I also rock. With stabbing my stitches are all over the place in the back of the quilt.
I use an oval hoop or the pvc frame, without I had puckers. I have a Flynn frame but so far have only used it for machine quilting.

Jo

lfw045 has the right idea. The "old ladies at church" quilted with size 14 - yes, size 14 needles. My arthritic hands work best with size 9. And I'm a rocker.

I am a comb of both have tried to rock just do not seem to get it. I hand quilt alot but I do it at home. I am embrassed cause I can't do the stitch correct. My stitching is okay I have even entered my hand quilting in the fair and been judged.
Becky

Where did you find a number 10 or 12 needle with a larger eye? This is the hardest part for me, threading the needle. Even with a needles threader it is challenging as I do not have my sight much in my left eye for close work. Thanks for your help.

I am enjoying hand quilting a Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern by hand, it is such good therapy and fun to see all the colors coming together.

Have you tried the spiral eye needles. They are self-threaders. Really neat. You can find them at http://spiraleyeneedles.com/index.html

I am a rocker. For me stabbing takes way too long.

Thank you for your quick response! No, I have not tried the spiral needles nor have I ever heard of them. I think this is great idea and will probably buy them. I see they don't carry number 10 but number 8. Have you tried number 8 spiral needles for hand quilting? Thanks again!

Hello when rockin' or stabbing, I assume you are following a design. How do you put the design onto the quilt?

Cheers Ann :? :? :? :?

I use a template or I draw my own with a sewline pencil.

thank you. What is a sewline pencil??