Combining Hand and Machine Quilting
 

Good Morning!
I've read several posts online recently suggesting the use of combining hand and machine quilting on a quilt. The pictures offered don't show too much, and I know it's a personal preference, but I was wondering what the overall consensus of the Quilting Board members might be.

Nanscan, I have not combined the quilting processes but I have blended hand and machine piecing and then hand quilted one quilt. It looked good and kept me on track to finish the quilt in time for a wedding gift. With that said, it is obvious I am not a purist. I think much would depend on the quilt and the quilting pattern that is being used.

I can see one advantage to blending hand and machine quilting being learning a new skill or developing hand quilting while not committing to hand quilting a whole quilt. Good question. I will keep watching for what others think.

One reason I make things is that I can decide how to do them. I would definitely combine hand and machine quilting on a quilt. Whatever makes it look the way I want it to. I don't do hand quilting but I have a Sashiko machine that duplicates hand quilting and I've used both on a project.
You do you!

I've done hand quilting, applique and machine quilting all in one quilt - why not?

I have a gingerbread man quilt on my sofa now made with both. I forgot I'd done that one long ago. I think I've done it one more time when it became difficult for me to machine quilt. But they aren't any I've given away....

I have done hand quilting and some machine quilting on a quilt. Worked out just fine.

I combine the two quite often. The quilt I am snuggled under in my recliner right now, has machine quilting through the pieced blocks, and hand quilting in the hand appliquéd blocks. Lighting isn’t great this morning, but will see if I can attach a photo.
This was a BOM back in 2010
https://bunnyhillblog.com/2010/12/05...nally-a-quilt/

I have added hand quilting to a quilt that's mostly machine quilted to add a little emphasis to a feature in the quilt. It looks good!

Thimblebug, that's a lovely quilt!

I like the combination of hand and machine quilting, especially when used as Thimblebug has. Or machine quilting in the ditch with some "big stitch" quilting outlining a particular unit.

There are plenty of modern quilters doing this, have a look around Instagram. #bigstitchquilting would be a good place to start. It looks lovely. They do the machine quilting first, I believe. (I don't know how to machine sew, otherwise I'd have tried this.)

It generally takes me a few weeks to hand quilt a sofa quilt (around 5' × 6'), but I'm severely disabled and can only quilt for an hour or two a day. I typically space my quilting lines 1.5" apart, but it can get a bit closer, depending on the patterns I'm quilting. I suspect it's a lot quicker than many machine quilters realise. Make sure you pick a batting known to be good for hand quilting, though.

I've entered quilts in our County Fair with hand quilting, machine quilting and applique all combined and received Grand Champion on them so I say - go for it if it is the look you want.

I used to be a strictly hand quilter but it takes so long that I've learned that I need to finish my quilts in my lifetime! :)
No problems combining machine and hand work and I like it too. Adds to a quilt.

Just wondering, nanscan, what your objective is? What are you hoping to achieve that can not be done with either machine or hand quilting alone?

And if, in fact, the only or best way to get there is by combining the two, then know that the Quilt Police have been defunded. You do you!

Can’t wait to see what you make :-)

I have combined machine quilting with tying! I had a quilt made of big squares, but I did not know how to free motion quilting on my sit-down machine. So, I did straight line quilting on the sashing stitch i the ditch and then I used some subtle tack tying to stabilize the center of blocks. I had that quilt on my bed for a long time. It finally faded and the binding plain and simple wore out. One of my friends, will also stabilize the quilt with straight line quilting and then use big stitch quilting to add interest and even just hand embroidery in some spots. Yep, do what you want!

Why not? The Quilt Police can go cram their police-y opinions in their cramhole. 🤣