Hi,
What kind of YLI do you use? I'm going to take the plunge and piece something quickly so I can practice my hand quilting.
Have loads of the stiff Coats and Clark stuff I bought long ago but would prefer to try this out.
Thanks,
lots2do

I have always hand quilted.I might run a seam up on the machine, but I hand quilt everything, even full bed quilts. I love it and find it relaxing.

I recently took a class on the Thimblelady hand quilting method and really enjoyed it. It's much easier than the regular rocking method. You can google "Thimblelady" or her name is Liuxin Newman.

lfw045
Could you tell us more about quilting without a frame? I have wanted to try that, but I am afraid my stitches will be pulled too tight or not tight enough. A teacher at local quilt shops quilts small items without a frame and teaches how she does it, but her classes have never been available when I could take it, or they were full. Do you do large quilts without a frame also?

Hand quilting is the only way I know how to quilt. It is a dieing art with all the new technology. there are several tips and pointers I could give you. Such as...hiding your knots. How to make a knot. How to use a rockin motion with your needle. How to use a hoop or a frame. The best size needle to use. Anything you'd like to know. I'll try to help. Ask me anything abot machine quilting and I'll tell you up front, I'm a dummy. I know nothing. Anything I can tell you tha wol help feel free to pm me.

Here is a link - it is stiff and doesn't knot up like other threads. It comes on a very large spool so you don't have to worry about running out

http://www.ylicorp.com/pdf/Hand_Quil...et_3-10-09.pdf

The only thing I do is hand-quilt. That's because I don't own a sewing machine, and never have. I probably wouldn't know how to turn one on let alone how to work it!!

I took a block I finished to show it off at Walmart to a couple of cash register women I know, and they were so impressed as my stiches were small and in straight lines from start to finish, they were utterly shocked that I didn't use a machine. But I can't use a machine, cause I don't have one!! I just started quilting last December, and have one done and 3 more I'm working on.

It's a real slow process, but fun to do. I just take my time.

I do both but unline most I learned hand quilting first...all my life actually. My mother and aunts had a quilting circle that met every Tues night when I was growning up. I was the needle threader! Now I am learning to machine quilt. Just learning but it's more of a time thing then the relaxation and enjoyment that I get from hand quilting. If there is ever anything I can help you with just PM me!!

I do hand and machine quilting both. I keep a project going. I also love to hand piece as well. It is just so lovely and relaxed. The piecing is much more accurate as well.

Thank you, Suzy, for the link. I'm going to be on the search for some once I stitch something up to use it on.
:)lots2do