Your stitches ARE beautiful. Thanks for the tip...arthritis is taking its toll on my hand strength also.

I totally agree. I use the same technique, but not in quilting.

I use these, too - for caning chairs and quilting.

Your quilting is beautiful. I was going to suggest the needle puller but so many others already have. In any case, your stitches are beautiful!!!

I too love looking at the beautiful stitches, but love the tip as well. Thanks for sharing

I use a pair of old tweezers. For me, they work better because they aren't so bulky as needle nose pliers. I tried a pair of hemostats like we used to use in the dental office, but they had a locking mechanism on the handle and it kept snapping closed, so became a headache to use. I remember my grandmother would grip the needle with her fingers and tug, sometimes 2-3 times to get the needle thru. My fingers simply will not grip the needle. So my tweezers, needle threader, thimble, and small embroidery scissors live on the quilt top for ready access.

I thought exactly the same.

I have these too. I also have little scissors that the drs use to cut threat. Very sharp.

Didn't know the industry put a name on your stitch count. But you are right, getting them equal is hard, and I"m still practicing. I just don't know how to get the under stitch as equal as the top. Hopefully that will come with time. Right now I count somewhere between 10-12/inch, but as a member told me, the count will be different depending on the thickness and that I have found. I put too many on that tiny needle, I have to use something to get the needle out. I'm just amazed as to how each quilter uses different tools.

I use the clots. They are thin rubber finger tips. Great for gripping. Don't scratch the needle. Thanks for another idea that works too.

I love this info. I've hand quilted and love it but pulling the needle has made me forget it. Why didn't I think of that years ago....

Grannyrose, what size needle do you use?

Quilters are so inventive. I'm such a wanna-be! I want to learn to hand quilt, I want to learn to hand applique, I want to learn to machine quilt. I just want to be able to do it all! Your stitches are beautiful.

Like others I can't get passed looking at your uniform stitches. You do great work.

Good use of that tool...I like my hemastats I used when I was nursing...Sure does make the job easier....

You make such lovely, tiny sts. I don't hand quilt anymore because I just can't get the needle up and down, that close together. I FMQ because my hand sts are so big!

I use them too for counted cross stitch embroidery in the really dense areas. They're wonderful!

I use a size 10 Big Eye Quilting needle, it's a 1 inch needle made by Colonial. It say's on packaging Easy Gliding, and I guess it is.

I thought I was the only one that used pliers!

Has anyone ever tried the needle puller "Hedgehog" ? I hand quilt too, and have thought about ordering one of these http://www.nancyellenquilts.com/cata...uller-hedgehog

There's also a short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rbs470emYU

You count only the stitches you see, not the spaces in between. You can count them either on the front or the back, doesn't matter, but either way, you only count the stitches you see, and even a partial stitch within the inch is counted.

your stitches are beautiful !

The jewelry pliers are a good tool for this. Regular needle nose pliers have striations that help you grip, but they would eat up a needle. Dharma Trading has a product that you paint on to the pliers that would help grip and leave no mark.

When I hand quilted I used a small pair of needle nose pliers that I found at the hardware store. My 80 year old friend and quilter told me about using it.

Needle puller/hedgehog
 

I am curious about the hedgehog as well. Have you tried it?

never tried the hedghog, don't think I would like it. My pliers works fine and if I need to worry able the needle breaking, I would just wrap some freezer tape on the nose, like some of my jewelry books advised.,

I've also used a small rubber disc to pull needles through. anything helps.