I am trying to hand quilt for the first time. I am using a hoop and am working on a "practice piece" before I do my wall hanging. I am happy enough with the stitches on top (at least as a novice...) however, the stitches on the back don't look very even. Sometimes I even miss a stitch on the back.

I seem to be having trouble getting through all the layers. I have the quilt quite loose in the hoop. I find the first back stitch especially difficult to do. Any tips??

THANKS

do you have your non quilting hand under the quilt so you can feel the needle come through? How thick is your batting and what are you using for backing?

I had that problem at first. Make sure your first stitch is straight up and down, then tilt up for second stitch. going down again, make sure you come thru before tilting up again. I use a stick on pad on my finger underneath, so I can feel if I am coming thru without pricking my finger. only do two or three stitches till you get comfortable with it. I love to hand quilt, and my hand quilting is NOT perfect. But the ones who receive them see no fault in them. We are hard on ourselves, others are just happy with the outcome. So relax, and enjoy the process. And smile when you feel you are messing up, it will lift your mood enough to get past the little slips. They add character to our hand work. :lol:

What kind of needle are you using? A lot of people use too big of a needle..

I prefer "in-betweens"... they are thin, small, easy (HA) to thread and easy to work in and out for 3-4 stitches at a time...

I think I use '10s'.... I'm too lazy to go look...

The fabric and batting you choose for the piece makes all the difference. Without knowing I choose batiks for my first hand quilt and it has been a challenge the whole time. Batiks have a tighter weave so they are harder to needle through. So, for example if you choose a lighter cotton and a wool batt instead of batiks with a cotton batt you'll have an easier time making nice even stitches. If you can get a copy of Roxanne McElroy's book That Perfect Stitch from the library (it's out of print) it talks all about using the right materials. Good Luck!

P.S. In the end you're just going to have to let go and enjoy yourself and realize it's not going to be perfect anyway - that's the beauty of hand made! :lol:

First of all thanks for all the advice! To answer some of the questions...

I am using an 80/20 batting (cotton/poly). Perhaps it is too thick??

I have no idea what kind of needle I am using. It is a longer one so I will try a shorter one and see if that helps.

I do go "straight down" for the first stitch but seem to have a really hard time tilting the needle up to get it to poke through all the layers to the top - maybe this is the batting being too thick??

I do poke through the bottom and feel the tip of the needle on the underside but have a really hard time moving the top needle to get the needle back up through the fabric.

Any insights and helpful hints are greatly appreciated!! THANKS!!

You can actually get hand quilting needles. I like to use a size 10 myself. They are a very small, perhaps a 1 inch length needle. The smaller the needle the better your stitches.

As for you "going straight down for the first sitch but seem to have a hard time tilting the needle up..." are you using a thimble?? this really helps to get your needle up. Also use the non quilting hand and place it under your quilt and hoop. Use one of your fingers (either your index or middle) to help push the needle back up. When the needle goes straight down, once you feel the tip of the needle on your finger under your quilt help to push it with that finger and your thimble finger to the top. I hope that makes sense :)

I hand quilt almost all of my quilts, and I use the 80/20 batt and #10 between needle. I don't think your batt is too thick. Good advice from everyone else. After a bit more practice the 1st stitch will come easer to you. It always seems to be the most difficult. Good luck and enjoy.

Humbird

I haven't read all the responses, but your quilt does need to be taut like a drum in the hoop!

Just keep practicing and work on the rocking motion more than worrying about individual stitches, and it will get better!

I have a little metal disk that sticks on my middle finger on my left hand. Keeps me from turning my finger to hamburger, and it's kind of a dome shape, so it helps to get the needle up through the fabric again. I think it's called an Underthimble.

Dutchgirl,
I don't know about you, but I am VERY visual...I look things up online all the time since I don't have my instructor (mom) here with me. I found this one on YouTube, but I don't keep my hoop this tight...it's very loose contrary to popular teachings. I had a link where I saw the method I learned and it was a really good video but I didn't save the link specifically...DonnaRae has some great links in here that I"ve bookmarked and I"m sure I got it from her---now, where to find it LOL. In any case, the following link may be helpful to you.
Best of luck with your project!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzaSdlJDVwI&feature=related

I do only handquilting. I use a hoop. I think it is 18 or 21 inch oval. I keep it snug enough to pull out all the wrinkles for a smooth back. I use a #7 between quilting needle. It is small. About an inch long. I put my left hand under the quilt and use my finger nail as a feeler to aid my needle. You can rock your needle in and out. Beleive it or not a smaller needle gives a smaller stitch. I have won ribbons with my handquilting. Just relax and take the work out of it and enjoy what you are doing. Don't be tense worring about every little stich in the back. you will learn the feel of your needle coming through and going back in. Hope this helps you. I have used thick and thin batting and the snugger it is in your hoop the easier to go through. Hope this helps. I can show better than I can tell. Good liuck. Relax! Oh yea, almost forgot. I use a thimble with a rim on it to prevent the needle slipping. It really helps to control ypour needle.

We all have our own "method"....I used to keep my quilt sandwich TAUT...however, after using the Aunt Becky's little folded metal piece....and watching others.....I think if you make your sandwich TAUT.....then give your hoop a little turn.....and loosen your sandwich so that you can put a little "pooch" into it...you'll find it much easier to get an even quilting hand stitch. Of course....the best advice, is practice, practice, practice.....and if you're using fabric with NO SEAMS I'm sure you'll get your stitching quicker.....going through seams is really disconcerting & hard to control the stitch length.

I personally like mine pretty loose in the hoop also( that almost sounds nasty doesnt it :oops: ) just try different methods to see what works for you.

I'm so glad your learning to hand quilt. Don't get discouraged. Practice makes perfect, or pretty much so.
I find the first stitch is always bigger then the rest.
My first two quilts I did years ago I stabbed stitched them and thought I was quilting! My hoop is a 14 inch I use Big eye John James needles size 11 and 12. I started out using a 9 needle and I don't know the name brand back then. I keep my quilt loose in the hoop. Like a cat had laid on it!!
My off hand finger has a calous on it from being pricked. But I love to hand quilt.
Just keep with it you'll get it!!
Keep it rocking,
Donna Mae

Dutchgirl,
I found another tutorial...still not the one I'm looking for, but it's of the rocker method and some basics....will keep looking.

http://video.about.com/quilting/Hand-Quilting-Techniques.htm