im not that familiar with this im old fashioned the way my mom taught me to hand tie together all over the quilt with yarn. for hand quilting do you draw a design on and hand stitch the pattern? And what do you use to hold the quilt together (a large hoop?)

The only hand quilting I've done is echo quilting-where you quilt a little ways away from a seam or applique shape. If I was doing anything else I would draw it on somehow. I use a hoop but some can do it without. My hoop is the PVC looking kind but you have to be very careful about the sharp edges on the clips. I've gotten a tear before.

I do a fair amount of handquilting, I like to draw the design , hand baste , and no hoop; I don't mind if there's a wrinkle in my quilts

so do you use a large needle to hand baste

For hand basting I probably would-I rarely hand baste. For hand quilting I use a smaller one. Not like the pros do but smaller than your average sewing needle.

I use a regular needle and what ever inexpensive thread I have hanging around, I found a great tutorial on youtube( Sharon Chambers(?))if you search for hand basting you'll bump into it. The first time I thought it would be great to use water soluable thread... it's pretty slippery...Good luck!

I baste with pins- put in a wooden hoop 16 or 18 inches and use a between needle :thumbup: Depending on what I am trying to do sometimes I draw the design on - others just eye ball it

where do i get designs from? a craft store? and what kind of pencil should i use?

You can buy a book or stencils with designs, or you can google search for free designs online. Or you can make your own.

I hand sew and hand quilt, I mainly follow the patchwork design when i quilt, though I have drawn on the fabric with water dissolving pen, check it first with a spare piece of fabric to make sure it comes off, I do not normally starch if I am hand quilting I find it more difficult to sew. I don't use a frame at all for quilting but hand hold, otherwise use whatever frame is most comfortable for you.. there are no rules, do what suits you best. Good luck.