I am glad to see this thread. I have been wanting to ask the question that was asked recently asked about counting. I have always been told you should get 12 to 15 stitches an inch. Had one teacher says she always gets 12 stitches on her needle. When not using a frame, I get more, usually 9 to 12, except, I learned I have counted them wrong. If you only count the top stitches, how can anyone get 12 stitches to an inch, let alone on the needle. As far as the thimble I use, I always use platinum needles, with them you are not to use metal thimbles, so leather it is :cry: I think the platinum go thru the material easier. (they are also harder on the finger if you don't use a thimble) Used to buy them easily, but not so any more. :cry:

Also wanted to add, like others have said here, hand quilting is relaxing, enjoy it. Stressing for perfection ruins the personal benefits, and does it really make it that much better? We all try to do well, but I know for myself, it quickly becomes work, not pleasure when I try to make no mistakes. I also know, most of us are our own worst critics. Most times, no one else would notice what we see as problems. So, enjoy the process, and you will get better, naturally. :thumbup:

I think platinum needles are thinner, so you might be able to get more stitches per inch, but the really important thiing is if you are happy with them! If your tension in the hoop is a bit looser, you can get more stitches on your needle when you rock back and forth. I tend to bend really thin needles because I quilt on a big frame with others who like the material to be tauter (is that a word?) When I quilt by myself, I often do not use a hoop at all, just have to make sure that the sandwich is really stable, with lots of pins or basting. I haven't hand quilted anything that is spray basted yet, but will be trying that real soon.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this forum! :lol: :lol:

Out of my 9 block sampler, I only have three left now. While my under fingertips are sore, they don't hurt like the did before. It would be really nice if I had some calluses forming.

I haven't experimented with feathers, plumes or scallops yet. Right now I just stay in the ditch, echo the ditch or do a cross hatch. You have a LOT of options in hand quilting. I do find it is very relaxing and I can sit and do it with all the kids around. It's much harder to get the machine and iron out to do other steps in the quilting process as I have 3 little helpers that are always wanting to do something that could end in injury.

I can sit and quilt while they watch a movie and they think that I'm just watching a movie with them. My 6 year old got a look at the bottom and now he wants to watch as he thinks it's "sweet". I don't know where he comes up with this stuff.

I am using a 12" circle frame with a ledge that sits in my lap. I have no idea how I would tackle a double or queen size quilt in such a tiny hoop. Anyone have any suggestions? Perhaps more basting than usual. Maybe rolling up the halves like you would for machine quilting....I have no idea. How would you handle the bulk that isn't in the frame?

Melissa

this may sound dumb but I just learned to use a thimble in Dec my hands used to get so sore I'd have to stop quilting for a few days it was really hard but I was determined ----I discovered most of the problem was my thimble didn't fit right !! :P

Have a wonderful time with it! I just love handquilting! I find it very relaxing! I hope we get to see the finished product when it's completed!

A lot depends on what your end plan is for your quilt. If you are afraid to have your practice stitching show, then I guess you should opt for color coordinated thread. When I first started quilting, I did a "practice quilt". It is king sized with a complicated design that has a few hundred different fabrics in it, so I hand quilt it with only ecru thread. The off-white thread looks really good. I am only about half-way through getting this quilt completed. My first stitches are HUGE; now my stitches are tiny. Not all my fabric choices were right either, both color and type; my backing fabric is awful, BUT the quilt is still pretty nifty and goes to my husband when it's finally finished. He loves it and wants it finished.

Oh, I forgot to mention that before I start quilting, I use regular thread and baste the whole quilt in about 4" squares. That way the whole "sandwich" is stable, and the quilting comes out better no matter what size hoop I use. I just pull all the basting stitches out when the quilting is done.

Levada Pendry

Well said Peggy! I am thoroughly enjoying this, and am using a large wooden hoop. Although for some reason I cannot seem to master a 'quilting knot'. Is it all in the way you hold your chin? :shock:

And I thought you had to stick your tongue out just a tad to get it right! :lol:

I refuse to use the "quilters knot"! I just don't like popping that knot into the fabric.... What I do is back up a ways, then do a tiny stitch, then come up about a quarter inch away, take another tiny stitch, then come up where I want to start quilting. I guess it does take more time, but the stitching is secure, and I am spared the "popping"...lol

Levada

Count all stitches that lie in an inch even if if is just a portion of a stitch on the top side of the quilt. That gives you the number of stitches per inch.

Also in a class I just took the instructor said to get some 'Skin Shield' (it is like a liquid band aid) & put on the finger under the quilt catching the needle. It gives some protection & you can feel the needle sooner than using a band aid or those little plastic discs they sell to protect the finger.

I learned to hand quilt with platinum, and yes, I have bent a few, but for me they are great. But, I have tried to get friends to try them and they want no part, say they are too small. I don't know if this is correct or not, but it depends which way I am going which finger I use to push the needle . Usually index finger, but sometimes the thumb, that also varies depending on what frame I am using, if any. I am also left handed, guess that is the reason I don't always follow the standard way. But, I always enjoy it!

Hi! Just last week I found a video on YouTube showing how to do the quilter's knot. I had read and read and just wasn't getting it. This 12 second video turned the light on for me - maybe it will help you. Here's the link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVzDkAbziLw. Holding the loop of thread they she does is what I wasn't getting - now it works every time.

The thimble I first used was a leather one until I wore a hole in that. I then found a thimble that allowed me to use the side of my finger leaving the tip of my finger open ( I too had problems with the other kind). Now I like one with a small lip on it. I bought it at a quilt show. I have very small fingers and it was hard to find one that fit.

I am a left handed quilter also! I don't do "exactly" as others do, but I manage! And I like hand quilting with others as I can qult in places that are difficult for the "right handers" to get into!
I use dillereft thimbles at different times! I have several sizes!! :lol: as my fingers swell or shrink! :lol:

Good for you! It will take practice and more practice to "get your stitch". Remember . . . it is your quilt so you can do it your way. I always keep a quilt in a large hoop and that is the way I quilt by hand. I have small stitches that I get compliments on. I could never do that with a frame, however I do have 2 frames. I love being able to have my quilting portable! I also have a quilt in just about every stage . . . from cutting, to marking, to hand piecing, machine piecing. blocks everywhere and . . . applique. It is important for it to be fun and it helps your neck and back to work on something else for a few hours. Right now I am quilting a "Cheese and Cracker" quilt in my sewing machine. NOT a good idea for that pattern. I do have these little nightmares! ENJOY!

I'm a left handed quilter also. I don't use a hoop, I use one of those finger cots that money handlers use on my thumb....( you can get a whole box of them from Office Max for a couple of bucks or so)...not only protects my thumb, but is excellent for pulling the needle through. I use a leather thimble on my middle finger and I tread lightly with my "under" finger on my right hand by "loading" the stitches on the needle with it instead of just feeling for the needle and letting it prick me. Takes practice but it is achievable.

If you use a hoop, you can place it loosely in the hoop and use an Aunt Becky tool to do what I do with my "under" finger. I have and Aunt Becky but I don't use a hoop right now. They are about $5.

Counting stitches.......I don't bother.......I just concentrate on making them the same size.

Aunt Becky Tool???

I have a book, RX for Quilters. The author is a physician and a quilter. She talks about taking care of your body, and your hands, when quilting. She talks about how to care for the callus you develop on your fingers, how to pre-treat your fingers before you begin quilting to prevent soreness, etc. She talks about all of the areas affected when quilting, carpel tunnel, eye changes, back pain, etc. If you can find it, might be worth the investment. I dug my copy out with all the discussion of sore fingers, but the rest is interesing as well. It was put out by C&T Publishing, copyright 2000.

The Aunt Becky tool is a little V shaped slice of metal that you wear over your finger so the needle hits it instead of your finger.

http://www.qheartland.com/pd_aunt_becky.cfm

This link shows the position of the Aunt Becky tool. There is a video showing Jean Brown using it at QuiltersTV but they are moving servers and it is not available at this time. As soon as it is I'll post a link to it.

http://www.quilterstv.com/?bcpid=1463341049

The Aunt Becky tool in action. I personally found this video to be very informative and Jean Brown is a great teacher. She makes using this tool look so easy. :D

Awesome links. Thanks!

that web site with the aunt becky tool is very informative.
thanks

I was like you, I hated to wear a thimble because they never fit right. Every time the weather changed, my thimble fit different, etc. Then I discovered the Ultra Thimble from the Colonial Needle company and I have never found anything else that compares for me. It is so much nicer than wearing a real thimble since it does not go over the end of the finger. They have the one with dimples for the top finger and if you hand quilt they have a smooth one for the under finger. I no longer bleed all over my quilts and I love using them. You can look at them by going to www.colonialneedle.com.

thanks for all your input I have quilted for several years I'm not saying I'm really good at it but I love to do it :roll: i make one every year for our families Christmas exchange and my children love them but I always say if you want it perfect it certainly is not!!

Is there a way you can search for videos or topics on Quilter's TV?