Machine vs. Hand quilting
 

Hello,

I am planning on making my first baby quilt for my daughter and was ready to explore world of hand quilting. However, I am now wondering if there is a difference between the two and if hand quilting will be worth the time and effort. Is there a difference in suppleness or how it drapes? What might be some benefits of hand quilting other than its portability? Thanks!

Jean

hand quilting takes alot longer---some people would not want to put that kind of time into a childs/baby quilt that will be used and abused ---others love hand quilting---and would think the time is well worth it...it is a personal choice.
hand quilting is beautiful-... so is machine quilting.
as for suppleness and drape---that is dependant on the batting choice- not the quilting choice (other than density of quilting-which is another personal choice) if you heavily quilt by hand= it's going to be like densly quilting by machine-
so---i know it's not much help---but it's simply a personal choice- taking the time to hand quilt- or machine quilting...the quilt itself (and batting) is what dictates the loft/and drape.

For a baby quilt that is to be an heirloom, hand quilting would be a wonderful finishing touch. If it is going to be used and thrown in the washer, I would machine quilt it because I think it would hold up better.

I don't know if I can adequately answer your questions but I'll give you my thoughts. The drape will be dependant upon 1) your batting; 2) how densely you quilt the piece. Do you have the time to get the quilt done by it's desired date if you hand quilt?

I am almost exclusively a hand quilter for a variety of reasons. I like machine piecing but I also like hand work. I usually do my piecing while DH is out/working and I can do my quilting while he's home and we're just relaxing. I usually do bed-sized quilts so portability isn't really a primary concern although if I'm going away for a few days I will take it with me. Just about everyone I give a quilt to loves the fact that it is hand quilted because they see me work on others and know that I've put that amount of work into theirs as well. I enjoy the process.

All of that said, I also do some charity quilts and they require the quilts to be machine quilted. I do those as well. It's nice seeing the completed project but there's not really any of 'me' in those quilts.

Good luck with your decision and if you opt to hand quilt - enjoy the process - it's not a race!

Edited to add: Not to refute what the others have said about sturdiness of handquilting...I've made several and handquilted them all. When they've been given to the new moms for baby it's with the instructions - USE THIS QUILT. It was made to be used and loved - not just admired from afar. Haven't had one come back yet that fell apart and haven't heard about any of the other bed sized quilts that have fallen apart from washing either. Just my 2 cents.

I do a lot of hand quilting, with the occasional machine quilted project thrown in. I've found that hand quilting is just as sturdy.

However, I think I bond more with a hand quilted item than a machine quilted one - for after all, I've spent a lot more time working on the quilt. So if you think you're going to be bothered when you see your quilt used (loved!) to the point of disintegration, then maybe save the hand quilting for something else and machine quilt the baby quilt. It will be loved just as much.

Janet

I prefer machine quilting for all my quilts. Before machine quilting came along I hand quilted and didn't get any made. All 6 of my Grandkids have hand quilted quilt from me now I only machine quilt and they have never noticed the difference. At 66 YO I just want to make them fast and now I make about 18 quilts a year.
Please yourself and you will be happier.

I have only machine quilted but think hand quilting is beautiful.

i do not hand quilt entire quilts often but i make a point to on those quilts that i consider extremely special.

if i was making a baby quilt for my daughters baby i would certainly take the time to hand quilt it.

i absolutely love the artistry of machine quilting and i love when hand and machine quilting is combined in art quilts but there are some quilts that just scream for hand quilting because of the emotional factor that will be attached to the quilt.

I hand-quilted the first quilt for all my grands...after that I had to give up and get a long arm...:)