question for hand quilters
05-13-2010, 03:57 PM
#11
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 941
When I push the needle down to make the stitch, I try to have the needle at a 90 degree angle with the quilt - so the needle is going straight down. That helps make the stitches on the back the same length as the front. If it goes in at an angle then the back stitches are smaller.
I'm happy if the back stitches look nice, without too many that are too long or too short, and the top ones are even. It's a bonus if the back and front are the same size!
Janet
I'm happy if the back stitches look nice, without too many that are too long or too short, and the top ones are even. It's a bonus if the back and front are the same size!
Janet
05-13-2010, 04:01 PM
#12
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
tiger tape is a tape with little marks on it it is narrow, like 1/4" or 1/8th" wide and you can get it with the marks from 4-12 per inch, it bends, or gives you nice straight lines, you place it along your quilting lines then use the marks as a guide to make your stitches...helps learn to be consistant, make your stitches even...is available in most quilt shops, or joannes type stores,and is inexpensive.
05-13-2010, 04:06 PM
#13
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,042
05-13-2010, 05:44 PM
#15
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 3,877
Originally Posted by Joeysnana
Originally Posted by sewcrafty
Practice, practice, practice!!! One thing that I used when I first started quilting was tiger tape. It helps in getting used to when to go down and when to come up. I found it very useful.
05-13-2010, 11:04 PM
#16
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,345
Originally Posted by Hinterland
When I push the needle down to make the stitch, I try to have the needle at a 90 degree angle with the quilt - so the needle is going straight down. That helps make the stitches on the back the same length as the front. If it goes in at an angle then the back stitches are smaller.
I'm happy if the back stitches look nice, without too many that are too long or too short, and the top ones are even. It's a bonus if the back and front are the same size!
Janet
I'm happy if the back stitches look nice, without too many that are too long or too short, and the top ones are even. It's a bonus if the back and front are the same size!
Janet
05-14-2010, 01:16 AM
#17
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Zealand in the South Pacific
Posts: 1,115
I am a beginner and have discovered hand quilting, I think it is the best part of making a quilt!!!!! I have found that if I try to make my stitches too small then the back suffers, if I go for even and straight stitches rather than trying to get tiny ones then the back looks a whole lot better. I believe and trust those experienced hand quilters who say that with practice you will get smaller stitches and through practice the back will equal the front.
Gal
Gal
05-14-2010, 06:28 AM
#19
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Indiana, PA
Posts: 983
Thanks everyone for all of your comments. I so appreciate the help. I think I will try a smaller needle, piercing the quilt at a 90 degree angle, and not worrying about it. If my stitches improve, great. If not, so what. Quilting makes my heart "sing." :)
05-14-2010, 06:54 AM
#20
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,345
Originally Posted by Joeysnana
Thanks everyone for all of your comments. I so appreciate the help. I think I will try a smaller needle, piercing the quilt at a 90 degree angle, and not worrying about it. If my stitches improve, great. If not, so what. Quilting makes my heart "sing." :)
:thumbup:
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