whewee! this lady's handquilting is awesome. Maybe I would do some handquilting if I could learn stabstitching. I have fibro. and think it wouldn't hurt as much as regular handquilting.

You can buy special stab stitch needles for quilting. The eye in in the middle of the needle and it is sharp on both ends of the needle. Very easy to use and easy on the hands and wrists IMO.

no, my stitches are not perfect, it is a unending battle, but I just keep right on trying! LOL

Lisa,
That link does not work.

Thank you ladies, It is so reassuring that I am not alone. I've heard that the front should be the same as the back! Well, I can't manage it and I've tried several battings. my stitches are much smaller on the back, unless I have to do a single stitch over a bulky seam (is that a stab stitch?). I tend to use printed backs so it hides most of the irregularities. But what the hell, we are not machines.

well it's nice to know I'm not the only one! Maybe now i won't rip a bunch out.....and the stab stitcher---that's how I do it. I feel like I have more control. go figure.

I have been a handquilter for 25 years and have very small stitches, but my stitches on the back are even small than on the front. I wish I could learn to stab stitch I have such a problem when going through a thick seam. My stitches are even on the fron and back, but not the same size if that makes sense.

I have never really looked that closely at the back. I am just happy that they are going through all three layers.

what a wonderful reply------if only so many more could be like this and not always striving for perfection above all else.