My LQS supports both hand and machine quilters, but no 2 stores are really alike. A few are downright snooty. I do hope you are willing to show us your work. I don't do hand quilting, but enjoy hand applique. Hopefully, we can co-exist with all 'flavors' of quilters.

I shop everywhere.lol :lol: :lol: :lol: There are some shops that are just great to go into and get you all revved up to go back and quilt more, which is good when you are having an off time. There are some shops that just don't do it for me either. ON the net there are great places to shop. I do like to spend in the community when I can to keep folks going especially in our area where it is so depressed.

I also ordered an Aunt Becky on line over a year ago so I would have one "just in case" when I started to hand quilt. But I haven't gotten to that point yet. I have been practicing on squares to make Microwave Bowls for Chirstmas gifts. I have also been purchasing stencils for handquilting as well. One of the local stores where I purchase fabric has a limited selection of stencils, but I purchase a couple each time they get new ones in stock and I have ordered a few off line.

I seldom get a chance to shop at a Hobby Lobby, JoAnns, or other big box store as the nearest ones are over 65 miles from where I live. I am grateful I have the internet to learn about techniques and tools available. Part of moving back to Kentucky was to slow my life down and I moved right in the middle of "hurry up and get it quilted", unfortunately with my fellow guild members our local LAQ is months behind in getting their quilts finished. I think there are two other members besides myself who do some hand quilting, but for me it is something I have wanted to do since my Aunt took me to her ladies quilting group when I was 15. I doubt my Aunt ever heard of an Aunt Becky and I am sure my other Aunt only used a thimble and needle and thread.

Maybe some day I will have a quilt LAQ, but for the time being I am all about hand quilting and learning to slowdown my life. I have accepted the fact that my greatest quilting tool is the internet for ideas, patterns, books, tools, and techniques.

don't give up because of that one shop- i know of 3 different ones in my area that have HAND QUILTING classes- and pretty much any time you enter one of them you will see a couple ladies sitting in the class room hand quilting- i've spent lots of time just watching-chatting.
not all shops are just in it to sell fq's, books and supplies

This is your opportunity to become the hand quilting guru for them. Take what you bought in to show them along with some of your work. They may want to offer some classes for others. I learned my handquilting at one of the local LQS in our area.

Don't give up!

I wanted a particular color for hand quilting. I went to 2 LQS and they just looked at me -- Hand quilting thread??? they had regular thread and maching quilting thread. I found what I wanted at Joannes. They still have hand quilting thread in colors - not just white.

I do have a wonderful LQS here but it is small and they don't carry much thread.

have you used it yet? looks awkward to me.

I made my first quilt in 1967. At the time no one I knew was quilting. I have always been a handquilter, not piecer. Once a used a retangular floor frame I taught myself to quilt with both hands. I have handquilted a queen size quilt in as little as 6 weeks without driving myself crazy. Handquilting is something you can do with a group, while at a meeting for something else or just watching TV with your family etc. It can be totally portable and does not require electiricty. You could even listen to books on tape and kill two birds with one stone. I belong to two guilds and a small BEE. For those just getting into quilting it is an inexpensive way to learn. I small wholecloth pillow cover is a great way to see if you really want to do this without making a huge investment in machines etc.
I have several friends who purchased longarms and then took in other people's work to help pay for them. They get burned out in a hurry. The only thing I machine quilt is the many Linus Quilts I make each month. I knew the recepients will have no way to properly care for them or they will be put through a commercial laundry. I sleep under a handquilted quilt every night. While I don't launder any blankets or quilts everyweek except for those who directly touch a human body they do get laundered and have always held up for years. The first quilt I made over 40 years ago is still floating around in our garage. My husband lays on it if he has to get under the car or truck.

Thank you for the link to an awesome video! First, I need to get the right kind of thimble and then learn to actually USE it. Then I'll try my hand with the Aunt Becky.

I have had the same experience with several quilt stores. They don't cater to hand quilting but there are enough that do that I get along. One of the reasons I like to hand quilt is that I don't need a lot of tools to do it so I am not going to be a big spender. I was shocked when I went to a quilt store in a small town and they did not carry hand quilting thread at all. Amazing. They had a good selection of fabric though. Again, I don't buy much because I just don't need much.