How to hand quilt ?
 

I know I am always wanting to learn new things & I've been reading a lot about hand quilting. I've seen lots of different ways to do it on the web. I've seen quilting on a frame, on a hoop with a stand, hoop on your lap, no frame or hoop at all, etc. Also, different people use different threads to hand quilt with. Alex Anderson uses quilting thread where others use Perle cotton. I am seeing that just like in all phases of quilting, there are so many different ways/supplies/techniques to hand quilting. I'm thinking about starting out with very little investment & with a very small project (like a pot holder) :) to see if I think it is something that I might explore further.

Any suggestions, help or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and one other question. Does anyone piece their quilts by machine & then quilt by hand?

Another question...has anyone ever done a quilt as you go by hand quilting?

There are a couple of current threads right now...I big stitching almost all of my quilts. No hoop, size 12 or 8 thread. Start with a small project and see how you like it. Your stitches will get better with time. Look at examples on Google images or pinterest to see what you are drawn to.

I have only hand quilted one quilt and that was a lap quilt for my inlaws 50th anniversary. I swore I would Never do it again, LOL, i was so contortion-ed out of shape trying to do it, my body hurt for ages.

At their party my father-in-law was impressed! But mother-in-law just glanced at it, go figure.

I never thought of doing a pot holder!!!!!!!! Now that I might try. :wave:

You might want to take a class at a local quilt shop. Since I was self taught for hand quilting I decided to take a class just to see if there was an easier/better to do it than the way I was quilting.
The one piece of advice she had that I really liked was having a quilt sandwich to use as a warm up piece. Usually it takes a few minutes to get your fingers warmed up and your stitches even.

Even though I haven't tried to hand quilt a pot holder, I don't think I would try it since I use special insulated batting along with a layer of cotton batting.

I hand quilt on a small rectangular plastic frame that sits on a pillow in my lap. I do the rocking method with a thimble on my middle finger. I have hand quilted pot holders but I used two thicknesses of cotton batting not any special insulated stuff. Because of the thickness the quilt stitches were bigger. I try to keep my stitches even but to be honest it depends on the material I am quilting how straight and even my stitches come out. I love to use oriental material and because that material may have a lot of gold in it it is harder to keep stitches even. I do the best I can and forget it. I am quilting for my pleasure and ease of something to do while watching TV. I am not doing it to be judged in a quilt show. I have done the quilt as you go method hand quilting an it is an okay thing to do. I didn't like having to sew all the pieces together on the sewing machine in the end. I try to avoid the sewing machine as it hurts my back to sit humped over a machine. It just seems like work to me so I try to do everything by hand except the binding.

I really enjoy hand quilting and would still do all my quilts if my hands would cooperate. A short needle made for hand quilting works the best. I could manage my stitches better. For big stitch quilting I like pearle cotton and quilting thread for all others. Yes it does take a bit of practice to keep your stitches even but comes with time. If you like doing hand work and bindings you will enjoy it, otherwise not so much. Oh, almost forgot to mention that I sometimes use a hoop and many times if I have it basted well, I just do it without a hoop. Works either way.

My first major quilt was a quilt as you go pattern from Georgia Bonesteel. It was like a white whole cloth quilt, but it was blocks about 20 inches and each one was a different pattern. I was able to put each block in a hoop. I have tried quilting in a frame, and that takes a lot of practice. Quilting in a standing frame limits the direction that you have to quilt in, and my arms got very tired.

I am in a hand quilting group that meets every Wednesday. We have frames set up and it is so much fun and relaxing. I love hearing the buzz of conversation. Could that be why it is called a "Bee"? When I Quilt at home I use a frame for a large quilt. It is made from PVC pipes and it came from Keepsake Quilting. I have had it for years so I don't know if they still sell them. Small quilts don't need a frame. I am doing my first table runner with big Stitches and pearl cotton thread. Fun!

I am a self-taught hand quilter. I've done 'big stitch' quilting w/pearle cotton and like the look for some quilts but it is not my 'go to' method. I normally use regular hand-quilting thread and #11 quilting 'betweens'. For most (I think) hand quilters, thimbles are the trickiest tool to find the correct style and size that works for you. I use the Thimblelady thimble on the middle finger of my right hand. I also use a rubber finger tip on my index finger of that hand to help pull the needle through the sandwich.

I tend to use a hoop in my lap because it makes it easy for me to find where I've left off quilting. Sometimes I use no hoop. I usually pin-baste my quilt sandwiches but for queen and king size I now tend to thread baste as it lessens the weight of the quilt in my lap while maneuvering it to quilt.

I've hand quilted for many years.
I use a very small needle- size 10 or 12
Quilting thread
I use a hoop and leather thimble but you really have to see what works for you. It takes a bit of practice, like anything else. The reason I like a hoop is that it makes the fabric layers taut and you can decrease the tension as needed.
I bet Youtube has some tutorials on it. Among other things you'll learn how to bury the knot. It's really nice for the colder weather too so you can curl up in it as you work. And for me it's soooo relaxing!

Hope this helps

I haven't "big stitched" yet but I want to do one. Faintly Artistic has a really cute one!

And yes! You can QAYG - might be a good way to start. Georgia Bonesteel introduced that method many years ago. You may find her books at the library. I don't know if they're still in print.

I love machine piecing and hand quilting. It takes awhile to find out what works for you. I have a Hinterberg round hoop on a stand which I like because it frees up both hands. It also turns in all directions which is a big plus. They do not make it anymore but you could check eBay or Craig's list. As for thimbles - I use the Clover thimble which has pink silicone sides and a metal bottom on my right middle finger and a red rubber cot made for FMQ on my thumb. On my left underneath thumb, I tape (with painters tape) a quarter with about 1/4" sticking out beyond the backside of my thumb. I got that idea from an article by Ginny Beyer and it allows me to make small stitches. I use a 9 John James gold tipped quilt needle and Superior Threads #30 Treasure, which is coated quilting thread. I have tried the smaller quilting needles and they don't work for me. Good luck. Takes practice but looks beautiful. BTW, I use either Quilters Dream Request or their wool, which I LOVE but costs more.

I do most of my quilts by machine, domestic, not long arm. But, I do also hand quilt. I did one last year and I am piecing a Saturday Sampler now that I will hand quilt. I took a class but mostly it is practice. I do enjoy having a project going and I only do ones with no deadlines so I can do it when I want to. I use a big round hoop. I tried no hoop, a hoop on a stand and a square one. Turns out I like the big round one. I played around with thimbles and found one I like. So there are no rules and just find your rhythm.

You have the right idea, starting with a low-investment project. It takes a while (I think for most people) to get hand quilting stitches looking good, so it isn't a good idea to start with something important.

I have arthritic hands, and I was not able to hand quilt using the traditional rocking stitch; I couldn't do the finger bending and wrist movement involved. Then fortunately, I discovered Liuxin Newman's book, 'Perfect Hand Quilting without Pain.' She also did not have good results with the traditional rocking stitch, and pricking the underneath finger was a problem for her. So she developed her own method, which uses a different sort of thimble, sold under the name Thimblelady, which is open ended and worn down on the finger rather than at the tip. Her method eliminates the need to bend the fingers or move the wrist, so I'm now able to quilt without any stress on the hands. If you have trouble with the traditional stitch, you might want to look at her book (I found it used on Amazon).

I quilt in a 12" hoop, with the hoop propped on the table in front of me, and chairs to each side taking the weight of the quilt. The table keeps the hoop at a good angle for me.

I like the quarter idea, will have to try that.
Just a suggestion to make a small table mat or runner instead of a pot holder for your first experiment. Just that little bit bigger will give you more to hold onto. Q snap frames are also used for other types of needlework. Sometimes you can find them at craft stores where you can use coupons so they won't be an expensive investment if you don't like them.

Oh, absolutely! I always piece by machine and 90% quilt by hand. And QAYG? Yes, my whole Jane Stickle for one. So nice to do in the evening while relaxing.

And I always "stab-stitch". Never did learn, or care about doing the rocker method.That's just me!

I have read about and viewed a variety of methods. I have come to realize that I hand quilt better without a hoop. My worst mistake was trying to quilt on warm and natural - learned that the batting really matters. Presently working on a wall hanging using wool-batting which quilts like a dream. It takes time and practice but is relaxing for me. Enjoy!

Locally, we have had a well known hand quilter visit our group. She prefers YLI hand quilting thread in a shade of white.

I machine stitch and hand quilt. I do the rocker method and I use a hoop. I agree, start with a table runner rather then a pot holder. I tried QAYG but didn't like it. I would like to try big stitch quilting sometime in the future.