over a year to do, and I made it for my daughter who was just born. It really was too big of a project for a first-time quilting experience. Unfortunately, she got bigger & I found out she hates the color pink so it sits in her closet. I kinda 'winged' the design, too, and the piecing isn't perfect. I think it was only the second quilt I made. My problem was that it turned into a "gotta get that pink quilt off the big frame' because it was on display in my living room the whole time. Now that I use a lap quilt, I can just put it away if need be.

WOW WOW WOW WOW!! Thank you so much for passing these pictures along. Now I have a better idea of what it's supposed to look like. :mrgreen: AND, I always wondered where to put the kitty when she wanted to crawl up on my lap when I was quilting. I still think it'd be hard to continue with a 'front seat driver'. ha ha

I agree absolutely what is already said: work for even stitches. That is the most important thing. Your stitch length will vary with the different fabrics and the different battings you use and probably it will change with increasing practice and skill...but just do it your own way and have fun.
I did many hand quilting demonstrations on exhibits and fairs over the years and many people told me: your quilting stitches are great, they look like machine stitching! At the beginning I felt a little angry about these statements because people seemed to be unable to distinguish between hand quilting and machine quilting! Today I understand it as a compliment, but I don't aim for it.

Regarding the preprinted top: Several years ago I quilted a preprinted top and after the quilting was finished I soaked the quilt in clear, cold water for a while. This was suggested by the producer of the top and the ink disappeared completely. Heat can be a problem as far as I know. Maybe Holice can help you with that?

Here is a picture of the Bow Tie one I am woking on right now. This is the back, because I could not get a good pic of the front. My stitches are not SMALL but, they are pretty even.

Here you find a picture of my first hand quilting stitches I did in 1990 and a detail I did in 2010.



http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-94584-1.htm

I'm not a great hand quilter lol*, but I learned from a lady who is, and she always stressed trying to keep the stitches the same length over making them small. I think your stitching looks great and I sure love that fabric! ;)

You are one terrific quilter
Especially loved the cats

Welcome to the world of hand quilting! I LOVE hand quilting!

After trying a multitude of thimbles, I finally found two that I like...one for my middle finger to quilt towards me, and one for my thumb to quilt away from me. Once you get used to it, it only takes a second to slip one off and put the other one.

I use the raised edged thimble on my middle finger (#3 on this page) and TED's thumb thimble on my thumb (#4 on this page.)
http://www.thimblesetc.com/functional.html

As for the blue lines on preprinted tops...I am currently working on mine so will see when I'm finished if they washout completely...but the instructions do say that you can press the top on the backside with warm iron to before quilting to remove packing creases. So I'm not sure how much truth there is to the notion that heat from a warm transport truck will cause the lines to not wash out. The instructions for my also warn NUMEROUS times that ANY water on the quilt top will remove the lines so you have to be very careful before they are quilted to make sure nothing gets spilled on it.

I'm also including a picture of the handquilting on my last completed quilt so you can see the stitches.

Not that bad when you began, but spectacular now.
I love the Google translation function.

Love your quality control inspector. :)

Janet

This is a close up of some of mine. This is batik with a cotton batting.

Well, I am just a beginner too, and your beginning stitches look better than my beginning stitches did. ;)

I have thimble issues too. It took me quite a while to get the hang of using a thimble, and my fingers are too large for a small thimble and too narrow for a medium thimble. I don't want to keep buying thimbles I can't use, so I make do with the small because at least it doesn't rattle around on my finger like the other one.

I like seeing everyone's hand quilting. This is exactly what I needed a couple weeks ago when I was stressing out about my stitches.

The first pic here is from my first day of hand quilting. The second is my most recent. Where the tape is is where I am currently working - the tape is to help me keep a straight line. The first row of stitches around the purple border is really large because I was using the squares on the gingham to try to make even stitches and not worry about size.

Janet your quilting is spectacular! You have been holding out, I don't recall ever seeing a pic of your hand quilting. Just lovely!

Breathtaking, Janet! And a beautiful design...thank you for sharing!

:)

Wow! I am bookmarking this topic Trina! BTW your quilting is just lovely! I too am starting handquilting (top) and I am having a hard time with using a hoop and I know I need to! I too have the quilt stand that dpparris is using. I've not used it yet either! I really need a class I think! And a thimble and me are enemies! I cannot keep one on my middle finger .. I hope to find one that really fits one day! :)

Awww, thanks, FF. I haven't posted a close up, but I have posted a full view of this quilt...it's the one in my avatar.

Quilting makes me happy, and hand quilting makes me even happier.

Janet

Thanks, Andrea - we definitely have a mutual admiration society thing going!

Janet

Ditto!
:thumbup: :thumbup:

Yes! But this is wonderful, isn't it?
:wink: :)

Trina, your first attempts look a whole lot better than mine...which were done long before digital cameras!

Janet

Amen to that!! I'm sitting here drooling on my keyboard over the talent on this board. :thumbup:

wow, I'm really not a good hand-quilter.

I'm working on a king-size quilt right now and my stitches are nothing like yours. But my daughter insisted, they are my work and that is what counts to her. But someday I will be better, I just hope I can stay consistent throughout the quilt so that it looks uniform. I'm not planning on hand-quilting anything this big again, ever! Maybe wall hangings in the future. I'll pay to have the big ones quilted.

Don't shortchange yourself - I'm sure what you're doing is fine. I've been hand quilting for over 20 years now.

Janet

I think you discovered the key good needles are soo important, less bending & breaking. Thimbles take getting used to, but will also hhelp to get a smaller stitch they help push the needle back upp with minimal fabric. Stitches should be what is good for you throughout the quilt, don't worry about #per inch. Most important is.enjoy the process

I remember a superb handquilter at QBL who did not use a hoop; just moved the quilt around on her lap. Try quilting without one and see how it goes.