My can't quilt without tool.
 

I love to hand quilt, but I hate pulling the needle out. So one day I glanced at my jewelry making tools,and said, hey! I know what I can use to make this easier, and it has. My round needle nose pliers. Now I can load 8-9 stitches and not worry about trying to pull it out. It has made my quilting faster and easier. But I see I need to add more tape to the nose's to not damage to needle.

Even regular long nosed pliers will work.....don't have to be jewelry making quality. The cheapest ones at local Ace hardware store

Oh, your stitches are so uniform and pretty!

I push the needle as far as I can with a thimble and use a piece of a latex glove to grip the needle and pull it through. Like Tartan said the elastic from broccoli would work too. You just need the "grippyness" of the rubber.

I was so impressed by your beautiful stitches it took me a minute to even look at the pliers.

8-9 stitches you are good

Impressive stitches! Wow!

I have a pair of forceps like a doctor uses to stitch up a patient. I don't remember where I got them but it was through a quilt contact. They do come in handy sometimes. They are much smaller and lighter weight than your pliers but what ever works.

What a great idea! I will have to get a pair of needle nose pliers to help with hand quilting. Arthritis is taking a lot of grip from my hands.

@ franc36, thanks for the complement, I am still learning. This was a UFO sitting around for 5 years, and never got back to quilting. So now that the grandson's are in school in the mornings I can start one of the things I said I was going to do when I retired. Still learning. ONe of my problems is that I can't get the under stiches as even as the back, but I think I figured it out. I wasn't putting the needle at 90 degrees on the way down.
I am appreciating all the suggestions on needle pulling idea's, the things you just don't learn in books.

You have beautiful stitches.

I use a rubber finger, about 35cents at any office supply store.
I found using the pliers roughened the needle. With the finger you don't have to pick something up and lay it down.
I think quilt shops now sell colored rubber fingers but I've never tried one.

I use the nubby red rubber tips for counting money. I get them in a package of a dozen. They work great fro me.

I use the rubber finger tips from the office supply store. But I, too, use a pair of pliers when necessary. DH got them for me when I first started quilting. Love those things!

Great idea, love your quilting!!!

I am admiring your beautiful stitches! So even and perfect.

Thanks for the complements on my quilting, but I"m still new at this. I've tried the rubber fingers and for some reason I kept getting my needle caught in them, so I gave up. This little tool takes me all but 2 seconds and it's out. I guess since I try to get too many stitches on the needle. I know I"m not the first to use a tool as such, but for me it works great and I guess you love what works for you. Thank God we're all individual. LOL. I love this board. I"m learning so much from the Senior Members and everyone is so helpful.

Your stitches are wonderful, You have talent.

I am very impressed with your stitches. Great job!!!!!

i love your stitches ,do you use a thimble

@nellie, no not really. I just could never get used to them. I buy those little leather pads that stick to your finger and use my thumbs fingernail when needed. I tried thimbles. But those pads give me so much control, I love them.

I received a pair of Fiskar short pliers from a friend and I love them to pull a needle through. It's fast and needles don't cost that much anyhow, If I ruin one.

Your stitches are beautiful! I use a brass Roxanne's thimble on my thumb, and for some reason it grips the needle and pulls it through. I have also used a needle holder or hemostat (those lightweight medical instruments mentioned earlier), but it's faster if the thimble pulls the needle through, because I don't have to stop to pick something else up and put it back down.

Your stitches
 

are perfect!!!!! Wow, I'm jealous

What beautiful stitches

Great idea! I use a (deflated, obviously) balloon tied to a lanyard that I wear around my neck to help pull the needle through. Lightweight and always nearby. Beautiful stitches!

Wow, your stitches are perfect !!! Good idea for those need something to grip those pesky needles.

I do some hand quilting and can only dream of having such nice stitches!!

OH MAN! I was just getting comfortable with my hand quilting...thinking that I wasn't doing such a bad job UNTIL YOU POSTED YOUR PICTURE! PFFTTT!!
Way to burst my bubble. Wow! What gorgeous quilting. Guess I should not be so confident---I obviously still need lots more practice. Someday I will be able to tell which quilts were my first ones.

You are checking the underside??? Are you supposed to check the underside? OOPS!!! Now I really feel stupid!!

Your quilting is gorgeous! I have several hemostats (medical instruments that weren't good enough for surgery but are good enough for quilting). Guess I had better get them out but not until I get good. Right now I am only doing 2-4 stitches on my needle...works for me so far!!
I remember the whole cloth quilter from Germany on the QB (don't remember her name--sorry) who only does one stitch at a time and her quilting is awesome...so I am a bit faster than that, I think.

I use the forceps when I quilt.
Love your stitches.
Mine are not that even, but I love hand quilting.

New quilter question. How do you count the number of stitches--count only those that are I can see on your picture? that would be 8 to the inch?

This was the tool that was always a part of my mom's hand quilting and she did amazing quilting! Now I don't think she can remember how to do quilting anymore...it is sad but at least I have her quilts and they are priceless to me!

I use a "finger condom", Dang can't remember the name. That way I don't have to stop and pick up another tool to finish. Thimble on middle finger, "condom" on index finger, works great!

Hancocks carries the little "needle pullers" comes in a 3 pack. Little rubber grippers about the size of a nickle, made out of the same stuff you use to open jars. You can lay it on top of your quilt while you are quilting. I've been using these for about 20 years or so, love them.

Funny you should ask that question, I asked the same question two weeks ago. I was told you count every time needle goes up and down. I'm new too, and many answers I just can't find in books.

I found the thread/needle puller in the Newark dressmaker supply catalog for $5.25 and home-sew has them too(both have the same mailing address) Both have web sites. Hope this helps.

According to some 6 is average, 8 accomplished, 10 expert, 12 professional, 14 microquilter.
but the idea is to get them equal in length, which is the hard part for me. Yours are beautiful Grannie Rosie

Wow! Such beautiful little stitches! I don't hand quilt - just admire it from afar.

They say that necessity is the Mother of Invention. How very clever of you, it's amazing how many uses little hand tools can have, even inexpensive ones. I've often purchased small tools from the dollar store. I must, however, comment on your absolutely beautiful quilting stitches. You have definitely master hand quilting. Thanks for sharing.