im not that familiar with this im old fashioned the way my mom taught me to hand tie together all over the quilt with yarn. for hand quilting do you draw a design on and hand stitch the pattern? And what do you use to hold the quilt together (a large hoop?)

The only hand quilting I've done is echo quilting-where you quilt a little ways away from a seam or applique shape. If I was doing anything else I would draw it on somehow. I use a hoop but some can do it without. My hoop is the PVC looking kind but you have to be very careful about the sharp edges on the clips. I've gotten a tear before.

I do a fair amount of handquilting, I like to draw the design , hand baste , and no hoop; I don't mind if there's a wrinkle in my quilts

so do you use a large needle to hand baste

For hand basting I probably would-I rarely hand baste. For hand quilting I use a smaller one. Not like the pros do but smaller than your average sewing needle.

I use a regular needle and what ever inexpensive thread I have hanging around, I found a great tutorial on youtube( Sharon Chambers(?))if you search for hand basting you'll bump into it. The first time I thought it would be great to use water soluable thread... it's pretty slippery...Good luck!

I baste with pins- put in a wooden hoop 16 or 18 inches and use a between needle :thumbup: Depending on what I am trying to do sometimes I draw the design on - others just eye ball it

where do i get designs from? a craft store? and what kind of pencil should i use?

You can buy a book or stencils with designs, or you can google search for free designs online. Or you can make your own.

I hand sew and hand quilt, I mainly follow the patchwork design when i quilt, though I have drawn on the fabric with water dissolving pen, check it first with a spare piece of fabric to make sure it comes off, I do not normally starch if I am hand quilting I find it more difficult to sew. I don't use a frame at all for quilting but hand hold, otherwise use whatever frame is most comfortable for you.. there are no rules, do what suits you best. Good luck.

I use a large wooden hoop when I hand quilt . . no basting...just safety pins. I have some plastic stencils that I have used to trace designs on the quilt top (before sandwiching) and there are marking pencils available at most craft stores. Some people use chalk or a "pouncing pad" that holds chalk, but I have never had one of those.

If I want a special design on my quilt I use a stencil or trace around an object like a cookie cutter with a washout marker or an eraseable pencil. I then lay out the back, batting and top on my Ping Pong table and baste the whole thing together with safety pins. At home I quilt on one of two round floor hoops I have. Each is about 36" around. For pieced geometric designs I usually just echo quilt around the piecing.

Hi there, glad to hear there are other hand quilters and those who want to give it a try. You need to sandwich your quilt, either baste it with large stitches, I use a different color thread. Or use safety pins and start in the middle and work your way out. Then mark it with a quilters pencil, chalk or a method you like. I love the new chalk marking method. But is mark as you go. You can mark the entire quilt with something a little more permenant but make sure it washes out. Then start quilting in a hoop can make it more manageable. Good luck.
PS: Quilt shops have plenty of stencils to make designs, or you can start out by stitching in straight lines or following your quilt block. There are many options.

thank you for the great idea this is the first time to try this i always yarn tied before