Hand Quilting and the LQS
 

Shopping at quilt store is not a happy time to me. Since "all" I do is hand-quilt, I haven't had much of a need for them. And to me, it's like shopping at Victoria's Secret. I know there's stuff in there that can make me better, but I rarely step over the thresh-hold...
I have decided to try one of those Aunt Becky quilt-tools, so, I went to the quilt shop to buy one. I think I walked in on a class, because there were about 10 ladies on machines. One of them came to help me, but had never heard of the Aunt Becky (how I wish there was a better name than that!!) so she asked someone else, who knew they didn't have one but would be happy to order one for me. I told her they were just a few bucks off the internet so I'd order one. She didn't care. I thanked them both and left.
I did order two of them when I got to the office. It was quick and easy and I'll have to wait a week or so, but that's ok. When I get them, I'll take them to the same shop and show them what I was talking about. I don't think it will matter. I just feel that they are fat quarters, quilt books, and machine sales stores. I'm not saying that's *all* quilt stores, but I think one of the reasons hand-quilting is a "dying art" is because there's no support in the quilt stores, because there's not much profit to be made on "hand quilting".
I bought my Aunt Becky's on that Connecting Threads website. I figured since I was making an order, I'd look at their thread. So I searched their site for "hand quilting thread" and they showed me some pretty colors, but I didn't see where they were coated for handquilting. Then I searched "hand quilting" and "handquilting" and they showed me the Aunt Becky, some fabric, a pack of needles, some tutorials... and quilting gloves.
I hate to say this... But I guess I'll stick with Joann's and Michaels, AC Moore and Hobby Lobby for my tools and batting and what I can't find, I'll purchase off the internet. I'd love to support the "little guy", but when the "little guy" can't support me, I give up.

Sorry you had such a bad experience :-(

Ashley, I'm so sorry that you seriously aren't supported in your hand quilting. And you're right, I think that all of the stores go where the money is and the money is in the machine quilting....faster turn around= selling more fabric and quilting supplies.
May I just add that I so admire anyone who does hand quilting. I've never tried it, but keep thinking that I will. I, like the majority, want fast results, so I got a long-arm. Sometimes I feel that we all need to slow down and enjoy the quilting process a little more instead of hurrying through it.
Please show us some of your work. I, for one, would love to see it.

Thanks. It wasn't a bad experience, just a waste of time

My favorite LQS is where I learned to hand quilt - it is a small store owned by Mrs/Mr but I get all the attention I can ask for. I am so sorry that you encountered a group that did not think beyond their machines.

It is practically impossible for one shop to have everything for everyone.

Hope you can find a place that supports your passion.

I agree "Aunt Becky" is not very descriptive.

How do you make the thing stay on your finger?

I want an "Aunt Becky" too. Where did you get yours?

I'm really sorry you feel that way about shopping at a LQS. My guess is that they have to base their in-store items on what they think will sell best, and if the last quilt show I attended is any indication, not many people are hand quilting any longer. I think the fact that they offered to order an Aunt Becky for you is a sign they are willing to support your interests. But from a business standpoint, if only one person in 500 (I'm just throwing that number out - it's not statistically reliable!) wants one, it doesn't make a lot of sense for them to keep them in stock.

I like an LQS that is willing to do what they can to accommodate the buyer. Last year I was looking for two Fairy Frost fabrics - my LQS didn't have those two colors, but she offered to order them for me, even though she knew I planned to buy only one yard of each. As it turns out, I bought three yards of each, so I felt better about it, but for all I know, the rest of each bolt is still sitting on her shelf.

I do love Connecting Threads - I've ordered from them in the past and been very happy. Recently I ordered a large ruler, and when it came, it was broken (the packing left something to be desired!), but they immediately sent me a new one at no extra charge and, if I remember correctly, I didn't have to pay for the return shipping on the broken one. It's a great company!

I think it really depends on your LQS. One shop near me does longarm quilting but also supports hand quilters, including having one staff member who is available to help those of us who are learning, at no charge. They carry supplies for both machine and hand quilting.

The other shop in the area is set in a historic village and very often you go in and they've either got a quilt on their frame with several ladies hand quilting or they are marking a quilt for hand quilting. At the same time, they give all kinds of classes, from hand quilting to machine quilting.

I know that I've bought hand quilting thread from Connecting Threads. I believe it was YLI, but I'm not positive. I see that they only offer YLI silk right now, but maybe they are just out of stock.

I understand the frustration,however I had to laugh at the thought of What may have been the look on the ladies face when you asked it they carried aunt becky.

I seldom go into a quilt shop because there really aren't many around me. When I have traveled to one it seems the focus is on what I call "loud" bright modern prints from top name designers, Just not my thing. The closest shop to me is the fabric shack in waynesville,and I am lucky they are fantastic.

Thanks!
I've been trying to remember to get a picture or two. I'm going to start a quilting blog and post them there.

Go for it! Hand-quilting is so relaxing and rewarding!

Oh, I know it's not all of them! And I am supposed to go with a group to another shop this weekend, so I'll have egg on my face if they have a whole shelf of Aunt Becky's!!

I guess I just wanted to gripe because I wasted my lunch hour and parking spot! :)

I know, I guess I just thought it was a normal notion for a quilt shop to have. I didn't even know I needed one until I joined this forum lol! :)

Thank you

I carried the Aunt Becky tool. I think the minimum that I had to order was 6. It probably took me 10 years to sell 5. I put one in my tool box. Would I order again--probably not. LQS is not usually high volumn and the company that makes the Aunt Becky doesn't advertise that much. I can understand them not knowing what it was.

http://www.connectingthreads.com/too...___D80688.html

Let me know if you like it!

Thanks for adding the link- I've been wondering what this product is!

Most shops around here seem to focus on the piecer, and offer quilting services. At least from seeing the quilts shown at guild, where they name the quilter, not many people do quilting: machine or hand. Lots of people do tie though.

Oh, I do understand, that's why I just said I'd order it off the internet instead of them doing it. At $4 each, I doubt they'd even make anything off the purchase. But I'm not a regular there and I may or may not ever return, so it's no loss to either of us (except now I have to wait a week! LOL). I had a bad customer service experience a week or two ago at the sew and vac place and I guess I'm holding a grudge!

Wow! you'd think in Tennessee, there'd be more support for hand quilting, I always imagined there are groups of people , sitting on their porches, quilts on laps, going to town with a needle....... Lot's of handquilting options here in Colorado shops.... I haven't tried the Aunty Becky tool yet... I don't know if my fingers would know what to do if they weren't all torn up from stopping a needle... :)

Oh, that sounds like Quilt Heaven!

I do feel your pain!!!! I am sort of a beginner quilter
and I try to do things the old fashioned way if possible.
(only I like electric sewing machines) I go into a LQS
and ask for certain items and they do not know what
I am talking about. But by the time I go to them
again, I see the items that they did not have the first
time I was there. It does get frustrating.

LOL, I tried to word it like this, "do you carry any of the steel finger protectors from Aunt Becky for hand quilting?" as I was doing sign language of putting it on my hand. She joked, "I don't have an Aunt Becky" and I said, "I don't either and I need her!" She said I could have her Aunt Tammy!

I think if they'd had them, I would have bought a couple, but who knows? I haven't tried it yet, I might hate it!

Be sure to use the right kind of thimble with the Aunt Becky. Here is the developer's website that shows the thimble:
http://jeansimpressions.com/

I think the thimble needs to have the outer ring and fairly deep "dimples". I didn't see this thimble at Connecting Threads, but a Google search showed a number of sites selling it for about $8 plus shipping. And, of course, as a hand quilter you may already have a suitable thimble on hand. :-D

I'd think so too! I just started quilting in TN and only know of one person who quilts (machine), but I can't wait until this weekend to get together with some people from this board!

I tried using a spoon this weekend, and that didn't work one bit! I slowly started slipping back into my usual rocking. I wonder how long it will take me to train my hands to quilt with Becky?

I also feel out of touch with all the stuff that's there.. I was looking for a stencil and was in the machine quilting stuff. I felt so lost LOL

I am hoping that my thimble will work. It's not quite as extreme as her's but it's flat and I can control the needle pretty well. I never thought about it until I saw her video!

thanks for that link. i didn't know what it was either

Sorry, I can't give a link, because it's over a year since I watched it, but there is a Youtube video with a lady showing how to use an Aunt Becky.

Found it : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeSSyueipPw

Like so many others posted, LQS needs to cater to the many, not the few. Really all you need for handquilting is quilting betweens and thread. You don't even need a thimble, I only use one part of the time. In fact there are a lot of us here on the QB that are "fingernail" quilters. We push the needle through with our fingernail.

I think anything else is just a gadget and the job can be done without. Which is why LQS would really only carry the essentials for hand quilting. Needles, plain vanilla thimbles and thread. Every once in a while you will find a LQS that carries really nice thimbles or gadgets. This is why we have the net. Quilt shows are sometimes good venues for out of the ordinary supplies. That is where I found my uber-expensive TJ Lane thimble, which is the only thimble I have ever been able to train myself to use (some of the time!)

I do hand quilt alot and the only, only thread I use is YLI. It comes in all colors, but I usually use grey or natural or tan. It is strong and does not tangle. I think you do have to buy it at a quilt shop. It maybe a bit more expensive, but well worth it!

I love to hand piece, hand quilt. I love to get my excellent scissors and templates and go to town doing the project. I have one going all the time. I have only a few more pieces to connect and I am ready to hand quilt it. I will recommend a book by Jinny Beyer. It is called "Quiltmaking by hand". I learned a lot just by reading it. It makes a great reference. My favorite way to locate hand patterns is from the old magazines. They just call me. I never start one to finish it in a short time.......Patience is a virture. I always have something ready to take along to the hospital to sit with a friend or relative....I am ready to go.

Sorry DBL post

Perhaps this is an opportunity to enlighten your LQS so they would have more hand quilting classes. I bet they have hand applique classes.

I am confused though. Do you do all your piecing by hand too?

Many LQS's also teach the beginning quilter on how to do the various parts of quilting: color choices, design choices, estimating fabric, cutting with rotary cutters, batting choices, binding, label making, and much, much more. They can be a great resource.

I like the quality of the fabrics at the LQS's. When I want to make something really nice for someone special I won't use Joann's or Hobby Lobby or WalMart. I go to those store for other fabrics and notions.

ali

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...19466527029261 show's Aunt Becky working a little better.

no, I don't piece. I quilt "cheaters" or whole cloth quilts or I buy pieced tops.

I am a handquilter - I truly understand.

I learned to quilt from my Grandmother who passed her art of quilting to me - one hand stitch at a time.

I am so sorry for your bad experience. A true quilter would believe in her craft - it is stitched into her very being.

Watched the videos and have to have one - thank you for this topic. Now the waiting begins till it arrives!

I'm interested in hearing how you like your Aunt Becky. I've looked at them and been intrigued but haven't bought one.

My LQS isn't too different - many machine quilting options very few hand quilting options and that's all I do as well. Fortunately I'm close enough to Lancaster, PA to get things I can't find locally if I don't want to order online. That said, my LQS does occassionally offer hand quilting lessons/classes and at least carries thread, a variety of thimbles, etc. Just not an extensive selection. Have to say I was in Albuquerque, NM recently and was very impressed with the variety of stencils and things available there. But then, there were 7 LQS there! Quilters heaven.

I've never heard of an Aunt Becky, so I went to CT to look, and remembered that I needed to order batting while it was still on sale. Thanks for the reminder! And the video was excellent. Thanks so much.

Feline, you speak right from my heart. I stopped using a thimble because it was impossible to find one that worked for me. I changed my quilting technique a little bit and I don't need a thimble any more.
We seem so have a very similar situation here in Germany compared to yours in US. It's getting harder and harder to find special hand quilting thread, high quality battings and fabrics (at the moment I really don't have an idea where I should buy the solids I need...). But I am sure I will never stop hand quilting because of that. It is too important for me.