Im new to quilting. I am starting a quilt throw 42inches 5 feet long and I am hand quilting by hand Indian designs. Can anyone please tell me What would be the best stitches to use?

Thanks,
Julia

Hand quilting is made up of a tiny running type stitch, using a short needle called an inbetween. I would suggest you first become familar with using this needle and practice hand quilting before attempting any intricate designs. YLI makes a wonderful quilting thread that I use. Purists will tell you to use a size 12 needle for hand quilting. I personally can't thread them, so use a 10 instead. It takes awhile to get your own feel and rythm so I would suggest taking a class or finding someone who hand quilts to give you pointers face to face.

When I teach hand quilting, I recommend a size 8 for beginners. Personally, I like a size 10 and can't manage a size 12 at all! I recommend using a PVC style quilting hoop (frame) in the 11X17 size and you will want a thimble with a safety ridge around the top. You can find good pictures online by googling "how to hand quilt" or looking in a basic quilt book like Fons and Porter's Quilters Complete Guide.

Taking a class is really the best way to learn this skill, because then you can see the motion involved. You want to focus on learning the rocking motion and getting that rhythm rather than the size of each individual stitch.