It took me a good month to learn to relax. I was so tense wanting my stitches to be straight and small. Now I just do it and don't worry about it. I have found a my style which is sewing towards me using a thimble on my middle finger to rock the needle back and forth. I have just been trying a size 12 between and I like it. My stitches don't turn on me. It is a mental idea of not "how much I can get done" but rather "I am so glad to have this to do". I do not have a big "stash. I buy what I need then the with the left overs I make a scrap quilt but I am "getting my money's worth out of my purchase. That sounds rather miserly but it works. I have a small stash of material that I bought on sale but it fits into one plastic container. I have about two containers of scraps. I am amazed at the material that some of you quilter have but then you are making a lot more quilts than I am and I can see you need to have it on hand to be creative.

Most people quilt towards themselves. I use a floor frame, so I go towards myself and away. I use quilting betweens.

I 'stack the deck' for hand quilting. I prefer to use a batting that isn't needlepunched - my one experience with Warm and Natural was not fun. I use polyester, cotton (Blue Ribbon by Mountain Mist is nice), and I'm looking forward to using wool on my next quilt.

I keep the tension on the quilt in the hoop or frame loose, so it's easier to make stitches. Think of a cat sitting on the hoop - that's how loose it should be. It's harder to do the rocking stitch on the straight of grain, and easier on the bias - there's more flex on the bias. If you're stitching on the straight of grain, loosen the quilt a bit more.

While I can easily quilt batiks on the quilt top, I will not put batik on the back of the quilt - batik backed by batik is like quilting through concrete. I prefer plain muslin for the backing, so the quilt back looks like a wholecloth quilt.

I use a Roxanne and a TJ Lane thimble, using the pad of my finger, not the top. When I'm making the stitch, I start by going straight down through the layers until I can just feel the needle tip. When I feel it, I rotate the needle back until enough of the tip pokes through to make the size stitch I want, then I rotate the needle straight up again....then repeat until I have 3 or 4 stitches on the needle. For quilting away from myself I use a tailor's thimble on my thumb.

It does take practice, but it shouldn't be torture. I hope some of this helps you.

Janet

I will be following this thread. I have enjoy all kinds of handwork. Hand quilting is my next task to undertake. I have always used a large needle for my handwork so does this mean that I'll prefer a longer needle when quilting? I read where some started with larger needles then migrate to the smaller needles.

It would be very helpful if posters would include pictures of their items they use. There are many different kinds of thimbles etc. so having pictures would be greatly helpful. They could be pictures from store website even as that would very help knowing what to look for when purchasing for ourselves. Also when you hand quilt how did you prepare your quilt, what method? What frame or not do you use? If not, how to you hold the quilt in your lap? How long do you quilt at one time? If you hand quilt do you also machine quilt and explain why?

Pam M

Pam,
I agree with you, there are so many different tools available for hand quilting and and so many different ways to practice it. I for myself found out that I only need needles (betweens #11 or #12) and hand quilting thread! I quilt without a thimble, but this is just MY way.
I always baste the layers of my quilts together with basting thread. I don't like basting spray because I have the feeling that the "quilt sandwich" becomes quite stiff and the layers can't move against each other while quilting. I hand quilt in a 18" hoop on a floor stand. Normally I spend 6-8 hours hand quilting per day. I often make a break, go for a walk, do some housework or gardening to move my body. I am an avid hand quilter doing wholecloth quilts and I am sure I will never start machine quilting...but I am really full of respect for every quilter who is able to manage it.

I take my time hand quilting and find it relaxing. Maybe you are trying to do to much at one time. I believe if you take your time and do a little at a time, you will be fine.

I quilt in all directions. But I use a special thumb thimble to quilt away from myself and an "edged" thimble to quilt in the other directions. The "edge" on the thimble keeps the needle from slipping off the thimble.

http://www.quiltknit.com/NT202-TEDS-...LE_p_1397.html

http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?prod_id=8220

I put the needle straight down into the sandwich and then using the rocking motion, put 3-5 stitches on the needle before pulling it through.

I use a latex finger cot on the index finger of my sewing hand to help me hold onto the needle and pull it through the sandwich.

http://www.brucemedical.com/latfincot.html

I have an "ergonomic" quilting frame that tilts so that I don't stress my back, neck and arms. And I use an adjustable stenographer's chair, again, for the same reason.

I sit back, put on the TV or listen to audiobooks on my MP3 player, and enjoy the ride. Hours pass when I'm handquilting and I don't even notice...it seems like minutes because I'm in my own little "heaven".

I like it because you can do it almost anywhere. I dont use a hoop!

I am glad to see that I am not the only one who likes to quilt WITHOUT a hoop. We were taught that a hoop was vital but I just pin baste closely together and find I have much more control without a hoop because it is easier to manipulate from the bottom. I also use a leather thimble. But, for a large bed quilt, I just pay a Long Arm Quilter, LOL!

I use a lap hoop and I use between needles size 10 - I use a recessed thimble on my middle finger to push the needle through and pull the stitches up. I quilt right to left and downward towards myself. I do not stress about the size, etc of my sitches anymore - I make it fun now. I can sit for only about 2 hours the most at one time - otherwise I get bored. I have tried machine quilting once and it is okay but not for me. I admire the ones that do beautiful work with their machines. Handquilting is part of my therapy and I will never give this part up. :)

I was so glad to see this posting as I have been wanting to try hand quilting. Lots of information here.