Homemother

I'm different from everyone who had the art of hand quilting mastered. I struggle with the "multiple stitches on the needle method". So, I use the Morgan Lap Stand, which has two hoops with supports in between them. You rest the bottom hoop on your lap and the upper hoop is closer to your eyes and is at a comfortable height to quilt.

My method? I quilt up and down. Up and down. Up an down. Nothing fancy. It may take longer and sometimes my stitches are a little out of line, but I find it's the easiest way for me to quilt. Must add: I have some issues with my hands and this method is gentle on them.

Here a couple pics of some stitches in the quilt I'm trying to finish. Darn binding! Gotta get to it. Been sitting here for days just waiting for me to get started on it.

lass

I quilt towards me. It seems to work for me. Notice the for me part.

grandjan

It might be your thimble. Using the tip of your finger should work but if the thimble doesn't fit properly, or if there is not a deep enough indentation in the tip to keep the needle from sliding, it could be laborious. Too, like any new skill, it just takes some practice and getting used to. I suspect that, if you hang in there, you will find the method that works best for you. I use a hoop and quilt towards myself but I've seen people quilt beautifully by pushing the needle away from themselves using their thumb!

Kathy9052

I'm getting better at quilting in all directions, if I have to. Usually I'm quilting toward myself or right to left. I prefer using a rectangular PVC snap frame for your lap. With a little bit of arthritis in my middle finger, sometimes I switch the thimble to my index finger. Also, I've found that I use a smaller thimble in the winter time - my fingers seem to swell in the summer heat.

Amanda from South Texas

I too, handquilt and find it so relaxing. In fact, I stink at quilt tops (still trying oh so hard to master even and perfect blocks!!) but I do love handquilting. I also quilt toward me with a metal thimble. I have seen countless women who stitch towards them AND away from them & have tried and tried. So far, I have not mastered it. I think if you practice and don't put so much effort into it, just relax, you will find out if you truly enjoy it.

mpspeedy

Hey, don't worry about "stab" stitching. I quilted for at least 10 years before I put more than two stitches at a time on the needle. I have some work I did stab stitching and it is probably the best quilting I ever did.

KS quilter

It is much easier to show someone that tell them. I use a #9
between or quilting needle. I start at the top of a block and
quilt down towards the bottom (towards me). Any other route
seems difficult for me. As the quilting pattern takes a turn I
turn my hoop..so I can still quilt down towards me. After you
get to going you kinda do a rocking motion with the needle
as you put it down through your 'sandwich' and back up. Your
finger under the quilt helps you do this. I find I'm putting 4 or 5
stitches on my needle before I pull it through. I'm sure this
all sounds pretty confusing, but maybe you can salvage something helpful out of it

Tweety2911

I don't hand quilt but wanted to say I like your quilt and I thing you did a great job! :-)

the red wyoming rose

It takes alot of practise. 20 minutes a day to start with. I have hand quilted for 30 yrs

Gal

I am fairly new to quilting and have tried both machine and hand quilting, I love hand better. I use a 16inch hoop curl up in a big chair and away I go. I do not use any thimbles at all, I use my thumb nail and push away from myself. I use Gutermann quilting thread and No 9 Betweens quilting needles. They are a bit hard to thread but I cut the thread on an angle and do not wet the thread but keep it stiff to help get it though the needle.I have tried the way everyone says with the the rocking method but my way works for me, I have done queen size quilts this way. I go for even stitches as much as possible rather than small and over a period of time I have managed to get smaller stitches. I am not too hung up about size though a I make mostly country style quilts and the uneven hand stitches I can get away with!! I did not know I would like hand quilting as much as I do, until I tried it, and now I am hooked!!!!!!

Gal