Hand Quilting beginner
 

Hi,
I am new to this site and have really enjoyed what i have seen. I started out 20+ years ago machine quilting/sewing, then took up crosstitch,crochet,primitive rug hooking, machine embrodery,and now I add to the list, hand quilting! (My husband says i was born 150 years too late!)
I have been hand quilting for 6 months with a group of amazing women,and have learned a lot, but I feel like I need more tips to improve my stich lenght. I am determind to get 12 stitches per inch. Is this silly or is it a good goal.I am quite consistent on my eveness of stitch line. Thank you for any advice.

The smaller the needle the better and closer the stitch. It also helps if the fabric is loosely woven and the batting is extra thin. It also is easier if you are not using a frame or hoop. As a hand quilter for at least 40 years I have done it all. I have done at least 100 quilts by hand. They have been all shapes and sizes. In the long run being consistent in size and spacing is what counts. I will warn you that after 40 years I am wearing out my hands and elbows. Don't worry about the number of stitches.

There are hand quilting videos on YouTube. One is a video with Alex ANderson and a guest quilter. She shows how she gets almost 14 stitches per inch and I believe she uses a longer needle. Very interesting and beautiful work. As everyone know practice makes perfect.

Welcome to the hand-quilting club! I use Roxanne #11 or #12 needles - mostly 11's. I feel I get a very consistent, small stitch with those needles compared to any others. I've never worried about number of stitches/inch...more concerned with consistency. That said, I probably get a good 10/inch unless I'm using a really thick thread. Not all handquilting threads are created equally either - imo.

Love handquilting. So relaxing.
I was lucky I had some of the greatest women to teach me. My mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law and my dear sweet aunt.
The first two taught me the basics. My aunt taught me how to get the smallest stitches. She said the trick is to use a small sharp needle. She took the needle up thru the material and almost back down in the same hole. She called it ROCKING that needle. It's kind of hard to explain. But she would bring the needle up and then rock it back down. Not stitching like you would if you was sewing by hand a running stitch but more of a up and down rocking motion. She would get the needle up just enough to bring it back down close to where the needle came out of. I hope this makes sense. It's so hard to explain. Much easier to show.

This is as close as I could get to show you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD0M7gE_dE0
My aunt never used a hoop. She always used quilting frames.

I don't do hand quilting, just wanted to welcome you to the board.

That is how I learned too....rock that needle for the best stitches!

How do u count those 12stitches per inch?

Welcome to hand quilting. I feel there is no other way. The art is disappearing due to LAQ and wanting quantity instead of quality. Many people insist on hand quilting but they are hard to find and stay so busy that there is awaiting list. I have always had waiting lists for people wanting hand quilting.