Question on Hand QUILTING????
 

I have just started hand quilting again after 25 yrs. It is a challenge but I will do it. I am also rcovering from a shattered left elbow & shoulder from a fall back in Jan. It is hard for me to get the rock of the needle so I am doing one stitch at a time. Anyway, I think I remember that you can put some sort of a knot or some way tie off your needle at the eye to keep it from coming undone as you are sewing. Am I just thinking this or do any of you know anything about this. I get so tired of having to re-thread my needle all the time. Looking forward to some comments.
Thanks, Donna, The Rustic Quilter

I am a hand quilter and have no idea why you keep losing your thread? never has this happened to me..maybe you need to pull like 6 inches or so thru your neeedle then it shouldnt pull thru on you..if you can understand that
crafty3236

I thread my needle, and then take the end and go around to the front of the eye and run it through again. Doesn't make a knot and you can use more of the thread without the end pulling out. You will need a needle with a larger eye, so I use John James "big-eye" needles. If you don't understand this, PM me with your phone number and I will be glad to call you and talk you through it.
Good Luck from another older hand quilter.
Roberta Marie

Yea for you not giving up!!

I hand quilt. I do not put a not at the eye of the needle. I put about 4-6 stitches on needle at a time and pull the needle thru with needle nose plyers. It was recommended to only put 18" of thread on a needle at a time as the thread will become weak as it is continued to be pulled through. I do not listen to this rule! Ooops, oh well. But about every other time of pulling the needle through stitches I adjust the thread position at the eye so it does not weaken the thread at that spot with it continuing to be there.

I think you may just have to hold onto the threat at the eye so it does not pull out.

Kyia

I remember seeing a woman on a quilting show, showing this method that you mentioned. I am sorry that is all I can remember. But it sure looked like a great idea and useful.

I had the problem, too, at first and some kind member showed me this. Works super!

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Interesting! I've never heard of that, thanks for the visual.

I never heard of the thread back through the eye of the needle either, thanks!

I am currently hand quilting a king size Hawaiian quilt, and here's some things I have figured out about hand quilting: (Disclaimer - I have never won an award for my quilting, but my family seems happy with them).

After spending money on several types of thimbles and trying each one for several days, I have finally found the perfect way to protect my fingertips. I bought a pair of playtex kitchen rubber gloves for about $2, and cut the thumb, first and second fingers out of the glove. I just put those three pieces on my right hand, and I have no more problems with poking holes in my fingertips, losing a thimble, or pulling the needle through the fabric. The rubber grips the needle so well that I can pull it right through without using a little 'official' puller. I tried using the whole rubber glove, but it was hot and made my hand go to sleep. The three cut out fingers work great and are comfortable and reusable! (Editted to add: I bought gloves that were a size smaller than I would usually wear so that the fingers would be nice and tight.)

The other thing I finally figured out is that a longer needle makes it far easier to 'rock' the needle to get small, even stitches. I just can't figure out how (or why) good quilters use the 'betweens'. I tried and tried to use the 'right' needles, but I just wasn't skilled enough to make them work. The longer needles make it so much easier for me, and I really can't see how the length of the needle makes a difference in the stitches.

I hope my little discoveries will help make your quilting experience more pleasant. Quilts tend to get done faster if we enjoy the process!

Thank all of you for your answers. I think the demo that Kitsie gave is the one that I am thinking of. My needle only comes out when I get about 6" or so in from the end . When the thread becomes shorter that is when it comes undone.
Sorry I haven't had time to reply sooner. My sister (61) who lives with me, I am her guardian ( slow learner) has leukemia & I spend alot of time at the hospital here in West Plains & also at St. Louis. We have been battling this for 5 months now & sorry to say leukemia seems to be winning this battle.Plus I have my Mom in a nursing home here & am her caregiver. Alot going on & no time for me. I enjoy the time I do get to spend quilting.
Thanks again for all of your comments.
Donna The Rustic Quilter