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Do you hand quilt?

Do you hand quilt?

Old 03-27-2010, 09:59 AM
  #31  
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I was taught how to quilt back in the early 80's by a lady that made everyone in class hand piece and hand quilt their first quilt. It taught us all alot about patience, really looking at what we were doing and the look we wanted to get. I've since learned to machine piece and quilt....and do some of both. Hand quilting means one or two quilts a year, whereas machine quilting will give me 5-6.... But I always have one in my lap to hand quilt while watching TV. I agree...very relaxing and stress relieving!
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Old 03-27-2010, 10:52 AM
  #32  
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I hand quilt and machine quilt. I hand quilt to relax,and machine quilt when I need to get the quilt done.For example I am currently making a pink ribbon quilt for the Relay for Life at my job.It will be raffled off and the money will go for breast cancer research.My machine quilting is done on a regular sewing machine with a walking foot and a method called quilt as you go.
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Old 03-27-2010, 10:55 AM
  #33  
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I love the look of hand quilting, and love to do it, but I just don't have time to do it. I have gone to having my quilts machine quilted. At least they will get done in my lifetime!
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Old 03-27-2010, 11:06 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by craftybear
Do you hand quilt?

I am also learning to hand quilt! Sure takes practice, practice, practice.

I love to hear from others that hand quilts? Maybe you can give us tips and tricks, books that you enjoy, etc.

Happy Quilting by Hand

Craftybear
I love hand quilting and people are amazingly complimentary about my stitches and I mean members of my quilting chapter and our guild officers when they visit - it has amazed me as until joining a chapter here 2 years ago, I've not had the opportunity to be around other quilters and am totally self taught. I don't use a hoop or frame but have tried using both and couldn't tolerate them. As a result, I pin baste heavily and then hand baste 3 inches apart top to bottom and side to side - very heavily basted. I prefer hand quilting as it gives a puffy look to my quilts and my batting of choice is the low loft polyester sold in a bag at JoAnn Fabrics. The members of my quilt chapter tried hard to convert me to 100% cotton until one guild meeting we had a well known presenter who hand quilts as much as she machine quilts and her batting of choice for hand quilting is polyester as well and to give the quilt dimension and puff. Never heard of such a thing myself, just a personal choice for me so hearing it put me on cloud 9. The does use warm and natural for all of her machine quilting projects and she does all of her machine quilting on a home sewing machine - no long arm for her. Too bad I can't remember her name because many of you would recognize her name.

I can't use a thimble. LOL. Found myself with my thimbled finger constantly sticking up out of the way and of totally no benefit or use. When my fingers get sore I use bag balm to treat them and will put masking tape or a bandaid in the tender area and it does the trick until the callous forms again. I have tried all kinds of thimbles so far without success and a hand quilter looks totally stupid sitting there happily quilting away with a wayward finger.

I do quilt as you go using a variation of the Marti Michell "Machine Quilting in Sections Book." She was written up several times in Woman's Day Magazine years ago and that's when I realized that yes, I can do this quilting thing if I use her technique. Over the years, my "Patty Style" has evolved and i work in panels. I recently bought her book because several friends in my quilt chapter want to learn how to do it but on their sewing machines and my specific modification will NOT work with machine as it would put too much fabric back on the machine. She has several approaches to quilt as you go in panels so something should work for most and yes, I do have seams on the back. My quilts done this way over 20 years ago, those seams have held up beautifully. The little mending I've had to do on my daughter's quilts was not to those seams but to areas of fabric that have worn thin or been torn.
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Old 03-27-2010, 11:06 AM
  #35  
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oh I love your discription of a finger cot. LOL but you are right
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Old 03-27-2010, 11:08 AM
  #36  
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I have been known to show up in the grocery store with a thimble on my finger. "senior moment'
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Old 03-27-2010, 11:12 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by butterflyquilter
I hand quilt but I can't get the hang of thimbles or cots so I put clear nail polish (several thick coats) on my thumb and finger to give them a protective coat so they don't get sore.
I'd wondered if nail polish would work but since I don't wear it, don't own any. Have to give that a try. Thanks for the tip.
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Old 03-27-2010, 01:30 PM
  #38  
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I always hand quilt. once you master the art, it is rewarding.
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Old 03-27-2010, 01:31 PM
  #39  
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I have been quilting for 3 years, mostly hand quilting. I use the "Underthimble" for my hand under the quilt and a leather thimble with the metal disk in it on top. The under thimble eliminated the sore finger. However, it is so comfortable when I finsh quilting I sometime forget I have it on my finger. I have lost a couple of them this way.
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Old 03-27-2010, 02:02 PM
  #40  
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Hi, I love to hand quilt...it is a "meditation" of sorts time for me...I lived in a very small town in Iowa where a group of quilters(ages 62---97) met weekly and we quilted on a squared frame. That's where I learned. You are right that practice is the way to perfection once you know the method. Just be kind to yourself. I don't like a hard timble so I use the kind that glues onto your tip. Also, I am left-handed so I am sure some quilters find my position different??? But it works for me. I live in Missoula, Montana where there are lots of wonderful quilts created but they are all machine quilted....not for me. keep practicing. betsylou
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