Question for hand quilters
 

I'm fairly new to hand quilting and have had several different answers to this question. Do I start in the middle of the quilt, quilt the width of the quilt in one direction, then turn the quilt to do that same row to the other side of the quilt OR do I quilt in a circular motion always working my way to the outside?

It depends on whether you're quilting in a hoop or without a hoop, or in a frame.

When I quilt in a hoop or without one, I start in the center and quilt in a circular motion on my way to the outside.

I usually quilt in a frame, and in the frame I start in the center of the row, quilt toward the edge, then go back to the center and quilt to the other side. And because my frame has 3 poles, I start at the beginning of the quilt.

The theory is I don't want to quilt in any puckers. If I quilt this way, I smooth out the backing and top.

I hope this helps.

Janet

I've always worked from the center out. So yes, I work kinda in circles. Kinda the way my life goes.lol

I'm using a small floor frame. So which way is best?

There is really no "best" way. What ever is the most comfortable for you is your "best" way. Honest.

I hand quilt with a floor frame and start on the outside and work towards the center and never have any problems with puckering.

I quilt on a floor frame or hoop and always start in the middle. It depends on what pattern I'm quilting as to the direction I go in but always from the middle and work out toward the edges.

I'm interested in this too because I never know which is the "right" way. Thanks for all the responses. I now know whatever way I can get it done is the right way, just making sure it looks good.

I use both a hoop and a floor frame. But with both I start in the middle out. That is the way my Mom taught me but do whatever suits you. If the layers are basted well(either with pins or stitched) I dont think it would matter.

I have started in the middle and worked both in rows and circles..THere have been times that I have alos worked from one end of the quilt to the other

Even though I'm quilting just my first quilt, I started in the middle and worked outward from there... I did the middle row horizontally, then the middle row vertically and then outward in each quadrant... I had thread basted the quilt before beginning... It seems to have helped me smooth potential puckers...

Have fun quilting!!!

I agree with everyone's ideals(comments). I start in the middle, and go to the left or right. More or less in a circular form of quilting.. Don-isewman

In my more than 40 years of handquilting I usually start in the middle and work out. It seems to work the best no matter what kind of frame or hoop you are using.

This is exactly what I do. I quilt in a hoop and start in the middle. I make sure the fabric is pulled tight before I start stitching. I have never had any puckers quilting this way and the quilt turns out nice and flat.

I have done it several ways. I have on of the grace frames, and when I use that I start from the edge. When I set up a big floor frame, that takes up a full room, I start on the edge with that as well. If I am working in a hoop, then I start in the middle. For the quilts that I do in a hoop, when I sandwich the quilt, I use the basting spray, get everything really smooth and then I put pins in it. This is because it may get moved from room to room.

I start in the middle and work outward. That way it seems to be getting smaller and I "Feel" like it goes faster. Did that even make sense? LOL

At the moment I'm working in a standing hoop, quilting the Baptist Fan pattern. Because of the narure of this pattern I started in the lower right hand corner of the quilt, working across the quilt, row by row. In order to prevent puckering, I was more careful to baste the quilt more than I normally would. So far, so good!
It makes very good sense to begin your quilting in the middle of the quilt, but sometimes, depending on your quilt design, you may need to prepare your quilt differently so you can still get the best result.

I use a lap hoop frame and quilt each block from middle out as I go.

I hand quilt with no frame or hoop and I always start in the middle, and then sometimes go around in circles working my way our or sometimes to one side and then the other, depends on the pattern I am quilting