???? for hand quilters
 

I'm a newbie - only done 2 quilts. My sister also hand quilts and she says she quilts the middle square and then quilts the whole middle row of the quilt. I heard "somewhere" that you quilt the middle square and then quilt around them working outward until the whole thing is done. What do you do?

When hand quilting with a lap hoop, I quilt the middle and work my way out evenly in all directions.

From one relatively newbie to another. I have hand-quilted in about every way you can hand-quilt. I have lap quilted squares individually (in the car on the way to vacations) and then sewn them together. I am currently hand- quilting in sections a quilt. I did start in the middle of each individual square and now am now hand-quilting all the way around the outside edge after I machine sewed them together. It is better to move out from the middle but I can see how doing the middle and then moving out sideways in the middle would work nicely.

I try to work from the middle, but sometimes I get off course...There are times when i am worried about shifting, I quilt from one corner and down and out..So far I have had no problems, as long as I make sure to check the tautness and evenness every time I move the frame

Ditto here. At least that's what I try to do. IMO, as long as you don't get puckers, do what works best for you.

I do what feline fanatic does. Start in the center and work out. I use a 14" hoop also

I am a wholecloth quilter and I work in a hoop on a floor stand. In general I start in the middle of the quilt and work towards the edges. There is only exeption of this rule: when I do a traditional strippy quilt (the top of a strippy is pieced of stripes of fabric with 10" to 12" width on the full length)I quilt the stripe in the middle to the edges first. Next are both stripes besides it.

Im a hand quilter.ive hand quilted more than 300.
ive never used a hoop. When i was kid, couldnt afford one.
I start in the middle, sometimes the middle row like your sis.
i also quilt rows or blocks, then sew tog. Never had a prob.
i do baste very well though.
good luck,have fun. Remember, there's no rules.

I agree with Lynnie. There are no rules. It also depends on what you are using as a frame. I have an old fashioned quilting bee frame (love it), and I start on one short edge, quilt a row, roll, quilt, roll, etc. I also have a PVC frame (much like the A-snap--love it too) and I start in the middle and work my way toward the outer edges. My favorite method is to put the quilt in the PVC frame and quilt around each block, or area, until each block is done. I then take out all the pins I used to hold the layers together and quilt the block in a hoop. My hoop is about 20 inches. I have some friends who actually hand quilt, and it looks very nice, without a hoop. I personally could not do it, but they can.

I am trying to learn FMQ, and have not done much hand quilting lately, but if I've had a bad day, or if life has become the pits, it always amazes me how much better I feel if I can just quilt for 10 or 15 minutes.

You should do it however you feel most comfortable.

amh
Saskatoon SK

I have hand quilted for over 40 years and put my quilts on four boards which are clamped in the corners and is on stands and work from the outside towards the middle. I have never had any puckers on any of my quilts. that is the way I was taught and the way my mother did it. Whatever works for you is o'k.

I posted pictures of my floor quilting frame similar to what Iamquilter just mentioned. If you can't find it on this board, and you are interested, message me. I love being able to stretch out the backing completely in the frame, lay the batting on top, and then the top. Quilting it in the frame prevents puckers, keeps it off the floor and off my lap, and adds a decorative touch to my great room. A homemade one is very inexpensive to make and adjusts to fit any quilt size.

I've read alot about how important it is to start in the middle and work your way out evenly all around. Though when I think about those that use a frame, they do it in a linear manner starting at one end of the quilt and going to the other end. So I've always based really good and started at one end of the quilt and worked my way one row at a time to the other end I use a 14" wood hoop and thus far have not had any issues. I think for me the key is the amount of basting which helps prevent any slippage.

I start in the center of the quilt and work out that row. Then I work from that middle row to one end and then work from the middle to the other end. Works for me!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...me-t81725.html Here are my pictures.

I looked at the pictures of your frame Martha T. I love those frames. The old fashioned quilting bees were done around those frames and many good memories came to mind. "The ladies" helped me learn how to hand quilt when I was a very little girl. I know now that they picked out what I tried to do, but they hid it from me at the time. Bless them. Good memories. Great quilting frame. I still love hand quilting.


Thanks for the memories.


amh

I quilt in a hoop. It depends on what design I am using. I usually start in the middle and work my way out. Right now I am working on a quilt and I am using a fan design. I started at one end and am working my way to the other. I have never had any problems with puckers or folds.

When i baste my quilt real well, I can start anywhere and not worry about it puckering or shifting. If i don't baste well, i notice that the fabric shifts. I do start in the middle and work my way out - it also seems to keep things a bit squarer.

I'm with one of the members here also, on there suggestion. I start in the middle also, and also try to hand quilt evenally thru out the quilt.

Seems the consensus is to begin in the middle...I do that, also. From there it seems to be a personal preference, but I agree with another poster as to the importance of making sure the sandwich is basted well enough to prevent shifting or puckering. Best of luck to you!