Hand quilting - first attempt!
 

I always have a million projects on the go, but my backyard and front yard are now 100% complete! No more projects!

So, yesterday morning I sat in the gazebo with my parrot and dog, and made my first attempt at handing quilting. It's not very big (about 20x20 (but in a hexagon).

I did learn 3 things after the fact:

1 - do NOT hand quilt in the ditch LOL ... very hard on the fingers!

2 - a straight line according to my "eye" is not necessarily a straight line, and I will be using marking tools for the next one!

3 - baste better or use a spray baste LOL

I read about different techniques, using thimbles, spoons, etc., but once I got out of the ditch, I actually found it pretty easy.

Now, I just need to get the motion down to perfection so my stitches are even! I did it in black thread so I could see how I was doing!

Constructive criticism is very welcome!

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Hey, that is looking pretty good to me!!

if that is your first try - i saw WHOOOO HOOOO!!! You done good!!! :thumbup:

I prefer hand basting when i put my sandwich together.

If you use a hoop or frame, make sure your sandwich is loose and not real tight.

I think it looks great! Not that there isn't room for improvement, but it really does not look like a first attempt at all! First attempts don't usually look that good. becca is right---do not make the sandwich tight in a hoop. I smoothe mine all out and tighten it to check it, then loosen the screw a bit and push my palm down in the center of the sandwich to make it loose a bit---kinda like a cat slept on it all night. You want to be able to manipulate your fabric over the needle point, as well as manipulate the needle.

Very nice start. Now just keep practicing. Its a lot easier if you stay a quarter inch away from the actual ditch. Fewer layers.

That's looking real good. The more you hand quilt the better your stitches become.

I think your stitching looks very good.

looking good, better than I can do

I think you are doing great! My first stitches were at least a quarter of an inch long. Keep going. It is fun.

Thanks all! I'm not doing it in a hoop (it's really not very big). It sits very easily in my lap. I tried it in the hoop I have, and it didn't all fit LOL

Thanks for the tips too!