Doesn't anyone do hand quilting any more? the machine quilting is beautiful and I'm sure that it goes really fast. I've even done some machine quilting, mostly baby quilts that will need lots of washing. But to me there is something to be said about the love that goes into hand quilting. Just wondering... Sheryl

There are many hand quilters here. I have not done that as yet just due to my time available, but many others do.

I am from the old school, I only do hand quilting. But I think we are in the minority, hand quilting today is like what hand piecing was when I first started making quilts over 30 years ago - a rarity, practiced by only a few.

I hand quilt That is how my Great Aunt did it and I love the look, I am not nearly as good as she was but I keep trying.

I'm not great at it either, but I do keep working on it. I am preparing a quilt top now for the hoop, that was in a box from my DH's Grandmother. I don't think that it could or should be quilted any other way.

I also hand quilt and love it! I prefer to hand quilt unless under a time restraint. I have a huge quilt for fil I'm machine quilting and one for my sis that I'm hand quilting.

You are right, My Grandmother hand pieced and her quilts were beautiful. I enjoy hand work. It's very peaceful.

I adore hand quilting. The time it takes to do it is the only downfall I can find. I have only done small projects so far but have totally fallen in love with it. I find it to be very relaxing and giving me a real sense of accomplishment.

I have a twin sized top that I am contemplating putting in my frame and hand quilting. I think it would take forever. I also have not decided on an actual design, yet.
But one of these days I will get it out and finish.

Very cold here in Ohio today. Good day to spend with my sewing machine.

Chris

I love the handquilted look. There isn't anything any better. I've done 2 quilts by hand but am slow at it and my hand gets to hurting so badly that I can't work at it for a long time.... a couple hours a day at max.

I love to hand quilt.

There are still lots of hand quilters around - there are many on this board, in fact.

I prefer to hand quilt because it relieves stress for me. I plug myself into an iPod and listen to books, so I really don't care how long it takes me.

There are a few quilts that I've machined quilted. I enjoyed doing that too, but hand quilting is more peaceful for me.

I am hand quilting a 54 x 54 throw now. It is a wedding gift, and my hand quilting is better than my machine quilting. I find it very relaxing, plus when I am hand quilting, I don't eat junk food while I'm doing it.

and it keeps you warm while you are under it and quilting!!

My DM only hand quilts, myself I do both. I have found that when hand quilting by the time I am done I hate the quilt.I am truly tired of looking at it. Then I wash it and air dry it. Then I love it again. My mother is the same way.

I hand piece and hand quilt. I would MQ, but it's hard to find time to sit at the machine. My son is autistic and has lots of therapy, so I have a lot of time every afternoon to sit and twiddle my thumbs. HQ turns out to be faster.

I am attempting handquilting for the first time - a Hawaiian needleturn pillow - 18 x 18. I have tried using hoops, different sizes, and just can't get the comfortable with that. Little sections at a time, and it is getting better! I have been working on this for a some time, but agree that it IS relaxing. I know that I would never attempt even a lap quilt!

If you baste really well, you don't have to use a hoop or frame. It's more important to be comfortable.

I have only been quilting about a year and just started hand-quilting.

I love the look and I love the relaxation it brings me.

I am currently working on a needleturned applique heart table topper with the quilted designs going around the borders.

I love the way it is turning out, even though it isn't perfect!

OMG! I had just finished typing a "new" topic about this same thing! I sent it off and almost immediately saw that you had written about the same topic! Makes me very happy to see that there are others like me. Just wish the magazine editors would put more articles in their issues that address this form of the art!

My DS asked me to make him a quilt (made quilts for both of his kids for Christmas) and he wants me to hand quilt it. He says that is the only way to make a "real" quilt. The jury is still out on that one. I don't know if I want to spent that much time on it. I probably will since he usually gets his way with me. You might say he is a little spoiled even though his is married with children. lol
Sue

I hand quilt, but not as much as machine quilting. I do enjoy the hand quilting. Hand piecing, not so much.

I hand quilt. My friends, also hand quilters and I were very surprised when we went to a Portland, OR quilt show and there was not one hand quiltted quilt there.
Told my LQS about it and she said there are alot of use hand quilters here in my area BUT it is very hard to find quilt stencils. What's up with that?

I only quilt by hand and I do wholecloth quilts. I like to draw and design my own patterns and cut a lot of stencils by hand - not a big deal and easy to make out of cardboard.

I find that hard to believe. They may not stock stencils, but they aren't hard to find - even machine quilters use them.

I make my own patterns too. I use netting, and trace the pattern onto it with a Sharpie. When the ink is dry I can use the netting pattern to trace the design on the quilt.

i only hand quilt, too. It is my therapy and i have a small frame set up in my office where i can watch tv, play on here and quilt all at the same time!

I agree about quilt shows not having a lot of hand done quilts. I may enter a quilt just to have one there...My stitches aren't very small, but that's ok - they are fairly even and straight

I do both dependng on the project...

I do some hand quilting. Not every quilt though. I like to hand quilt some nights when there's a show or a movie that DH and I want to watch on Netflix.

I machine piece and machine quilt. However I am handquitling a quilt now that has sentimental vintage fabric in it. I am following pattern of blocks since this is a geometric design. I am enjoying doing this but will continue to machine quilt as it is so much faster.

I also hand quilt. I have done 3 bed size quilts and currently working on my 4th. But I am as slow as molassis in February! On average it takes me about 3 years to handquilt a bed size quilt. Granted I can go up to a month without picking it up, especially in the summer when it is too darn hot to sit under the quilt. I use a lap hoop. Because it takes me so long to handquilt I have also taken up LA quilting. Here are some pictures of some of my handquilting.

I do hand quilting. In fact, this week I pulled out a project that has been around awhile! (Started in 1985) It is a hand pieced and hand quilted sampler quilt I started in a class. It was a quilt as you go project where you quilt each block then put the rows together and eventually the entire top. It is further along than I remembered which made me glad and got me stoked about working on it.

I like the small frame and tend to quilt as I watch television with my DH. Maybe this is the time to get it finished and on a bed!

I'm a newby and have only been quilting for a little over a year .
I've only hand quilted until today. I'm trying my first applique and baby quilt for unwed mothers who keep their babies. I agree there is something special about hand quilting, I've been watching and a lot of quilters still hand quilt. I will still hand quilt for those I have special feelings for and that I know will appreciate all of the time and work it takes to hand quilt. If you watch this board many quilters have found that their quilts given with such love have not been received with the same feelings they were given, very disappointing and hurtfully if you see all of your work in the dirt or doghouse, has happened to people on this board
Mamia

I would love to, but even after carpal tunnel surgery over a year ago my hand won't let me sew anything by hand.

Beautiful - love the batik kitties. :)

I do some of the quilts I make. I think of my granny when I do it or see a handquilted quilt. She made so many through the years and I never go one of them.

I hand quilt. Was the way I learned. I find it relaxing and can do it while watching baseball and other TV in my comfy chair.

These are awesome!

My Grandma hand quilted all of hers too and I never got one. I was fortunate enough to get some old feed/flour sack fabrics from her before she passed away. I am planning on making wall hangings or small lap quilts for my brother and sisters from them.

Your quilting is awesome, I love it. I use a big oval hoop on a stand but sometimes just bring the quilt into my lap.

I hand quilt, very relaxing & my frame is set up in the livingroom, that way I can spend time with DH & watch (listen ) to the tv.
I have done 3 queen, 9 twin & 3 double. I enjoyed them all.
I do machine piece.

I love hand quilting. I either do that or crochet when I'm relaxing in the evening, watching tv with hubby