Oh what a beautiful quilt.

If you can get your hands on those grippers that physicians use to stitch up an incision or cut, these work the best to pull the needle through. I can't think of the name of them though and someone out there may know. Doctors and hospitals sometimes donate the old ones to quilting groups that they would normally throw away. check it out.

Finger cots work great for pulling the needle through.

Linda D.

So does a piece of the wider elastic band that comes around broccoli :roll: :wink: - works like a charm (this was a hint from a heritage hand quilter).

Roxanne McElroy, in her book That Perfect Stitch, recommends a method of backstitch to avoid the uneven stitching lines you can get from using the stab method. It is kind of hard to describe, but I will try: Bring your needle up through the layers twice the distance you usually would and then back stitch half that distance and bring it back down through the layers coming out on the bottom where you would have anyway. Your stitching thread is then forming an X in the batting, instead of a S. Does that make any sense?

When I hand quilt I use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull the needle thru. I find it easier on my hands and with my frustration of trying to get the needle thru. I don't know if it is a good idea or not but it sure helps me. I don't have much strength in my hands so I find it easier. Beautiful wall hanging.

Thanks all. I'll give the stab method a try.

Lucky Patsy's "mom" - that does make sense. I'll give that a try also.

are you trying to think of the word - hemastats ...? Most flea markets sell them or a uniform shop always has them...