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Hi,
What kind of YLI do you use? I'm going to take the plunge and piece something quickly so I can practice my hand quilting. Have loads of the stiff Coats and Clark stuff I bought long ago but would prefer to try this out. Thanks, lots2do
Originally Posted by SuzyM
The quilt tells me if I will hand or machine quilt. I took a hand quilting class a long time ago and it was well worth the money. I quilt on a hoop, use inbetween needles, and YLI thread which I absolutely love and I invested in a Roxanne thimble. The thimble is pretty pricey but I have yet to find a fabric I cannot push a needle through with it.
I work in payroll and during the months of December and January life is pretty crazy here at work so at night I would go home and hand quilt and it would reduce my stress level almost immediately. |
I have always hand quilted.I might run a seam up on the machine, but I hand quilt everything, even full bed quilts. I love it and find it relaxing.
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I recently took a class on the Thimblelady hand quilting method and really enjoyed it. It's much easier than the regular rocking method. You can google "Thimblelady" or her name is Liuxin Newman.
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lfw045
Could you tell us more about quilting without a frame? I have wanted to try that, but I am afraid my stitches will be pulled too tight or not tight enough. A teacher at local quilt shops quilts small items without a frame and teaches how she does it, but her classes have never been available when I could take it, or they were full. Do you do large quilts without a frame also? |
Hand quilting is the only way I know how to quilt. It is a dieing art with all the new technology. there are several tips and pointers I could give you. Such as...hiding your knots. How to make a knot. How to use a rockin motion with your needle. How to use a hoop or a frame. The best size needle to use. Anything you'd like to know. I'll try to help. Ask me anything abot machine quilting and I'll tell you up front, I'm a dummy. I know nothing. Anything I can tell you tha wol help feel free to pm me.
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Originally Posted by lots2do
Hi,
What kind of YLI do you use? I'm going to take the plunge and piece something quickly so I can practice my hand quilting. Have loads of the stiff Coats and Clark stuff I bought long ago but would prefer to try this out. Thanks, lots2doquote] http://www.ylicorp.com/pdf/Hand_Quil...et_3-10-09.pdf |
The only thing I do is hand-quilt. That's because I don't own a sewing machine, and never have. I probably wouldn't know how to turn one on let alone how to work it!!
I took a block I finished to show it off at Walmart to a couple of cash register women I know, and they were so impressed as my stiches were small and in straight lines from start to finish, they were utterly shocked that I didn't use a machine. But I can't use a machine, cause I don't have one!! I just started quilting last December, and have one done and 3 more I'm working on. It's a real slow process, but fun to do. I just take my time. |
I do both but unline most I learned hand quilting first...all my life actually. My mother and aunts had a quilting circle that met every Tues night when I was growning up. I was the needle threader! Now I am learning to machine quilt. Just learning but it's more of a time thing then the relaxation and enjoyment that I get from hand quilting. If there is ever anything I can help you with just PM me!!
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I do hand and machine quilting both. I keep a project going. I also love to hand piece as well. It is just so lovely and relaxed. The piecing is much more accurate as well.
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Thank you, Suzy, for the link. I'm going to be on the search for some once I stitch something up to use it on.
:)lots2do |
I want to do some hand quilting again, I hope my hand holds out.
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Originally Posted by feline fanatic
Originally Posted by Gal
I used the nail on my thumb to push the needle through it is very strong and I had no trouble, however I was quilting away from me instead of towards myself, I realise that now since I watched a lady on Utube!
Gal :roll: |
I, too, learned to quilt by hand first and love to as you say to "lose" myself in the serenity of rocking my needle in and out. I used to use beeswax or parafin on my quilting thread but found it left a stainning residue so I began using dryer sheets. My allergies and asthma got worse so I now use a pincushion filled with my own hair (that came out of my hairbrush...I dont cut my hair) and this makes my needle and thread glide more smoothly thru the quilt. I also thread several needles on to the thread spool and just pull one and the thread to working lenth and so rotate my needles. I use a size 9 and 10 needle because smaller needles help you make smaller stitches. I have listened to many audio books and movies while I quilt!! Very peaceful and relaxing.
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when I hand quilt I use a large hoop, round or the rectange/square plastic ones. Sometimes I just quilt without any holder. I have a couple of floor frames, but no longer use them. Cumbersome and take up too much space.
For thread I mainly use Bottom Line - the thread hardly shows, but the indentation does. I'll use one of Superior Threads verigated heavier weight when I want colors showing. www.superiorthreads.com |
Crafty, I hand quilt... I have done one, a t-shirt quilt by machine.... I love to hand quilt, it is very relaxing, I love the repetition....I have a custom thimble, a gift to myself, that I love... I yes I have stuck the dickens out of myself...I may try the leather thingie....
As for hoops, I used to use them all the time and also the floor stand one... The floor one becomes awkward if you are turning the design. I only bend so many directions. Then I tried just a large hoop, that's ok. I am currently working on a baby quilt, a single piece top, cartoon dinasaurs, which I am quilting around the characters and scenery, and it is just too many turns to put in a hoop, also gets difficult around the edges... so I tried it with no hoop..... Works quite well, think you have to make sure you have basted or pinned well to keep everything flat....I may leave the hoop off for good! Ellen |
what needles do you like to use when you are hand quilting?
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I have tried machine quilting but didn't like it so I always hand quilt so much more relaxing using the rocking method its not always perfect but every stitch is done with love - I use a lovely little leather thimble that I bought on a trip to Pennsylvania 7 years ago and its still going strong - when it gets a bit loose I soak it in water and it shrinks back - no real tips - just enjoy
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Yes I hand quilt,use num. 11 or 12 tween needle til I break it. lol. use a thinble and forget i hnve it on. I use a floor stand hoop or pvc frame my som made for me. Have so many tops that i need to quilt. I also hand piece and machine piece. Needle turn applique,and many other hand neele works,knit,chrochet etc. Of course I need to get off this thread to do much. lol
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Crafty, I like the #7 betweens. They are short, but seem to work better for me....
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I guess I lost this thread for a while and didn't respond to a couple of people asking questions about hand quilting without a hoop. I must apologise for that.
I just simply use big saftey pins to baste my quilt......lots of them! I then start in the middle and quilt my way out to the edges, removing the pins as I get to them. I just sit on the sofa or chair with my feet up and have the quilt in my lap and around me and go for it. It's fun and relaxing to quilt in this manner....for me anyway. I use a 10 or 11 between needle......a leather thimble on my middle finger and a finger cot on my thumb for pulling the needle through when needed. To prevent puckering of the stitches just smooth them out as you go and don't pull too tight when pulling the needle through. Just relax with it. Hope that helps someone trying to hand quilt without a hoop. |
I love hand quilting. I use a leather thimble. I used to use finger cots but they kept tearing and didn't last long. I went to my local office supply store and purchased a little rubber finger tip used to sort papers. It's much stronger and I've been using for 2 years. If you have trouble with the rocking motion you might have your quilt to tight in the hoop. You need it to be a little loose.
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I do both, but prefer hand quilting. I recently sold my LA to my best friend who allows me to still use it as I need to. (Great friend!)
karen |
Where did you get your safety pins? I ask because I bought a large box of the supposedly "quilt" ones, at my most hated fabric store, Hancocks (they were on clearance, I only buy their notions on sale),they are bent in the middle. The problem is the point is not smooth and even if I try to take sandpaper to them and smooth , they pull batting thru the fabric. Now I buy the high quality batting and fabric, but these damn pins are not worth a hoot.....should I just go with the regular old safety pins???? Or is the problem the size of the pin?
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I have been quilting--self-taught--since the '70's, all by hand. As I get older, the eyes growing weaker, I will be forced to start doing machine quilting. I have tried to practice on a 20" square sandwich that is pin-basted and am having a terrible time! I have a walking-foot on my machine that I have tried. I have also dropped the feed-dogs and used the darning foot (circle thingy with hole in the middle where needle goes up and down. I simply can't get the hang of it. Can you help me with some tips and tricks? Thanks so much!
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Originally Posted by ellenmg
Where did you get your safety pins? I ask because I bought a large box of the supposedly "quilt" ones, at my most hated fabric store, Hancocks (they were on clearance, I only buy their notions on sale),they are bent in the middle. The problem is the point is not smooth and even if I try to take sandpaper to them and smooth , they pull batting thru the fabric. Now I buy the high quality batting and fabric, but these damn pins are not worth a hoot.....should I just go with the regular old safety pins???? Or is the problem the size of the pin?
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I hand quilt...I am slow but I do enjoy it very much...
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I am a hand quilter, always have been. I keep thinking I ought to learn to machine quilt, simply for the production boost it would afford me, but I really don't enjoy time spent at my sewing machine. I machine piece for the most part, it's efficient, but I don't really like it.
But I truly LIKE hand quilting. It's relaxing. The repetitive hand movements free the mind to dream, plan, or worry, whichever is appropriate for the day. I go in my room almost every night and spend several hours hand quilting. When something comes up that I cannot, my day does not feel complete. |
I hand quilt most of my tops, some I have sent to a machine quilter, I tell myslef that i will do it on my machine but then I chicken out. I but the big old fashioned diaper pins to pin baste . They are the sharpest and dont rust.
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