Flying_V_Goddess

I machine quilt because I lack the skill and patience to hand quilt.

mamabird3

I love handquilting best but I handquilted a quilt a year ago for the very last time. I had about 60 hours into it. And probably a good 55 of those hours were painful. My arm for some reason just can't take it anymore. So I now only do machine, which by the way I am terrible at!!!

k3n

I've always hand quilted until recently when I got a machine that'll drop it's dogs so have done a bit of FMQ now. I love the speed of machine quilting and it can be beautiful - look at the work of some on here (Patti, Jaquemoe, Katrine etc...) And we're talking regular machines, not long Arms. I know there are some machines that have an antique stitch which leaves the spaces KLue mentions. But of course, the stitches are uniform; I love the process of hand quilting and agree that it gives a different 'feel' to a quilt. I think each have their place and one is not better than the other - just a different process. :D

sawsan

If your project is small: hand quilting is easy and fun . 4 big quilt, thin batting ,patient: machine is okay to me Good luck

oksewglad

Ditto, amma.

hsquiltingmom

I like to hand quilt, but it takes me forever. I have been working on a queen size quilt for about 4 months now. I am getting done, but it does take a while. I like hand quilting, because if there are friends who like to quilt, you can set up a quilting bee.

I did do my first machine quilted quilt for a friends baby. I wanted to get it done, so I machine quilted it. I have not taken any classes, but have taught myself through reading books. I had the feet that were needed, because the sewing machine was given to me from my parents. I like both, and I will continue to work on my machine quilting skills.

illinois

I enjoy hand quilting but wish I did a nicer job of it. Practice, practice, practice. Both have a place. I machine quilt the ones for the kids that will not be "respected" for the time I've put into hand quilting. I do not like the machine quilting with its own design. My opinion is that quilting should compliment the piecing or design of the quilt, not ignore it with another design. What really bothers me is a beautifully embroidered quilt that has taken many, many hours and then machine quilted. If you care enough to spend that kind of time on the embroidery, then follow suit and hand quilt it! Sometimes it is easier to hand quilt than to stuff all of that fabric under the presser foot if I'm doing a bed-sized quilt.

bisque

Hi,
Recently finished King size quilt for Daughter-in-law. Designed my own quilt and pattern. Made baskets, hand appl handles of baskets on, added corners to blocks, then decided to hand embrodery heart designs around corners, then added same color pink/burgandy as in basket, for shashing, then added border in white then the same pink/burgandy color about 10 inch finished border. Tried "hand look" quilting, would take forever, took out, did 1/4" seam quilting, didn't like, tried hand quilting, not good with that, finally did in the ditch by machine, took a while used walking foot and started in center then out to outer borders. Worked out beautiful and did not bunch or pucker. Practice and Patience was the key to regular walking foot, machine quilting for me, used table and iron board to help "hold" quilt level while working on it. Beautiful. Quilted since little girl, I'm now a great Grandmother. I am a Quiltaholic!

kasmitty1

The smaller quilts (like lap quilts and wall hangings, I'll machine quilt. It really stresses me out, though. The larger ones I send to a lady who lives close by and I pay her to use her long arm. I don't think I'd have the patience to hand quilt and especially keep all the stitches straight and consistant. Maybe someday. A few years ago I said I'd never be able to learn how to quilt anything. See how things change...

mytwopals

I exclusively machine quilt. My hand sewing leaves much to be desired. My large man hands tire very easily sewing by hand.