Krazyquilter,

I am a handquilter. While I do machine quilt my chairty quilts and items for small children I prefer hand quilting. I machine piece and applique when absolutely necessary but I prefer to do wholecloth or someone else's piecing or appliquing. I prefer to do craft and garmet sewing so the majority of my quilt peicing are basic simple patterns. I once worked for a Bernina dealer who made ends meet by doing custom dressmaking and alterations. I was the one who got to do most of the hand finishing in the shop. They laughed at me because I used a quilting "between" needle to hem garmets etc.

The shop owner probably figured that you would not be a good customer because she thought you would take so long to finish a project that you wouldn't purchase much. Our society is general seems to be in an awlful hurry. The joke is on them. Handwork can be as fast or faster than machine, a whole lot less expensive and totally portable. I am famous for hand quilting those preprinted panels into wall hangings as gifts. Just this summer I gave two of them as gifts to a niece and a nephew that got married. I can whip out one of them in a week or so of watching TV in the evening. Don't let anyone talk you out of your handwork. According to doctors it is great for your bloodpressure.

Krazy Quilter

Don't let her get to you. I guess I'm lucky. My LQS DOES have c;lasses in hand piecing and hand quilting. In fact, there is a new method out by the Thimblelady on how to quilt without pricking your finger. The hand piecing class usually uses the Grandmother's Flower Garden hexagons to teach the technique.

However, as Contrary Mary said, Jenny Byer is very well know for her hand piecing. She says she doesn't have time to go sit at a machine. But she always has something bagged up (in a ziploc bag) ready to grab on her way out the door to work on.

I'm also doing a Grandmother's Flower Garden for that reason. As I sit and listen during seminars, I am able to stay awake and alert if I have something to do with my hands.

Check out Jenny Byers site. I have her book, and there's really nothing to learn about hand piecing EXCEPT sewing from 'dot to dot'. Jenny has a good book on the subject of hand piecing if you're interested.

I haven't really gotten to the hand quilting yet (haven't actually finished a quilt), but I intend to hand quilt most, if not all, of my quilts.

I too hand piece and hand quilt and love it too. My prob is not others but myself:)I want too many quilts and never enough time...so, I do 'cheat' as I call it and machine them too. :0) I love both avenues of quilting. I have purchased an amazing appliq. quilt that is just the top. All hand done and I will hand quilt that -for it is only right to do so:))I have many friends that machine piece yet hand quilt. And, you have to realize in a situation like you experienced is it is prob someone w/the serious lack of 'people skills' and communication:))And, we also have to remember that those mean girls from middle school...remember them...the insecurity issues, etc...they did grow up and go somewhere:))LOL Keep doing what your heart desires...I enjoy the rhythm of hand work and the looks of it too:0).....smile at ignorance!:))Skeat

I love to see hand quilted quilts and in awe of anybody who hand quilts. I do not have the patiences. Although I am going to try it after the first of the year. Wish me luck. :D

The store keeper was just seeing missed sales as Cathe said.

Too funny but absolutely right!!!!!!

:roll: I dont hand piece much because it hurts the side of my finger.But I feel terrible when I say I dont care for machine quilting and they give you that" look"...........If I were you,I would do what I wanted and ignore them.If your happy thats all that matters.

I probably wouldn't go back to that shop again! I would love to handpiece and quilt a project, my LQSs all have at least one class per quarter on handpiecing or quilting and a few even have a hand pieced and quilted year long sampler classes. I'm really sorry that you were treated that way, I truly do'nt believe that is even close to being how the majority of machine sewers feel about the hand sewers! :-)

The very first quilt I finished was a grandmothers flower garden . My Grandmother made all the flowers but never put them together . This was done in either the 30's or 40's. They stayed in her cedar chest . She raised me and shw passed away in 1982 . In 2000 I finally got brave and put it together by hand . No machine sewing except for the border or binding . It isn't finished like it should be , but it's fine with me . Such a treasure to keep ! :D I had a smarty asked me why didn't you machine sew it ? I tried to politely tell her that it was already started by hand and that's how I finished it . Still more sassy remarks . I guess some people think if you don't do it by machine it's awful or something .
I was handquilting preprinted panels and got the same response . I just think that some things are better hand quilted . Annie

Congrats to all hand quilters. I don't have the patience for that, but I really admire those who do. I have some wonderful hand pieced/quilted quilts that my husband's grandmother and mother have done and I really cherish them.

DD

What a treasure from yoru gmother! I'm sure you will forever see that quilt and remember her and the hard work she did and the hard work you did out of love for her to complete it!!! :!: :!: I might have to take your idea of starting on a smaller preprinted panel to hqnd quilt. I would love to do it!

Let's face it, gals. Some people are just not talented enough to do things by hand!!!!

I think it takes talent and patience to quilt regardless of the techniques used.

I think the bias used to be against machine quilters for not putting the "time into it" as handquilters did....maybe this is some type of backlash.

I prefer to think of each person doing their best and enjoy seeing various techniques from everyone. I only know how to hand quilt but I like seeing how others are able to use a home machine or longarm to make a beautiful quilt and cut the time for someone to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

I've tried machine quilting and it's just awful for me. For those who do this well, great job----I wish I had your skill sets.

I prefer hand quilting because it is incredibly relaxing for me and I feel a connection to the other quilters in my family. I learned to machine piece and do get an evil eye every once in a while for not doing the whole thing by hand....honestly, I'd never be able to finish projects if I didn't use a machine from time to time.

For those who are able to do an entire project by hand, my hat's off to you. I look forward to the day I'll be able to do that as well. In the mean time, I'll do what is best for me and for the people I quilt for. I hope we can all find something nice to say about other's work regardless of the methods used.

Don't sweat it. There is a horse's behind born every minute. I envy anyone that can hand sew a whole quilt. I had carpal tunnel in both hands so I can't do much of it. My dear little grandmother quilted by hand. She died when I was a year old so she never got to teach me quilting but I inherited all her talents. She did beautiful little stitches. I have some of her blocks that were stitched by hand. You want to hear something funny. I took 4 big bags of material that I knew I would never use to a group of church ladies that meet once a month to sew for missions. One of the ladies acted like I spit on the floor when I told her I only machine quilted. She didn't treat me very nice. Oh well, I can live with it. :?

Unfortunately, there are people who are rude and frankly there are people who are never pleased no matter what. Shake your head and be thankful that there are people online who relate. You aren't alone and we should all be patting admin on the back for providing this board and the wonderful atmosphere we can share in. :) :) :)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ADMIN & MODERATORS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!!!!!!

I remembered today that we have a festival not too far from here and they auction off quilts after a quilt show and all the proceeds go to this children's home. They request the quilts donated to be hand done:))Why...for they bring more in this setting. Good thing...:0)Skeat

Mary when you first start handquilting your stitches aren't small . You just need to practice and eventually your stitches become smaller . I heard an experienced quilter on " Simply Quilts " say your stitches don't have to be small , just consistant in length . My stitches aren't that small but not big either . I never measured mine .

I recently started doing something . I've sewed for over 35 years and I never liked the way a whip stitch looks . Especially on my quilt binding . I started using the invisible stitch that is used in needle turn applique . Totally invisible :D I like the way it looks a lot better . Give it a try . Annie

I had a fun day today...I went to my quilt class, where when I started out quilting, I started out doing it by hand for a machine scared the daylights out of me:)). I usually take in stitchery for a quilt, binding, etc. Today, we worked on a quilt together. There were 3 of us working together, all using our own hoops hand quilting a quilt for a lady in our group that had a stroke a year ago and even though she is doing really good, she has had a time trying to get this quilt done. (she started it before the stroke)She doesn't usually miss often, but, had to today due to apptmts. The 3 of us sat on a corner w/our own hoops and hand quilted away. We have her all done except a couple of her drawn circles and there we left the needle in for her and tucked it back into her bag. She will come next week and we will again, not speak a word of what was done and she will think she has done all of this by herself. We discussed as we sat so close everything from kids in school, husbands and how we can solve all the world's problems. There is what is good about hand quilting. Moments shared together like that. I just thought 'how awesome'!! Just thought I'd share some more today..with you:))Skeat

Let's face it. The hand quilter takes longer to complete a project. The more projects you have the more material you buy. This means you are not purchasing material as frequently as a machine quilter. The quilt store owner wants you to purchase more material and possibly in selling sewing machines, which means more money for her. I've found that most shop owners are quilters/sewers themselves and are more than helpful and willing to spend time with their customers and appreciate your patronage. This one sounds like the rotten apple in a barrel or maybe she just had a bad hair day. :roll: :roll: