I hand quilt and machine piece. I feel like the last of the dinosaurs. Like another quilter, when I sit down and quilt it is like taking a whole bottle of Valium and the stress just leaves me. ( I don't take Valium).
I have sent a few to the longarmer but do not like the feel of the quilt when it comes back...feels like a cheap K-mart quilt. (Sorry, ladies).
I can take the quilt with me and quilt wherever I am because I use a lap pvc 14" frame (I think it is meant for needle work) but it keeps the tension on the back ideal so no puckers.
I am not giving it up. NEED more time to quilt!!!

I started hand quilting in 1986 and did about 10 quilts by hand quilting. Then I began machine quilting with a short arm machine and 10' frame. I still hand quilt some wall hangings. I do almost all Free Motion Quilting and really enjoy it but I still love the hand quilted quilts.

I also started quilting in the early 80's. I have always hand quilted. I have a Grace EZ3 floor frame that I use to quilt my larger quilts and use a lap hoop for quilting my smaller quilts. I do not use a thimble, just can't get use to them. Right now, I hand quilt about 98% of my quilts. I took a Quilting with your walking foot class from Craftsy and some of my smaller quilts will be done by machine.

sailsablazin, about three years ago I also started to machine piece, and I also hand quilt most of my quilts. So you're not the only dinosaur around here <smile>. I finished a BOM recently but the quilt was to big for my Grace EZ3 floor frame so I sent it out to a longarmer. It looks great and has a nice feel, almost as good as one of my hand quilted quilts. Now, this has been the only quilt I have ever sent to a longarmer so my experience is rather limited. I would do it again if the need arises again.

I do hand quilt and use my favorite thimble--a Tommy Lane Thimble. It is wonderful! I can sling my hand and it does not dislodge. She used to have a booth at quilt shows where she measures your finger and makes you one to fit.

I like to hand quilt best---but for children's quilts, or donation quilts, I will do stitch in the ditch or have it machine quilted......or do a combination SID with hand quilting. I really admire the complexity of some of the machine quilters....It is an art in itself. But I hope hand quilting doesn't die out...

I never heard of that kind. I've never been able to use those pretty silver ones, only the leather works. It's such an individual thing.

I was a hand quilted until a few months ago when I started having problems with my right wrist. I miss it! Quilting my quilts was never one of my favorite things, but I liked the old look. My favorite part of the process of quilting is putting the quilts together.

You want to talk about dinosaurs, I still cut pieces with scissors!! And use a SInger 185J that is one year younger than me (60).

I don't know you use leather thimbles, I have worn holes in the end of two metal thimbles! I use the kind with a ridge on the end.

I have tried off and on for years, but have GREAT difficulty in maintaining an even stitch length. Frustrates me when I look at it and looks like 2 different people have been stitching. (haha)