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-   -   Why would you hand piece a quilt? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/why-would-you-hand-piece-quilt-t61600.html)

Damkina 08-27-2010 01:08 PM

Although I do machine quilt for charities and when a gift is in need of finishing, I really do prefer handwork.
The same as all the reasons mentioned above, it's relaxing, it's portable and I think it's a more sociable way of making a quilt.
I can sit with the family and sew or pin, early morning bus rides to work don't seem so brain-draining as I can sew, so long as it's already pinned. I put each block into a separate little freezer bag so that I haven't got several pieces to sort out whilst travelling.
As others, I am definitely more accurate with hand sewing than on the machine.

And, I've got to be honest here and admit it... it feels damn good to look at your finished, handsewn quilt after all those months of work... and tell it how lovely it is, how well it behaved whilst you were making it, then pat it and tell it how well loved it is... lol!
(Sorry, been sewing most of today... I think my brains gone a bit addled!)

bjnicholson 08-27-2010 01:10 PM


Originally Posted by Minda
Handwork is relaxing and portable. I even hand sew on long car trips (but not when I'm the driver).

Yes, what she said! (Love the frog, Minda)

Kas 08-27-2010 02:58 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Here is a pic of a quilt I started hand piecing when I was pregnant with my daughter. I hated the colors and the Joann's cheap fabric, though. And the templates don't make as sharp of points in the center of the wheel, so I took the blocks I had and made a doll quilt out of them. When we took all the kids to Florida, I took it for our new son to lay on since I wasn't finished with his quilt yet. Here he is on the ugly doll quilt I hand pieced.

He was 12 weeks old. That's my mom helping him push.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]105722[/ATTACH]

Luv Quilts and Cats 08-27-2010 03:01 PM

I have not hand pieced anything yet, but I love counted cross stitch. Any handwork like that I find very relaxing. It's very much like mindfulness, when you are in the moment now and only in the moment now. I think it is very meditative, the needle going in and out, your breathing in and out, your mind focused on the activity.

katiebear1 08-27-2010 04:09 PM

Don't have the patience to hand quilt. Years ago ( when I was in my 20s and 30s I did needlepoint and Crewl embroidery. Plus my fingers are too stiff to do much handwork

trupeach1 08-27-2010 04:15 PM

I always hand piece and quilt. I like doing everything the old fashioned way wheather it is piecing a quilt or mixing up a loaf of bread by hand.

jitkaau 08-29-2010 01:17 AM

One can carry it anywhere and fudge or sew accurately.I have been told I should keep my feet up whilst sitting down, so hand sewing is the trick.

peyton 08-29-2010 02:06 AM

I like to knit socks...same process

earthwalker 08-29-2010 02:23 AM

I started doing lots of embroidery, needlework, tapestry and crochet. So when I got interested in quilting, I automatically started English Paper Piecing. Now I am branching out and trying my skills with the sewing machine, and doing quilts the "American Way". I won't ever give up hand-work, but I love using the machine now and learning all the fantastic techniques and patterns on this fantastic board.

Besides...life is too short for me to stick with hand-work...I can make more quilts on my ever expanding list if I keep up machining!

litacats 08-29-2010 03:13 AM


Originally Posted by niizh
I find any handwork is relaxing. When I ask my Mom why she did so much hand work, she said "it is better than Prozac." When making clothing, I disliked hand work, however, with quilting, applique, etc., it is a joy and really relaxes me.

Hand quilting hexagons when I was 21 nearly finished me for life I hated it. over 40 years later we went on holiday and i wanted something to do so I started hand piecing hexagons again and now I love it but I will not do lots just a few to keep me occupied.


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