Hand quilting novice
 

I tried the search but couldn't find a thread about hand quilting. After finding out how very expensive it is to have a quilt machine quilted I have started trying to teach myself hand quilting. I am starting on a queen size but am only doing around the appliqués and each square, (you can't really see the quilting)
so far this is exasperating!!! I have manage to finally make my stitches fairly small, now working on making them evenly spaced and the same size.. I need to find a thimble that works for me, I have tried three so far. I am having some trouble understanding how to END a thread and I am worried about the whole thing falling apart down the road. Wow! I have a great appreciation for all of you who have mastered this!!

Http://www.pieceocake.com/ has info for ending knot, and lots more for the quilter. Easier for you to go to site than me try to explain ( I can't use my hands to show you-- haha). Hang in there...I love to hand quilt-- it is when I solve all the world's problems with my private thoughts. Good luck!

Go to Youtube! Alex Andersen and there's a gal on youTube I believe they call the quiltlady. She's oriental but you'll see her. All kinds of information on handquilting.

Hand quilting can be very relaxing. Like mermaid says - you can solve all the world's problems then!

You are on the right track with getting your stitches evenly spaced...far more important than their size...that will come with time. And each time you pick up your work it will take a few minutes to get back in the rhythm. Some folks keep a scrap sandwich to get their rhythm going before starting their quilt each time (not me, I just go with the flow).

To end your thread, make a knot in the thread a couple of inches away from your quilt. I do this by wrapping the thread around the needle a couple of times and then pull the needle through the loop that is made. Then, take your needle and place between your top and the batting, next to where you quilted your last stitch, and bring the needle up far enough away from where you inserted it so that the knot will be hidden. Pull the knot through the top/batting. This will take a bit of a tug. You will hear/see the 'pop' made. Pull the thread a bit more (scrunching up your work) so you can clip the thread close to your quilt top. This will hide the loose end under your top and keep the knot hidden. If that makes no sense to you, try looking on youtube for videos of 'burying a quilting knot' or similar terms.

As to thimbles...there are a gazillion choices. I use Thimblelady thimbles. They are cone-shaped and open ended. They are designed to push the needle with the pad of your finger vs the top. I find it much more comfortable to quilt that way. Much easier on the finger/hand. Roxanne thimbles are designed to be used similarly but are far more expensive. Thimblelady has plastic ones at very reasonable prices (under $20 I think) if you wanted to try one without spending a fortune. I found their sizing instructions to be very accurate as well. I now use a stainless steel one. Again, much more reasonably priced than Roxanne thimbles. Although the Roxanne's are beautiful. Those I would have fitted in person.

There are numerous thread here on the board regarding hand quilting. If you put that term in the search function, you should be able to find lots. But we're all here to answer questions any time as well.

Are you using a hoop? I find it easier to quilt with a lap hoop, as it helps my stitches be more even than if I try to quilt without a hoop. If using a hoop, a common beginner mistake is to hoop the quilt drum tight. You want about a fist-size "give" in the center of the hoop to allow you to manipulate the quilt sandwich as well as the needle.

There are Youtube videos on how to make a quilter's knot, and also how to knot and "pop" the knot into the sandwich at the end of a line of quilting. Just do a search on "quilter's knot", "hand quilting", etc. at the Youtube website.

Is it thimblelady? I use her thimble and love it! I couldn't get to grips with any of the other thimbles I tried (there were lots of them!) and as soon as I tried hers I was hooked! They have lovely deep holes to hold the needle. I worked through her book (hand quilting without pain I think it's called) and my stitches were small and even. I was amazed! My second ever quilt is quite hilarious, I did the entire middle section before I got the thimble and then I did the border after I got the thimble. The middle is full of big wobbly stitches, and the border is lovely even stitches. I kept it that way though, to show how much I'd progressed!
Keep at it, it will suddenly click one day and become easy breezy!

I hand quilt without a hoop. I find I can't maneuver that needle like others do and it gives me more freedom to move the fabric and the needle to get those perfect stitches. The only thimble I have found that fits my finger is a leather thimble.

It can be very relaxing but remember that it's supposed to be and also be fun. Don't be too hard on yourself. It just takes a lot of practice.

By the time you get this quilt finished, you'll be astonished at how much better quilter you are. So just keep going, get a good fitting leather thimble and stay at it.

Keep at it, it will all come together for you. As far as thimbles, there are many hand quilters who don't use one at all! I prefer to push the needle through with my fingernail. One of the most phenomenal hand quilters we ever had on the board, Andrea (borntohandquilt) never used one either and she did it one stitch at a time.

Thanks for sharing this link.

Thanks to all of you for the great advice!!

I'm also a novice at hand quilting, but I found that the leather thimble with the coin at the tip works great on my top hand, and for underneath I use the self-stick vinyl "bumpers" to protect my fingertip. They're called "Thimbles" and they come on a peel-off sheet. I reuse the same one at least 6 times until it stops sticking to my finger.

I know we've had some recent threads on hand quilting, but I couldn't find them either. Below is a link to a YouTube video that I found absolutely fascinating. It's a woman with a hand quilting method that uses a particular tool, and you won't believe how fast she goes! (I didn't look into it further, as my fingers don't bend properly so I wouldn't be able to adopt that hand position.)

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

I am another who was rescued by thimblelady. Arthritis made the traditional quilting stitch too stressful for my hands, as it requires bending of fingers and wrist movement. The thimblelady method is completely non-stressful. I'm so grateful to her for sharing the method she developed.

I agree that patience, persistence and practice, practice, practice are the keys, whichever method you decide on.

Glad to hear so many people like ThimbleLady plastic thimbles. I was debating whether to get one of those now or to save up until I could afford her stainless steel thimble. I'll definitely be ordering a plastic one!

Here's a video of Liuxin "Thimble Lady" Newman showing her special hand quilting technique:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zej-2uIyLY0

She gets 14 stitches per inch (omg!), but breaks all the rules for hand quilting. She uses a milliner's needle, puts in quite a bit of slack in her quilting hoop & has her own brand of thimbles with extra deep dimples. She also has her own line of thread, plus uses YLI silk threads for her hand quilting. Her website has all sorts of products & helpful tips.

You might try playing with different needles & different thread. I haven't tried ThimbleLady's milliner needles yet because I'm super happy with John James' Gold'n'Glide milliner needles (they're Teflon coated & slide through fabric really easily) and his size 10 quilting needles. I don't have to use tweezers anymore to pull my needles through the fabric. I use Aurifil thread with beeswax (Thread Heaven would be better) because it's only a 2-ply cotton so it's not as thick. Others prefer silk or monofilament threads. I would play around with the thread & also try a whole bunch of different types of needles.

I struggled a lot with hand quilting when I first started. All I could do was go straight down through all 3 layers & then come straight back up through all 3. Now I can easily load 1-2 consistent stitches on at a time by following ThimbleLady's instructions about making the hill with my thumbnail. She can load 4 at a time, but I figure she's had a whole lot more practice than me. Hang in there, you will keep getting better the more time you put into it, and at the end of the day you will have the most beautiful quilt to enjoy.

Somebody on her posted two pictures. One when she began hand quilting and one how much she has improved over the years. Read it yesterday so must be page 2 or 3