Good Saturday morning (at least here in the US) to all my quilting friends... I'm just so pumped right now... a few days ago while cleaning out/up my sewing area, I "found" my practice piece from a hand quilting class from several years ago. I've been practicing on it for several days now, and going to the tutorials here on the board for making knots... all very helpful! My stitches are sometimes consistent, sometimes not... sometimes small, sometimes not... but at least I'm starting to get the hang of it and I'm absolutely LOVING it!!

Here's my question, though... I'm working on a 20" (or so) square piece with printed swirls, feathers, fleur-de-lis, loops, etc... all the shapes one might encounter with hand quilting. I'm using a pvc lap quilt apparatus... and its easy to turn the piece when quilting loops, etc.

My question... How does one manage a QUILT when its time to stitch around a loop? Do I need to learn to quilt toward, away, to the right and to the left? Help please???

I use a hoop on my lap and can twist and turn the quilt in the direction I need it to go.

Hey there Sewcrafty... thanks for responding! OK.. do you turn the whole quilt, or just have a small part that you turn? I guess I'm just wondering how to turn a whole quilt? Maybe I need to put a quilt on my lap and just see what this "feels" like? (thinking out loud here...)

I think it depends on the person. I just adjust it to what feels comfortable to me (usually the entire thing so it lays smooth) my MIL's is usually twisted on her lap (it doesn't bug her like it does me)

Best way I found when I am hand quilting is to just move the quilt whichever feels most comfortable for you. I agree with babyfireo4 depends on the person. I have hand quilted since 1984 and I can do it either way. Bunched on my lap or turning the quilt. Depends on the day and the weather. LOL.

Just go ahead and start doing it. You will find what works for you. I have learned to stitch both away from me and towards me. At first just move the quilt to whatever angle you need. You will find after quilting a while that you are going around curves, etc. without moving the quilt. It just comes with practice. The first quilt I hand quilted was a king size log cabin. Nothing like jumping in head first.

You'll just wrestle the quilt to it get it to where you're comfortable. Just flop that puppy around till you have it where you need it. :wink:

Thank you everyone for responding... I'm loving every minute of this... I'm spending significant time during the last few days sitting with my FIL who fell and broke ribs... I'm almost finished with this little practice piece and I do have a smallish quilt that needs to be quilted. Now, I'm looking forward to tackling it instead of dreading it...
Thank you everyone (one more time) for your encouragement!
Love you all!!

And Denise... we speak the same language..."flop that puppy around..." I use that terminology all the time... have for years...
:-D

I'm trying different ways to hold the quilt too. I have a hoop, haven't tried a frame yet. I took it out of the hoop to see if that works better. I don't know yet if my stitch tension will be consistent or not. I'm also teaching myself to sew with either hand. I'm ambidextrous, so it shouldn't be too hard!

I hand quilt on a hoop and turn it as needed as I can make my tiniest stitches by sewing downward. Whatever is easiest and most comfortable for you is the way to go :thumbup:

I like to use a hoop and keep rearranging to where it is comfortable. I also sew downwards and sometimes to the left, but that is all I am able. I saw Alex Anderson show how she uses her thimble on her thumb!! I can't master that yet.

So far, downward and to the left is all I've been able to accomplish, too... I want to try a round hoop... I'm using a set of pvc pipes pieces that form a square, but I think a hoop would be more convenient.

And I think I need a hoop or frame of some sort to keep stitches consistent, too...

Sure appreciate everyone's comments!!

I have used a hoop, frame and without a either. It really depends on which you become most comfortable with. Also your basting also helps. I have found it depends also on how tight you have it in the hoop or the pvc frame or regular frame on how your stitches work. So try to keep that the same. Hope this helps.