The quilters knot makes a small consistent knot that you can "pop" through the fabric and bury inside the quilt.
Let's see if I can explain it! Hold your needle point up, catch the tail of your thread with the fingers of the hand holding the needle, wrap the end of your thread three times around the needle, catch the wrapped thread between the thumb and forefinger of the hand holding the needle, with your other hand pull the needle almost all the way to the end and release your pressure just before the end of the tail. There should be a knot at the end of the tail!
I hope that makes some sense. :?

Thimbles are more individualized than any other sewing notion I can think of. I use two hands, and my right hand likes a nice, breathable leather thimble. My left, often poked, uses an old sterling one that some would consider too big for my hand. It's all what suits your needs and your fingers. When I was doing a lot of hand quilting years ago, my hands built up so many callouses that thimbles weren't required, but that takes a while to build up.

This will sound like a silly question but how do you count your stitches? Do you only count the part that shows on top or do you count both those showing on top and on the bottom? It's confusing.

I am by no means an expert but do have a couple of tips for you that I learned from my mom.

A quilter's knot is the most important lesson in hand quilting. It allows you to pull the knot through the back side of your quilt sandwich and hide completely in the batting. You can watch an enlarged version of the quilter's knot on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT5m5...eature=related I love this site because I can watch and re-watch while I'm trying it out until I have it down. It's a great refresher for those of us who don't get to handquilt as often as they'd like.

Second, I always use thread specifically for hand quilting and it is, as other's have mentioned, thicker than machine thread. I was taught to use bee's wax to coat my thread (perhaps not necessary any more since it comes coated). I still use it and find that I deal with far less tangles than without.

I'm not sure of the method you're using....there are several threads on the subject and you'll find one method works far better for your personal technique than others. I use a loose rocker method and a hoop. Keep at it and you'll find what works best for you. There is no one right way to do this except to enjoy the process and expirementation and to find joy in your way.

OOOh Moonpi, I'm so glad you mentioned this. They make an open thimble for long fingernails and is popular with the claustrophobic fingers LOL. Check around and you'll find what works for you. As Moonpi said, it is very personalized and essential to your quilting experience.

Thanks for the link to You Tube! for the Quilters knot. I hadn't seen it, but it is so clear there! I will show it to some ladies who can't see when my hands are in the way!

I LOVE, LOVE,LOVE this board! :lol:

Any time!! I have the hardest time following directions and then guessing what's happening on that ity bitty tiny lil needle. I think I need a magnifiying glass to watch stuff online sometimes!!

Yes, thank you retrogirl. Watched the youtube link and is very clear. See, before today I didn't even know that such a knot existed. And I will definately check out a different thimble Moonpi. The one I have is metal and it feels like my finger is ready to go out to battle. Although selection is limited in my area, I am planning to go to States for my son's soccer tourney this weekend. I could check out some stores there. (I am sure he wouldn't mind. :?: :wink:

My "silly" question was ignored on the last page so thought I'd bring it forward to this one to see if it gets a response.

How do you count the stitches? Is it the ones showing on the top or do you count both those showing on top and on the bottom? I'm trying for consistence but am also striving for small stitches and would like to know just how they are counted.

Also, what do you use on the finger that's feeling for the needle as it comes through the quilt - mine is getting kinda raw.

Thimbles: I can't find any that work as well for me as the pick your finger method. So I have holes in my fingers (two of them usually), then I quit quilting until they are healed up.
The 15 stitches per inch are quit tiny. That is 15 either on top or bottom depending on which side you want to count them on. I usually go top (side I am quilting on). I use a med. size needle, and you are right that too short and it gets lost if you are not aware of how to handle it well.
I do not knot either start or finish of the length of thread. I back tack. Run the thread to a half inch from the end then stitch 2 then go back and stitch right over those then start again. That is how I end the thread at the end when I have about 5 inches left on the needle.
I also use med. to thin batting. If you have thick batting you will have less stitches per inch.