Hand Quilting - yikes
 

I'm not sure about this hand quilting thing. I'm not using a thimble (I don't have one yet) so that might be a factor. But, it's looks terrible!!

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Are you rocking the needle ? as soon as you feel the needle on the finger below push it right back up when it pops on the top send it right back down.
And remember if this is your first time , it does take time and practice to get the tiny even spaced stitches :)
You are doing fine for the first time :) just keep practicing :thumbup:

By the way I don't use a thimble on the bottom or top- for the top to get a grip on the needle I use a pad or small piece of a rubber ( does that make sense ?)

Seriously, it probably looks a lot worse to you, than it does to others. So what, if a few stitches aren't perfectly straight? Overall, it looks GOOD! :)

it looks good, just make your stitches closer together and even from the edge all the way around. Once you get them all even from the edge and closser together you will see a huge difference. I like it.

if you did not press your seams OPEN, then you are stitching through the thickest parts..that alone will cause issues!
I don't think it looks bad for a first try, it does take practice and all things are to be considered, thread, seams, needles, thimble, etc...keep going...

Looks good! You can use thread that is the color of the block you are quilting on and it will blend in more. Think this is very good for a first try!

delma

lots and lots of practice, it takes ;-)

It looks to me like you are attempting to quilt fairly close to your seams and stitching through your seam allowance. This makes it harder as you are going through all those extra layers. I use 1/4" painters tape and place it right next to the seam and quilt right next to the tape. I am then far enough away from where I pressed my seam allowances and I have nice straight lines of quilting that is evenly spaced away from the seam.

You can also measure with your cutting ruler and draw a chalk line or use a sliver of white soap on your dark colors.

I do not use a thimble either. I push the needle with my fingernail. I use my index fingernail when quilting towards me and my thumbnail when quilting away from me. I am side to side quilting challenged and prefer not to quilt going left to right but rather up and down. I use a lap hoop so I can turn the quilt in the direction that is easiest for me.

What size needle are you using? The smaller the needle (which means a higher number, a size 11 is much smaller than a size 8 with needles), the smaller the stitches but it takes practice and experience to feel comfortable with size 10 or smaller.

Are you using any kind of hoop or frame? How tight is the quilt in it? You want it kind of loose so the fabric has give when you get into the rocking motion of the needle.

Jacquie, this block looks paper pieced to me. It is not possible to press seams open when PP. There are plenty of ways to hand quilt without having to press seams open.

nice advice.