I hand quilted for 10 yrs with my quilts tight in the hoop!! Boy was I happy when I discovered that I could make it loose. Woww what a difference!! (Talk about dumb!)
As far as my finger underneath I try to feel the needle just as it barely comes through the fabric, not far enough to prick me. This gets me smaller stitches underneath. They were always bigger than the front before I started doing it this way. Bonus: My finger doesn't hurt!!!! :)
After I found a thimble that fit I just kept it with me everywhere I quilted till my finger started to hurt & then I'd put it on. After a while it became a habit. The key is finding one that fits. I found mine at a thrift store. What will I do when I loose it? I've already lost one!:(
I use wool batting for hand quilting (most of my machine quilting also!) It needles wonderfully, & helps me to get smaller stitches! Warm in the winter & cooler in the summer! I try to catch it on sale.
As you can see it is a journey. Find out what works best for you.:thumbup:
I hope we all keep learning from each other!

have you tried these...the third one down with a little case, stainless on under finger, leather stick on 'pushing' finger... no sweating, or slipping, easy to wear and last for a ton of time before you have to buy new stick-on glue tabs...case holds all, including your favorite quilting needles...

http://www.colonialneedle.com/cgi-bin/quikstore.cgi?category=THIMBLES_-_Fingertip&search=yes

I used to use a large frame, then a hand held hoop, now I quilt without either. I found that I work best now with just my thimble and a well pricked lower hand. I have quilted at least 3 king size quilts this way and it works for me.

I've been quilting for about 40 years and do everything by hand. I can't stand the hoops! Since my stroke about a year ago, I have had a lot of troubled with my left side. No feeling in my left hand finger tips. Finally discovered that if I watch my
left hand, I can easily hold the fabric as I always did with very few problems. Does anyone know a chat site for hand quilters only or predominately hand quilters versus machine?

I agree. Do whatever you can do comfortably and whatever produces the effect you want. There are hoops on a stand which sits on your lap and there is even one you can sit on and hold the hoop on your lap. The tension is something you learn after you do a certain amount of quilting,but there must be some looseness so your under finger can push the fabric up for the needle to slide through the fabric. I bought a very large thimble and hammered the top into a concave shape. I then lined the thimble with moleskin and I wear it on my under finger. The edge of the concave rim on the thimble makes it easy to redirect the needle to the top again.

It doesn't have to be any certain stitches to a inch as long as they are consistant. I have see beautiful work at 1/4 inch. I poke and prick my fingers raw but keep on trying.

Love hearing about others hand quilting! My favorite time of year to hand quilt is winter b/c you are extra warm while quilting!! :D
But......... my cats like it too lol
Seems like they want to be right where I'm stitching!

I hand quilted quite a bit before I learned to FMQ. Haven't had my hoop out in over a year now. I also found it was easier to have a little slack in the material instead of having it stretched so tightly.

No but I wish we could find one. I only hand piece and hand quilt. Machine seem to have something against me--the bobbin runs out of thread, the thread breaks or the material bunches up under the pressure foot. SIGH!
No, I don't but I wish we could find one. I only hand piece and quilt. I have a machine that I use for repairs but all machines seem to have something against me--bobbin runs out of thread, the thread breaks or it bunches up under the pressure foot. SIGH!!!

When I was a child my grandmother told me I could never really be a seamstress if I did not learn to use a thimble. It was so hard for me to get used to the thimble, but I kept working at it, for part of each sewing session. When I became a quilter, I was so thankful for her encouragement, and it is still her thimble that I use most.