I'm a newbie who hand quilts. I'm quilting a 9 patch and am quilting around each patch. I'm still trying to get my stitches smaller and even but have a problem when I'm stitching over the seam allowance that has been pressed to one side. Have you ever used templates or stencils for your design? This would mean less stitching over the bulky edges?

great question - I am a newbie hand basting my first quilt to be hand quilted, will be following all the responses - thanks for asking

Yes, I have used a stencil marked on the fabric. I also have stitched over the seam allowances - I usually cheat to get teh needle through.

Yes, you can most definitely use templates or stencils for designs. I keep a book of designs for reference and have a standard set of stencils in the common sizes.

Check your library for a book called Amish Quilt Designs (full size) by Gwen Marston and Joe Cunningham. This is a good basic reference to keep on your shelf. You can use a copy machine to make the designs larger or smaller.

Start with a sz 7 between needle and practice until your stitches are even then move up to a sz 9 or sz 11. Knot your thread on the end you cut from the spool and never use a piece longer than 16 or 18 inches at a time. Use bees wax on your thread or use a coated quilting thread. Use a slightly thicker weight thread than you would in a sewing machine.

I have used lots of stencils-some plastic cut outs I purchased (use a chalk ponce or special pen/pencil), I also have made my own, copying a design on paper and sewing over the lines with a fat machine needle and no thread and using them with chalk pounce. I have also used a light box to copy designs on the quilt top before sandwiching. I also have just free-hand stippled. Besides SID and outlining, I guess I have done it all. It all works-just have to decide what method would be best for the design you want for a particular quilt.

To be honest, I really hate hand quilting over seam allowances, so I go out of my way to avoid them, either by designing quilts with lots of wide open spaces, or choosing designs that avoid the seams.

If I do have to go over the seam allowance, I sometimes stab stitch, or use a backstitch. I also try not to go nuts making those stitches match the rest of my quilting. Close enough is good enough.

Janet

When going over "intersections", if the fabric is too thick, I don't go all the way to the back with my needle. Sometimes I only go through the fabric and catch a little of the batting.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Good advice Janet - enjoy your quilting & don't let it stress you. Each stitch is a little bit of your love put into the quilt, so it is always a beautiful part of you.

Also, practice, practice - once you get a method you're comfortable with, in no time you'll love your results. :lol:

I do that too. Sometimes it's just too thick.

Janet

That is what I do as well.

Thanks for your suggestions. I think I'm using a 9 or 10 (not sure) and it seems to be working fine when I'm not going over the bulky seams. I think I'll use a template when I get ready to quilt the borders.

My only hint is I use a "warm up" piece. So at night, when I curl up to hand quilt for a bit, I start by stitching on a "warm up" piece. Once my fingers and hands get into a rhythm I switch over to my project.

I make a "warm up" piece from leftover quilt squares etc. that will eventually become potholders, or mug rugs etc. Things that don't require the finest stitching I can produce!

Good luck! Sounds like you're going great so far!!!

What a really handy tip - thanks for sharing

just keep at it. it will get better with time. Good luck and enjoy your time at the frame.

I use stencils all the time. They are wonderful. For the most part I've gotten away from SID quilting for this very reason. Also another reason I press my seams open. I try to find stencils that are complimentary to the quilt, either flowing or boxy - you get the idea. Now my latest quilt was a table topper, carpenter's star/wheel and the fabrics were very bold. I just wanted the quilt pattern to speak so I only did SID. Painful but what I wanted for that piece.

All advice I've ever gotten is NEVER press seams open because it weakens the seam when hand pieced. Do you have any problems with that?

i will also try to avoid seams. Sometimes I will run the needle under the top layer to the other side of the seam and start stitching again.

I wouldn't press a hand pieced seam open, but that's me. I pressed machine pieced seams open on my latest project, which I hope to be hand quilting soon. I'm hoping it all works out okay.

Janet

I typically machine piece my quilts. I've never had an issue with the seams being pressed open. Neither with weak seams or with batting coming through. Hand piecing may present other issues. I've only hand pieced one quilt - a tumbling block and did english paper piecing with it so the seams were done to the side on that one.

I think this is why "echo quilting" was devised... to stay away from the bulky seams and just echo them, maybe 1/4" or 1/2" away.

I press seams to the side, not open. When quilting over seam allowances, you can use the thumb of your top hand to press down on the fabric above the point of the needle as it's coming back up to the top- this helps control the length of the stitch. If the seam is just too bulky, stab stitching works- just push the needle straight down all the way through the fabric, then use your bottom hand to poke it back up where you want the next stitch to start. Over time, as you practice, practice, practice, it will become second nature. And yes, you sure can use stencils, etc. to make different quilting designs!

I agree. I like the 1/4" dimension for echo quilting and have done it often.

I am hand quilting a quilt that has star fabric in it. So I am quilting using a star stencil. I used a cookie cutter to make a stencil. Using a Bohn ceramic pencil to trace.

I also only press to the side...I have used stencils, or just drawn around the shape of a template I have made from think cardboard or quilting template...like a dove, angel, heart, etc. on a faith, hope, love quilt...I use a sliver of soap for dark fabric to mark it, purple pen for light fabric...Or, if I am feeling brave, I will eyeball it...when it comes to seams, I have used the stab and stitch to get thru all of the layers...good luck to you,
Kif

As a hint to get your stitches smaller, don't do a running stitch.It is a stabbing stitch - straight down into the fabric and then up again so that you make a sort of rocking motion.It is also easier to stitch over the seams with this motion.Stencils keep the pattern even.

While shopping Wednesday for fabric, I was lucky enough to find one of those needle pullers discussed last week. It works great but I will have to practice wearing it all the time. Currently, I just keep it close at hand so I can use it when I need a little extra grip to pull the needle through.

What also works is a wide elastic. I cut it up and use it to pull the needle through if needed

If you quilt "by the piece" you won't have to quilt through the seams. Perfect for nine patch. Only problem is there is twice the quilting. Quilt 1/4" from seams on all sides of each seam. I am doing a quilt with 3 inch squares now. I have to admit I'm about to decide I will never get it all quilted.

Teddysmom, I heard several years ago, when Alex Anderson had her quilt show, she said that it is fine to press machine sewn seams open. You would do that on clothing and that holds up. When most quilts were hand pieced, then yes, you want the seam pressed to one side. That said, I do find that pressing to one side makes the section pressed towards stand out more than the other..
I only hand quilt, and use store-bought stencils, make my own from cardboard soda packages, love my pounce.

Aurora, how do you use the elastic as a needle puller???

I agree about pressing seams open. I'm going to start looking for stencils and odd-shaped templets for designing the hand quilting. BYW, here is Leischester in NC?

I'm going to try this on my next quilt (which isn't even pieced yet). I'm going to position different templates on the quilt top and use this to cover OVER the seams. That way I'll have fewer bulky seams to quilt thru. Does that sound like to would work?

Stencil designs make a prettier quilt, at least to my eye, and are more fun to work with, watching the quilt top change appearance. And, I think they are easier than just straight lines. Many quilt shops have plastic stencils for sale, or perhaps someone will lend one. piecefully, the old one

I keep a small pair of needle nose pliers close by if my needle gets stuck I use these to pull it through. Works like a charm. One other really good thing I do is thread severalneedles on to the spool when I start and slid them down. Cut your thread on your last needle and you have several threaded, just cut your thread behind the last needle, saves lots of time for anyone with failing eyesight.

We use it to pull the needle through. It seems to grip the needle and make it easier to pull.The wide kind that comes with broccli works well.

I use stencils a lot and when I find a pattern in a quilt magazine that I like I make a copy of it on plastic. I get my plastic from someone at the hospital, - it is used xray sheets.

Me, too. Also, I do use stencils and many times will use cooky cutters for my patterns. I have a huge amount of cooky cutters to choose from. I have anything from dinosaurs to Noah's ark to reptiles to baby - you name it.

Do you use these OVER the seam line or just in the center of the blocks? I'm wanting something to keep from quilting the bulky seams.\

I do some handquilting, but I use the seam allowance as a quide to get straight lines. For the size of stitches, I started out by using Tiger Tape. Tiger Tape has lines on it, helpful in getting equal stitch size. But as beginner, try to get your stitches uniform in size. Meaning that the stitch and the space between each stitch is the same size. With practice your stitches will become smaller. I, too, use the stab method where seams meet.

This is good advice. I agree