Greenheron

Try a practice square with top and liner and no batting.......

carolaug

Wow...I love it...you do not need smaller stitches this is beautiful!

bearisgray

It's also helpful to use shorter lengths of thread - I hate starting and finishing off - so I would be using a 36 inch length of thread - hard on the thread and a lot of wasted energy pulling that long length through.

Several authors suggest starting with about 18-20 inches - - I compromised - I use about a 36 inch length - but go about 15 inches in one direction - and then go about 15 inches with the other end of the thread.

Patchwork Pam

I concentrate more on even and straight stitches as opposed to tiny. I get less stressed about hq. My eyes are bad and I have carpal tunnel hands. I am just glad I can hq.lol I do admire those tiny stitches others can make.

DebbE

I don't get too hung up on stitch length either -- just watch for conformity, that all the stitches are the same. Going through a seam requires the stab & pull to keep the stitch length the same. I don't use a hoop most of the time. I use W & N, but I'm used to it. It's very true that hand quilting with wool batting is easier, though -- I did a quilt for my son years ago with wool batting and it turned out wonderful. At times if I'm doing a more 'primitive' piece I'll do larger & uneven stitches just for the effect and enjoy every moment of that, too!

Nell Dwyer

The size of the stitch doesn't matter as long as they are consistant through out the quilting

carolynjo

My take on this thread is that the more you quilt, the smaller your stitches will be. You seem to have the needle, thread, and now the tension correct. Just keep quilting and your stitches should get smaller. If not, the big stitch, if they are consistent in size will do just fine too. Keep on quiltin'.

carencake

Hi, food for thought. when I took cake decorating we were told there is no wrong as long as it is consistant and you are happy. I believe this is true for quilting too. I also do all hand piecing and quilting. As long as the reciepant is happy so am I. I've never gotten a complaint yet. It is the love that counts not the number of stitches. Enjoy your work.

lclang

I recently dug out a quilt top made 20 years ago and never quilted because I was waiting until I could do "better" quilting. What I have discovered is that my quilting is not going to get better. Over the last 20 years I have developed some arthritis in my fingers and my vision is not so hot any more, so the truth is this, finished is better than sitting in a box for the family to try to figure out what to do with it. So I am hand quilting it. Some of my quilting is pretty good and some will not win any prizes, but that's okay. At least I am making progress in getting it finished so someone can enjoy it. I have several more that I will hand quilt also. Years ago I wanted a quilting frame so I took an old card table with a metal frame and tore the old top off and wound the top rails with a layer of batting and then covered it with muslin. It made a really nice quilting frame, except that now I have back problems and can't use it, however the cat thought it was a kitty hammock and enjoyed whatever quilt was on it immensely! Just do the best you can do and carry on. I like a #12 needle even though they are difficult to thread. I do use painters tape or quarter inch masking tape for straight line guides and that works well. Neither of those tapes leave any residue on your fabrics. I can only get the quarter inch masking tape at the auto paint store in our area as our department stores don't carry it. I have used several brands of quilting thread and all worked okay. I do like Quilt Heaven to coat the thread and keep it from tangling and getting knots. Now I sit in my favorite chair without a frame and quilt away. I'm going to try gluing a quilt together with 505 to see if that is okay for hand quilting or if it is sticky enough to cause problems with pulling the thread through it all the time.

MarthaT

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...me-t81725.html I posted pics of it earlier on the board. Go to this link and you can see my frame. I have various lengths of sticks for all sizes of quilts. The ones pictured fit a baby quilt size.