djg

I am going to try to hand quilt a quilt I just finished. I have some of the blocks just plain white and I would like to hand quilt a design in the center of these plain squares. when I hand quilt the design is it okay of the stitches go through all layers and show up on the backing material? Just where do you suggest I go for some help ? Thank you for any help anyone can give me.

Tartan

When hand quilting, the stitches are supposed to go through to the backing fabric. Ideally the top and back stitches should appear the same. Work first on getting your stitches a consistent size and as you gain experience you can get them smaller. Hand quilting thread is heavier than regular sewing thread and most good brands will not tangle. I think there should be some youtube videos on hand quilting?

JustAbitCrazy

When I started handquilting, a mistake I made, which negatively impacted my results, was I didn't make BOTH hands work equally. My underneath hand wasn't doing much except deflecting the needle back to the top. And it should be helping more by manipulating the fabric, too. Both hands kind of wrinkle the fabric to help make the stitches. The quilting stitch is made by both the needle taking evenly spaced stitches through the quilt and by the quilt being manipulated to present the quilt to the needle's tip at evenly spaced intervals. The quilt must be loose in the hoop in order for you to manipulate it like that. Once I understood how to make both hands manipulate the fabric, things improved tremendously. Have fun with it!

NJ Quilter

Tartan has it right on the money. Hand quilting is a process to be enjoyed - not necessarily a race to the finish. Enjoy the process and your skills will definitely improve over time.

mckwilter

Check with the LQSs in your area and see if any are offering handquilting classes. Even if they aren't, they may know someone who would be willing to teach you. Also, I think there is a beginning hand quilting class offered on Craftsy. You could check them out.

As a relative beginner, I will share my limited wisdom with you: (1) Use good tools -- there are differences in threads and needles. And find a thimble that is comfortable because it will become your best friend. (2) Forget about speed. Enjoy the process of moving the needle through the fabric. Try to find a rhythm that works for you. (3) Don't worry about making small stitches, just make them a consistent size. Check out sashiko stitching, which can be used for quilting as well as decorative stitching. (4) If you work on it every day, you will finish it. I know that is slightly simplistic, but depending on the size of your quilt, there will be times when you look at it and think, "Am I ever going to finish this?" Have fun and good luck.

pal

Some wonderful person on the Quilting Board taught us how to thread 10 needles at the same time, so that you never have to stop and thread a new needle. I will try to explain it to you. Thread 10 (or any number) of needles, leaving the thread on the spool. After you have threaded them (the thread is still on the spool) put them in your pincushion and take one needle, pulling off the amount of thread you need. Make sure that you don't pull the thread out of the other needles. Do the same thing when you are ready for the next needle.

iwillquilt

I am taking a class on CRAFTSY. It has been a fun and easy experiance so far. I was impatient while she was talking about things. But I guess I maybe knew some things already and just wanted to get to the part I didn't know. For those that have no knowledge at all she gave lots of good information.

Pat625

I love to hand quilt- In actuality, the reverse of the design on the back of the quilt gives it a great look! I use stencils to make designs in the center of large blocks. I have found a very inexpensive place to order these: http://quiltingstencils.com/viewallblocks.aspx You can also find them in your fabric stores, but not the large selection available on line. I use the Americana thread that is available in Joanne's for 99 cents. I tried many of the more "designer" threads and was not happy with them. I also run the thread through Thread Heaven which is a thread conditioner. Enjoy the process!! I find it very relaxing

isewman

When hand quilting, make sure your needle. Goes thru all 3 layers. I hand quilt, and use a quilting/between size 11. Its a small needle. Play with different size needle. I think, my 1st hand quit top. I made, I used, I think a #9 or 10 for sure. But got introduced to 11's, and I'm hooked with them. As for you plain sq's, maybe you can go to a shop. And find a size for that sq. I've got a Dble wedding ring quilt, that I'm going to hand quilt. And I went to a quilting shop, and they pointed out a template to fill in the center with.

qwerty

YouTube has some good videos on hand quilting. I am working on my first hand pieced quilt which I plan to hand quilt. It is a twin size Jacobs Ladder. What I didn't find on YouTube was hand quilting on a frame rather than a hoop. Wonder how you learn to change directions since you can't rotate the frame?