hand quilting vs machine quilting
 

My husband and I have been having an extended discussion! I'm making a very, very large mariners compass...at his request. He wants me to add borders, more details, etc. to make this into a queen sized quilt. Then he wants me to hand quilt the whole thing and I'm just having a hissy fit about it. I am trying to convince him that most people machine quilt or hire a LAQ to do the huge quilts. He has made me a gorgeous cherry quilting frame...and I do appreciate it, but I don't feel like spending months hand quilting a quilt while leaning over this frame. His mother was an excellent quilter and did everything by hand.....many, many years ago. He thinks this is the way it still should be done. I feel I should say...pick up a needle and you do the quilting then! Can you tell I'm upset? I've done a lot of handquilting on lap and baby quilts, but the thought of doing a queen sized quilt just overwhelms me. I really believe hand quilting is a lovely art, but I don't feel like it's the only way to end up with a beautiful quilt. SO....I told him I would take a survey and see what the rest of you think.
How many of you still hand quilt, or do you do some by hand, some by machine, and some by LAQ? I think he needs to see some answers in print to realize I"m not the only woman that feels this way. He's such a wonderful husband, but on this subject....we totally see things differently. HELP! What is your opinion?

If your husband absolutely insists that it be hand quilted, tell him you're worried that you wouldn't be able to do it justice, and send it out to be hand quilted. There ARE quilters out there who will hand-quilt for a fee.

This is not the age of husband's duties and wifely duties. Husbands have been emancipated also. They cook, clean, take care of children, etc. They also quilt. Ask any number of the men on this board. If he feels so strongly about hand quilting, show him how to "stab" quilt and let him enjoy his new hobby. It will be a his and hers quilt. You pieced, he quilted. If he's not that emancipated in 2012,, then shame on him.

So true! And he's not this way about anything else. He cooks, bakes, cleans, etc as much as I do. I think it's an emotional issue to keep the tradition going...his mom has Alzheimers and can't do this anymore. We have 20 quilts she's made, but they're getting older and worn out. I know he'll eventually see my opinion in a good light...I just wanted to know how others feel about hand quilting/machine. Is one really better than the other? I don't think so.

Hand him a needle and thread , and a practice sandwich!
If you do not want to hand quilt it , and I really don't blame you, let him know that it would tarnish what started as a labor of love into drudgery., but add once his skills are up to the task , you would not mind doing it together.
At the end of a bed size quilt , I give myself a gift....I send it to a PRO!

I agree with Lori S. If you are dreading hand quilting it, you might not ever get it done. You know, those jobs we hate that get pushed back. I machine quilt. I have done 1 hand quilted project. I did like it afterwards, but it takes way to long for me and I am not that good at it.
My vote: machine quilt (if this is what YOU want)

I do a lot of hand quilting but I wouldn't want to hand quilt a queen size mariners compass. There are too many seams in that to hand quilt thru. Besides it would take forever, don't know about you but I don't have endless hours to spend on hand quilting every day. I would like to be able to enjoy my quilt while I'm still able. Just think, the money you save in chiropractic bills can be used to pay the LAQ.

I machine quilt all the ones I make....

At the quilt shows aren't machine and hand quilted in different catagories, one is not considered better than the other, just different.

If I had to hand quilt I wouldn't be quilting