I am about ready with my top, & what in your opinion, is what I should look out for., what tool would you not give up? I am nervous with this, but I really want to give a try.
thankyou for any advice you pass on to me.

This is the hoop I prefer for hand quilting:
http://www.keepsakequilting.com/prod...APTOP-HOOP.htm
It is easy to adjust to any angle and it leaves both hands free for quilting.

If you use a hoop, don't make the beginner's mistake of hooping the quilt drum tight. You want about a fist's width of "give" to allow you to manipulate the quilt along with the needle.

You'll need a thinble or finger pad or something. I always wear through the pads and leather thinbles. I love my clover, open top thimble. It is adjustable and very comfortable. You'll need hand quilting thread. If you use glazed cotton thread, it can also be used on the machine. The one item I couldn't be without is a hemostat. These are what the doctors use when sewing you up. I think I saw them at JoAnn's. Mine actually came from a nurse. There is also a scissor site that sells different sizes. They make pulling your needle through the fabric with several stitches much easier. They have little ridges to grasp the needle.

A good thimble!! :lol: :lol: There's a leather one that I really like and for the life of me I can't think of its name! :oops: But if you have fingernails, there's an opening for it. There are these plastic ovals that stick to your finger (watch out though, the more stitches you take on your needle the harder it is to push through and I've put the head of the needle through the plastic and into my finger!) or there's a little leather round dot that sticks on your finger that I do like a lot. Good luck and have fun!!

I agree - a good thimble is necessary - otherwise you end up with the huge callous like I have!

First i would say "Good Luck with that"! LOL! I can't hand stitch..my hands just won't co-operate!
then i will add:


if you don't already own a thimble, i can send you a couple maybe, i think i know where they are..better to try than to buy and not use them!

Yep a good thimble and definitely a finger cot on your thumb for needle control and pulling through difficult stitches.....at least that is what I use.

I use a leather thimble on my finger but am not familiar with a finger cot for my thumb. Can you explain? Thanks

These are some of the things I use. I love the thimble with the brass cap, seems to really hold the needle, It is the first thimble I bought 27 years ago. I also like piecemaker betweens and colonial needles. I use and 10 or 11. I also love my oval hoop, it is between 18 and twenty inches. I also use a flexible clear tape by nexcare for my finger underneath you can buy it at the drug store, I put a couple of layers on. I have to feel th needle when it comes through the back.

The main thing is enjoy and don't get discouraged when you first start. It takes a little time to get a rhythm.

The following site have some of the things I use.

http://jeansimpressions.com/more.html

Good for you, I hope you enjoy the experience. You might want to make a practice sandwich, draw a little pattern on it, put it in a hoop, and take a few practice stitches. Once you get comfortable and stitch the way you feel good about, go to the quilt. Good luck. Pam