I have a new respect for hand quilters!
 

I took a hand-quilting class last week at the Worcester Sewing Expo (taught by Holice, who lurks around here too... he is such a hoot... great class!). Anyway, I had never seriously tried hand-quilting before... and wow, I have a total new sense of respect for all of you who do it well. It felt like I had grown a few useless extra fingers in the class, and it hasn't improved much after practicing on my own....LOL... I know it takes a lot of time and I will get there (someday)!

My right hand is going through the motions okay, it's my left hand that doesn't know what it's doing. I just can't get the sense of "feeling" what it's supposed to do underneath the quilt sandwich, and how the needle should be hitting the finger under there and bringing the needle back up. (If you don't hand quilt you have no idea what I'm talking about right now, but that's okay... I'm just rambling!) :)

Right on girl friend. I know what you mean. It does take practice and I have only ONE life time to give to my stash and piecing ! Happy Easter.

Holice is a national treasure!

I stab stitch with my left hand on top and right hand underneath. I simply can't rock the needle and get the small, tightly packed stitches I want. Good job trying though!!

Practice makes perfect. I quilt differently depending on what kind of hoop or frame I am using. In a floor frame I can quilt with either hand which helps immensely. It took some practice and I am not as fast with my left. I use the soft brown leather thimbles and wear one on the thumb of my left hand and the middle finger of my right. Using a handheld hoop or snap frame I can only quilt with my right hand. The trick is to place your none quilting hand under the frame so you can feel when the needle goes through. Make sure you don't have the quilt stretched so tight that you can not gather several stitches on your needle at one time. As long as your work is basted close enough you can even quilt without a frame or hoop. Good luck!

I can't rock the need either so I do what Ranchwife does.....stab-stitch! I am going back and forth between machine quilting and hand-quilting.....but I hope to have a new (to me) long arm quilter within the next couple of weeks. But, I still find the hand-quilting (slow as it is) to be relaxing int he evenings.

I am a right-handed quilter only. I use a ThimbleLady thimble on my middle finger. These are cone-shaped; open-ended thimbles with very deep dimples. I also use Roxanne needles - usually #11's but sometimes #12's. Try loading only 2-3 stitches onto your needle. What I do is have my left hand - pick a finger - positioned underneath where the needle will be coming through the sandwich. Pretty much just as it lightly pricks your bottom finger, I sort of use the thumb of my right hand to help with the 'rocking' part of bringing the needle back up to the top of the sandwich by placing it on the top of the sandwich to kind of make the sandwich a bit stiffer for that few seconds. Not sure that easily translated into words but hopefully it made sense. I also use a rubber finger tip on my index finger of my right hand to help pull the needle through. Sometimes if I load a lot of stitches on the needle I might even need a pair of pliers to help pull the needle through.

One reason I like the ThimbleLady thimbles is that you are pushing with the pad of your finger vs the tip. I find it much more comfortable for longer quilting sessions.

These are all great tips, ladies. Thank you very much! I think I just have to get more consistent with which fingers I am using for what purpose - like, I always seem to want to use my thumb underneath instead of the index finger like I was being taught. But I see someone else does that, so I guess it's whatever works for me and it's okay!

Holice IS a treasure! Unfortunately, and not his choice, he is no longer on QB. I, for one, miss him here.:(

Jan in VA

That is how I do it too and I keep winning ribbons so I must be doing something right. ;-)

Never thought about quilting with either hand when using the hoop on floor stand. Makes sense. I'll have to try it. I'm just learning. Like to use the Clover thimble (silicone with metal tip) on middle finger and silicone red tip for index finger. Both on the top hand. The red silicone tip is in a set they sell at JoAnn's to use on all your fingers for FMQ. Works great to grip the needle. I still have been trying various things on hand on underside. Thinking of buying the spoon Jenny Beyers uses. Lots of discussion on the board about that. I also find hand quilting relaxing.

Maureen, glad too see another beginner here! I love the Clover thimble too. My instructor showed us the spoon technique in class but there weren't any for sale so I haven't tried that. I did buy the "Aunt Becky" (you can google it) but I can't get the hang of that either; you're supposed to wear it on your left hand, underneath the quilt. I'm going to check Jo-Ann's for the silicone fingers, haven't seen those yet.

I just love reading all of these ideas and tips!

I know one thing that's really tripping me up is how the quilt is held in the hoop. I've been hand-embroidering for years, and in that technique everything needs to be drum-tight, so I tend to put the quilt in the hoop way too tightly! I'm trying to "loosen up", so to speak, but it seems so foreign to me.

Keep working at it and it will get easier. Finding the right tautness for your quilt and learning to rock your needle will eventually feel right, along with using that annoying thimble. DON"T GIVE UP!!!!!!! We need more hand quilters out there!

Agreed! I miss him on the Board...

Ha!! Yes, me too. I often put little dabs of masking tape on the spot that gets "grazed" the most and that helps. I find a finger cot or a bandaid doesn't let me feel the needle well enough to control it. I keep meaning to try Aunt Sadie.

Me too, Jan.

Alison

I hate having my finger poked. Hats off to hand quilters. I'll take my long arm and computer. Their work is so beautiful and so is ours. Just in different ways.

When I first started making quilts, I just tied them. Then one day I just jumped into the hand quilting. My first stitches were probably a quarter inch long. When I compare that to what I can do now, it feels so good to see the improvement. I will probably NEVER be any good at machine quilting, but I do love the feeling of accomplishment that I get when I finish one by hand.

Why is he no longer here?

For those who have a hard time "rocking the needle" try instead to rock the fabric. Even if you don't want to buy the aunt becky tool it my help you to understand how to do this by watching her video on you tube.

I had a friend hire me to machine quilt the remaining of her antique Irish Chain but when I saw that it was all hand quilting except for a small section, I jumped in and tried it. I too ended up jabbing. I was surprised I didn't do too bad of a job but I didn't find any pleasure in doing hand quilting.

Hand Quilting is time and patience. You may find your own way of doing it and love it. Yes the under hand which waits for that needle to come threw does get a beating. I don't use thimbles, I've tried and tried. I can only use the little leather dots that stick to my fingers. It's what I've gotten accustomed to and I find I have control over my needle. I like tiny stitches and just can't get them with a thimble. Just practice and practice and watch a lot of You Tubes, the light bulb will go off and you'll be on your way.

I lve hand quilting, though not been able foe about year after a wrist op to quilt successfully. Time will heal.
When I do I don't wear a thimble. Use right hand down onto nail below rock and up. I have long nails about 1/4 inch growth from top of finger tip. Great for sewing.

I watched the you tube video on using Aunt Becky. I had never seen or heard of this tool. I'm interested in hearing from others who have used it. How useful was it to you. I was also really interested in this video because she did not rock her hand and wrist in getting her stitches. I have not done much hand quilting because it really hurts my hand and wrist with all the movement. Aunt Becky seems to take care of this. Any thoughts out there?

Hand quilting is the best, although I not longer do it because of arthritis etc. Very relaxing in the evening to do it. But now I send all my quilts out to be machine quilted and that works too. I still have the very first quilt I hand quilted. Oh my gosh, how bad was I. lol When first starting try an get your stitches the same size even if they are big but eventually with practice they become smaller if that makes sense.

I did some hand quilting MANY years ago in the first ever quilting I took. We had to applique a heart in the middle of an Ohio Star, do all the HST's, then put the block together and hand quilt it. I go as far as quilting around the heart. The rest of my single block was quilted on the machine. Sorry to say, I've never looked back at hand quilting. I'll relish the memories of my grandmother's hand quilting, but I say ON TO THE MACHINE!! I, too, admire anyone who has the physical dexterity and the patience to hand quilt -- it is truly an art.

I'm a left hand quilter. I have hand quilted a few wilts but can't get the rocking motion, needle or fabric. I just do the best I can becuz I love hand quilting. Just keep practicing it all works in the end.

citruscountyquilter, I have watched that Aunt Becky video at least a dozen times, and I still can't figure it out! I would love to see a more close-up video of someone using it. Even some photos would help (just in case there's anyone on this board who actually uses the tool... hint hint!). Mine keeps falling off my finger no matter how much I tighten it... I think I might be hopeless! :)

I agree that hand quilters deserve a lot of respect. I was a self taught hand quilter, using the stab, one stitch at a time, method. I also taught a group of crafters to hand quilt a raffle quilt this way (they have since forgive me-LOL), but it was a long time before I could do the rocking stitch and gather several stitches at a time. However, after a career as a secretary and transcriptionist I developed carpal tunnel syndrome, which meant the end to my hand quilting. My daughter is the only one in the family with my first and last hand quilted full size quilt. Taking a class in machine quilting was my saving grace to continue quilting. But hand quilting, like machine quilting, takes time to master, but like anything you need to keep practicing.

Years ago when I didn't know what I was doing, I used the stab stitching method, and it would take me a year to hand quilt a quilt. Since then, I do mostly machine quilting, and for charity quilts, makes it much more sturdy. But the hand stitching was very tranquil and satisfying.

When I hand quilt, I find the key to being able to rock my needle is to make sure the quilt in the frame is lose enough - kinda counter intuitive, but none the less, good for me. The 12 lb cat jumping on the quilt proves just enough loosenesd! LOL!!

I always hand quilt. I learned by watching Alex Anderson on Simply Quilts when it was on HGTV several years ago. Take a class from her. She's a great teacher.

Oh goodie! I have one of these! Will an 8lb cat work too? I'm planning to start hand quilting in a few weeks and after hoop embroidery when I remember always wanting the hoop a little tighter the loose hoop thing has been a worry in the back of my head. :)

LOL!! The 8-lber may have to jump twice!! I do find the lesser tension allow me to manipulate the quilt to get my rocking/smaller stitches going.

I love to hand quilt. I'm currently am working on an UFO. I finished putting this beauty together on the 15th. This is my 1st Schnibble and I love it!! This pattern is called "Ballet Slippers". I had gotten 2 Antique Fair charm packs in my secret pal packages at two different times. And they were meant to be. I am doing a "Primitive" stitch otherwise know as a 1/4" stitch. Those who know me know that my hand stitch is between 10-14 per inch. Lol... it's a long story on why I get so many spi.'s

I actually am trying to figure out a name for this one. Any suggestions?
Tricia

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I'm still very new at quilting and I can so far only do the "big" stitch using tiger tape as a guide. I haven't mastered a hoop either so I place my quilt on a tv table and when the needle hits the table I bring the needle back up.It works for me so why change lol. I only make wall hngings and doll size quilts thats why it works.

Kathy, I like your idea!

Tricia, your quilt is just gorgeous.

As far as the hoop tension is concerned... I may have to get a cat. LOL. :)

I hand quilted the first quilt I ever made in the early 90's. I wish I had known then that the quilt was supposed to be loose in the hoop! I was told to put it in like I was going to embroider it, so I did ... the entire queen quilt, section by section. It's on the bed in the guest room. I look at the center and see my big sloppy stitches where I started, then I look at the tiny even stitches around the border and how much better my stitching got ... although it did take me several years to finish it. It's one of my favorite quilts and my DGS loves to sleep on it. :-)

I am with you. It falls off of my finger also. I feel hopeless also. I guess at least I can piece.

If you had 10 hand quilters in a room you would get 10 different hand quilting techniques.

I love hand quilting and always have more than one quilt in the queue for hand quilting. The quilts that I hand piece I always hand quilt but I do machine as well and have a long arm that gets a fair work out. There is room for all methods, it just depends what sort of a mood you are in.

Keep practicing. I started with the stab method and am now a rocker with a thimble on each middle finger. I bast close and do not use a hoop. You will find a method that suits you or not it doesn't matter as long as you are enjoying your quilting time.

As far as the poking my fingers underneath the quilt, i have found the better that i get, the less i actually prick my finger. I also have developed a callous of sorts on the tip of my index and 2nd finger, so if i do prick my finger, it doesn't hurt.