hand piecing as strong as machine piecing?
#22
When I hand piece, I use a single thread and back stitch every 3 or 4 stitches. Do a double knot beginning and ending each seam. Have old quilts that were all hand done and some are well worn with the stitching intact. Some of the fabrics are fraying, but the stitching is in place.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: South Texas
Posts: 584
I have some quilts I made over 25 years ago that still look pretty darned good. To this day, I still do all my piecing by hand, with a back stitch every inch or so. I do the hand piecing for 2 reasons. First, I find it very relaxing, but just as importantly, it is always portable, whereas the sewing machine is not so much. Just depends on your preference, I guess.
nanac
nanac
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 605
Hand piecing will last as long as the fabric. The solid back of the quilt takes much of the strain off of the handstitching. The quilting, whether hand or machine done adds additional strength. Don't worry about it not being strong enough to last.
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 1,053
If it's a straight running stitch, hand quilting may be weaker but I've had to rip out seams that I've sewed with a back-stitch every few stitches and it's actually harder to rip out than a line of machine stitching. Think about all the antique quilts, all hand-stitched that have survived for 100 years or more.
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
I think that hand piecing isn't as strong as machine sewing, BUT that it is strong enough for the average fabrics. IOW, it sounds like the sewing, if done decently, last longer than the fabric.
So, while I can't begin to see how hand piecing could be as strong as machine, it is strong enough.
So, while I can't begin to see how hand piecing could be as strong as machine, it is strong enough.
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