Hello everyone!
I am hoping someone can help me out. I am going to attempt to hand quilt my first quilt (well not my first quilt but it will be my first attempt at the hand quilting) What thread should I use? Which needles? Which hoop-am I biting off more than I can chew?
Thank you everyone for your input
Hugs
April

Please remember, these are just my opinion...

For needles, i like size 11. They seem tiny when you first start to use them, but work well. (I use the John James big eye quilting size 11 - easier to thread the needles.)

As to hoops, I like a smaller one. It is less difficult for me to manage. (I also carry my work a lot of places so I can work on it while waiting for others.)

Thread... Hmmm... Perhaps someone else would be better to ask, as my tendency is to use the same thread I piece with. Not good, I know.

My needles are a little on the large size because I feel I can hang onto them better. I would think any that have a good sharp point would do the job. Someone else may have some specifics for you. About thread, if the spool says hand quilting, that should be fine. Here is a picture of my hoop. It is 14 1/2 inches from side to side, with a wing nut to tighten. I love it and has lasted MANY years and still looks like new.

Hope this helps you.

I used a hoop to hand quilt my first quilt. I'll never do that again. It cramped my hand something awful. I'm looking at making a pvc pipe frame for my hand quilting.

I usually use an 8 or 9 (not good enough yet to use the really tiny needles). Guterman makes a nice hand quilting thread. Coats and Clark too. As long as it says hand quilting you're ok. I use a small homemade frame that my dad got me at a yard sale and binder clips from Office Depot to hold it on.

I use a size 11 or 10 quilting needle. And as stated earlier to hand quilt look for thread that says for hand quilting. This thread is "coated" and will not tangle or knot. Also you don't want to use a length of thread longer then 12 to 14 inches. I sometimes do but then I run into trouble with the thread twisting or knotting. I simply can not use a hoop. I use a wooden quilting frame. I have to use my hand under the quilt to guide the needle. I've tried the hoop but didn't like the stitches I made. Guess it's what you get used to using. Happy quilting!

i am wanting to hand quilt also-been trying to find someone to really teach me how. i hope that there are a lot of suggestions on this thread that will help me out also!! good luck with your hand quilting

I use John James needles size 10 I think. I also like YLI quilting thread. It is stiff and comes on a large spool. It doesn't tangle and easy to work with. I also quilt on a hoop I have never tried a frame.

Thank you everyone! I am going to post pictures as I go along.
Join me MQ we can learn together :-)
Hugs
April

about the frame. I have to laugh when I see these very fancy quilt frames and I think of my grandmother who handquilted lovely quilts and she used four cloth covered 2x2s tied together and resting on old orange crates. Gee I can still see her sitting there quilting with her radio on listening to some talk show or a pre-TV soap. LOL

i use hand quilting thread, it is heaver and stronger

Practice, Practice is what I keep hearing about hand quilting...I have done some yrs ago, and have the itch to do somemore, maybe start w/ a small project .

I use size 11 sharps but you can kinda feel out what size works best for you. My mother wont use anything but size 8. I use hand quilting thread that I can find...as long as it says hand quilting on it. The frame is a personal prefferance. I like my pvc lap frame the best so I can work anywhere but I have used anything from a hoop to a large floor frame made of 2x2's. I think it's all in what works for you and the quilt you are working on.

I tried a hoop, hubby made me a pvc frame, I prefer to hand quilt without either. If you pin baste it well enough you can do this. I prefer it because I can sit anywhere and get comfy and quilt away.

Here are some links I found for hand quilting:

101 Beginner Hand Quilting - Guides - Patterns - Instructions
A lovely, intricately designed quilt can make anybody think of taking a week off and making one for one's own self. ... Beginner Quilting - Introduction to Basic Hand Quilting...
www.quilthowto.com/ www.quilthowto.com/ · Cached

Amish Hand Quilting for Custom Handcrafted Amish Quilts and
Our Amish quilters from Ethridge, Tennessee, can quilt your top or custom make special order quilts to your individual specifications. ... Hand quilting is our business. Our Amish quilters...
www.amishhandquilting.com/ www.amishhandquilting.com/ · Cached

20% Off Perfect Hand Quilting Without Pain now w/ DVD by Liuxin
Perfect Hand Quilting Without Pain is about healthy quilting. ... Perfect Hand Quilting Without Pain ; New Revised Edition with DVD...
www.softexpressions.com/software/books/PerfectHdQlt.php

20% Off Perfect Hand Quilting Without Pain now w/ DVD by Liuxin
Perfect Hand Quilting Without Pain is about healthy quilting. ... Perfect Hand Quilting Without Pain ; New Revised Edition with DVD...
www.softexpressions.com/software/books/PerfectHdQlt.php
More Results from www.softexpressions.com

The Quilting Bee: Hand Quilting Around Quilt Frames
Because of this some quilting bees were a bit exclusive. In these cases being skilled at hand quilting would be a social asset.
www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/quilting.htm www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/quilting.htm · Cached

DawnPages -- Hand Quilting
Put one hand underneath the piece you are quilting on. Push the needle through with the other hand until you feel it just prick your finger, then push it up to the top again.
www.reddawn.net/quilt/handqlt.htm www.reddawn.net/quilt/handqlt.htm · Cached

Quilters Threads- your source for fine quilting and machine
Learn new quilting and fiber art techniques through Quilters Keep Learning ... We are accumulating a roster of wonderful teachers from all over. We have the United States, Canada,
www.quilterskeeplearning.com/ www.quilterskeeplearning.com/ · Cached

Here is a pic of the ones I use. I am doing a full size right now, almost done!!! And have a King size ready to go. I am currently using a dritz quilters betweens needle size 9. I have a box of lily hand quilting thread that was my Great Aunts and I love it but have also used Coats thread. The idea is to keep your stitches as even as you can shorter stitches come with practice. I am not there yet!!! I love the look of hand quilting and I can do it in the evenings in front of TV. This is only the second time I have used the bigger frame my aunt found it for $2.00 at a resale shop. I am finally getting the hang of the frame altho I have to turn it alot. The smaller hoop I like to use in the car when traveling. It is 14 inches across.

I have a large free standing hoop that I have a baby quilt in.. I have also quilted without a frame and close pinning/basting is a must. One mistake I made at first is don't stretch the quilt too tightly it should have plenty of give so you can "work" the fabric.. I use a size 12 needle from Roxannes Foxglove Cottage.. I have found that the smaller the needle the smaller the stitches I make.
I see nothing wrong with using the same thread for piecing (if by hand) and quilting. I like Gutermann hand quilting thread for both. if you're using a quilting thread that has no "finish" you may want to invest in a cake of beeswax.
And keep your thread a reasonable length or it will twist and tie up on you, and that's a mess.. trust me.
I like to thread at least a whole packet of needles onto the spool at once and then just pull one out, and cut off my length of thread. I hate having to thread needles when I'm "in the zone" quilting. Have a wonderful time and enjoy.

Okay this may sound like a stupid question but do the hoops imprint wash out easily?
Tippy that is a good idea on threading several needles at once.
Maybe I should make a small like 24 x 24 doll quilt for my daughter and try hand quilting that before I attempt a 60 x 60?
Up North that is a beautiful quilt in the hoop!
Thank you all for the suggestions-I really do appreciate the input and guidance!
Hugs
April

This is the frame I just got last year. It was SUPPOSED to be about $109.00, but when Jim went in to get it for me, he had a 40% off coupon.

I have never had a problem with the imprints from the hoop. They go away by themselves, and I don't even wash the quilts, (until they need it).

They'll be fine as long as you don't leave the hoop tight in one place for months on end. If you're going to leave the project for a while. just take it out of the hoop.. no problem.
I actually prefer a floor frame to a hoop, especially for large quilts.

I use a dissapearing marker to mark my quilts and have never had a problem with hoop imprints. The quilt in my frame is for a friend to raffle off for The Cancer Walk. She bought the top at an auction and I am doing the rest for her.

I use a Roxanne #11 quilting between
I use a round lap hoop. I think it is a 14" diameter
I love love love Valdani 35 wt thread for hand quilting. It is not coated so you can also use in machine. Have bees so beeswax is in abundence and I do run my thread through beeswax just before I thread the length on the needle. http://www.valdani.com/products/#spools
When threading needles I like to load up about 6 needles before starting a session.
I mark as I go with chalko liner or Fons and Porter mechanical pencil. I found out the hard way that these items rub off to easily if you mark the entire top and then try quilting. By the time I got to my 3rd hoopful I couldn't see any of my markings.
My hand quilting time is my therapy and I sit with my husband as he watches TV and I alternate between watching the TV and watching my quilting stitches.
I do not use anything on my underneath hand. I have special thimbles for top hand that has the back of the thimble cut out for my fingernail. I am wierd I push the needle with index finger and thumb instead of the middle finger. So I have a thimble for both index and thumb. I can not start stitches with any thimble so I push the needle with my fingernail to get it started. Then I slip the thimble on and do the rocking stitch. Here is a link to a thread that I posted showing how I quilt http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-29365-1.htm

HI April
I use a size 10 or `12 between needle. but when I started hand quilting years ago, i started out on an size 8 needle.
You can use what ever size hoop is comfortable for you, or not use any at all. And I like Coats & Clark all cotton thread, just my choice. It is a little thicker than using a polyester thread, but I like the looks of the stitches more.
when you look at threads, there will be one that will say for hand quilting, and any of them will do.
Hand quilting is so relaxing and you should just relax, and enjoy it. Don't worry about how small your stitches are. the most important thing to practice is getting them all the same size. Also learning how to "pop" your knots into the middle of your quilt to hide them. Have fun with it!!!!
I use a Fons & Porter mechanical pencil to mark with. It comes with dark and white lead. And you can also use masking tape. I also use 1/4 in tape, to quilt 1/4 in from the seams.

I hand pieced and hand quilted the quilt in my avatar. I used thread that was specifically made for hand quilting (got at LQS) and use a size 11 needle. I didn't use any kind of hoop or frame.

Hi Ninnie
So you mark off a quarter inch from the edge of the area you are working on so it is all even? Sorry don't mean to sound ignorant I just want to make sure I do this right lol
Hugs
April

I'm different I guess. I don't do much hand quilting because of my arthritic hands but when I do I don't use any hoop. I just pin, pin, pin, use a small needle, begin in the middle and work out. I must have luck on my side cause when I look at the finished product I'm usually within a 1/4 of an inch of being square.

Yes, the reason you mark 1/4 in. in is to miss the seam allowance, it is easier to quilt that way. Here are picturs of one marked with tape, but not yet quilted. You can see that I have quilted a flower pattern in the center, and now will quilt the 1/4 in around it. I am by no means a perfect hand quilter. but it is my chosen way to quilt. :-D

Ahhhh Okay I got it-thanks so much Ninnie the picture helped my poor clogged brain!
Love your stitching!
Hugs
April

WOW-that is impressive. I am not sure with everything suggested I am going to do the top justice but one can hope lol
Hugs
April

Here's the hoop that I prefer for hand quilting:
http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/9113.htm
It is a lap hoop, so both hands are freed up for quilting. The ball makes it very easy to adjust the tilt to any angle you desire, and the wing nuts are very easy to loosen and tighten.

If you use a hoop, whatever hoop you use, be sure not to hoop the quilt drum tight. This is a common beginner mistake. The quilt should be loose enough in the hoop so that you can move the center about a fist's width in either direction. This looseness allows you to manipulate the quilt to help stitches form on the needle.

Hand quilting thread is stiffer than regular thread so it is less likely to knot up on you as you quilt.

Be sure not to cut more than 18 inches of thread at a time; more, and it is likely to snarl and knot before you finish the thread. It is also more tiring on your arm to pull too much length through at the beginning.

For the same reason, do not buy a hoop that is too large; it is tiring to have to reach all the time. Better to re-hoop more often than to have a hoop that is overly large.

Be aware that traditional quilting is done with a single thread, not doubled thread, so you knot only one end of the 18 inches. Learn to make a quilter's knot (very small), so you can pop it through the top to hide it at both beginning and end.

It's a good idea to thread several needles at a time so you have a new one ready to pick up after you finish one length.

I will try this with you. Will have to go the the LQS to get different needles and thread!
Craftiladi-thanks for all the websites!! this should get us started off on the right foot(i hope!!)
I think i'm going to start off making a genuine scrappy quilt and hand piece them together and then hand quilt. this is going to take forever!! oh well what else do i have to do??!!!

I have the hoop that Prism99 uses, in fact I got it based on her recommendation, I love it. Not having to hold the hoop as you quilt makes such a difference. I won't add the same info that many have already but I will add this, if at all possible try to find someone that you can watch while they quilt, that was the single biggest help to me. Once I saw a quilter in the process, everything clicked. BTW, I found my hoop on Ebay for much less than new, and I've seem them on there occasionally since then.

I use thread designed for hand quilting. I believe that Connecting Threads carries a nice line, I believe that's where I got mine. My needle is a between that's usually a size 10. I also use a mid-sized hoop (smaller you have to move it more, larger get too cumbersome for me to handle). I do most of my handquilting in the winter on my lap when I'm watching TV as it also keeps me warm.

Thank you Prism for the great hoop idea!
And thank you everyone for the input-I have written down the key notes everyone has hit on and think I will make a 12" block and try that first. If it works out well I will move on to my Earth's Window quilt!
Hugs
April

Keep in mind that handquilting with a hoop and without is very different. I can't hand quilt without a hoop to save my life! Kinda wish I could!I've also heard suggested but havent' tried, the wax that you run your thread thru. Some say it makes your thread glide better. I love the rhythm of hand quilting but it does take longer to do. It's a nice "work on when you don't feel like sitting in front of a machine" project.

I bought a Hinterberg Quilting Frame Hardware Kit for $69. My husband built the frame for me with the instructions. We had to buy the wood and the conduit pipe to use as rollers. The whole project cost a little under $200. I can make any size quilt I want on it. A frame like this would go for at least $500 from what I have seen on the Internet. It also can come apart and be stored under a bed etc. when not in use. Right now I have a queen size double Irish chain on it that I am hand quilting. I also hand pieced it. There is a pic of it on the frame somewhere in this forum but I can't really tell you where.
I had looked at my friend's PVC frame and thought it was ugly. She is right when she says that it is utilitarian, but I like the aesthetics as well. Just an idea for you. Of course, you need to have someone who can cut the wood and help you assemble it initially in order to do what I did.

I love to hand quilt and have found the 14 inch plastic square works for me because I like to do 12" blocks. I do not have to move the fabric so often. Also, my favorite thread is YLI. It is strong and I find it does not knot as badly.
What ever works for you it what you need to use. It may take awhile to be comfortable with anything. Hand quilting is so relaxing for me, while some of my quilting buddies hate it.
Just enjoy!

I learned to quilt on a frame, but did a bunch of pillows with no hoop at all. They came out fine.

I also prefer no hoop and no frame for hand quilting. I have 2 round hoops, 2 sturdy wooden frame ends and 10' poles just taking up space and gathering dust. I have a lot of things I HAD to have that I never use.