Originally Posted by locoruner
I am a beginner, and what is the best way to get the "rocking" motion that hand quilters do?? I have hand quilted a table runner, and it looks....not so good!!
I find it easiest to use a lap hoop. This is the one I prefer:
http://www.keepsakequilting.com/prod...APTOP-HOOP.htm
It swivels on a ball, so it is easy to move to any position. Having it sit in my lap frees both hands for the quilting.
A common beginner mistake is to hoop your quilt tight as a drum. Don't do it! You should allow enough slack in the hoop so that you can move the center about a fist's width in either direction -- in other words, very loose. This allows you to manipulate the fabric as well as the needle for rocking.
Check your library for hand quilting videos. Years ago I found one that helped me a lot. I also took a hand quilting class that helped. If I can find a good Youtube video demonstrating how to "rock" with hand quilting, I will post it.
Okay, haven't watched these through, but this one looks good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAiBobVNpVY
(Notice how loosely the quilt is hooped!)
and here is a 7-part Youtube video series (don't have time right now to check how good it is; one thing I wouldn't do is safety-pin baste for hand quilting; I would thread-baste):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgNuRW9ycK8