What is happening to handwork? All we see now at quilt shows is machine work. I am keeping up the best I can to show handwork as the way to go. But I know the big machine makers are pushing for machine work to sell their goods. I love the intricate designs they make on the heavily machine quilted quilts and think its a real work of art. But to take a hand pieced old fabric quilt top and hit it with a bunch of loops on a machine breaks my heart. Each way has its own field. I wished someone would put handwork areas of the quilt shows to show off the hard work we hand quilters do. Here are a few of my hand quilted items I hope you like. I wonder what others have to say about it. I know when I talk to other hand quilters, they feel the same way and we are not noticed for the hard work. Keep up the good work all you hand quilters. And keep up the great art of the small machine designs that are so beautiful. But the whip em out big loops don't do a thing for me. I wonder what you all think.

OMG you do stunning work :mrgreen: Someday I want to learn to hand quilt as well as you do.

I think many are machine quilting as it is faster and they can move on to the next project . Time is a premium anymore , so much to do so little time. I hope it is not a dying hobby

AND THANK YOU for sharing your pics :lol:

Well, I think if you know you are giving something to someone that will use it like a blanket, machine work makes a lot of sense. If you are making an heirloom thats a different story. The machine quilting that I think is such an art is shown here in an example I took a picture of at the Sisters quilt show. Then you will understand what I mean.
This machine work to me is awesome. And it doesn't count in what I don't like about machine work. A baby quilt or one for people that don't have a clue what work goes into it would be good machine pieced and machine quilted. I guess thats what most people are making.

OMG Rhuelina, your hand quilting is exquisite! All your echo quilting that looks like only 1/4" apart is indeed a lot of hard work! I handquilt too and like you I do have an appreciation for the beautiful machine quilting and I have just invested in a longarm machine myself. I agree that the all over meander doesn't do a thing for me either and definitely don't want to fall into that trap simply because it is quick and easy to do. For a quilt that will be roughly loved, a utility quilt and some charity work it is fine and a good way to get comfortable with longarming and machine quilting. But I feel so many quilters get stuck in a rut of doing that and nothing else.
It takes a long time to handquilt and I have so many quilts inside of me that want to get out so I invested in a long arm. But I will still continue to hand quilt. I also agree that shows should judge handquilting as a category unto itself.
Your quilts are beautiful I especially like your NY Beauty quilt with the concentric circles quilted all over. Do you quilt with a lap hoop or do you have a frame?

First, I think your quilts are gorgeous. I've loved that old butterfly pattern and always want to make it, and now, thanks to you, I'm digging it out and will start cutting it tonight or this weekend.!!
I too am impressed with the good machine quilting (Harriet Hargrave and Diane Gaudinsky come to mind) and lament those quilts with big curliques and swirls that detract from the quilt. Currently, I do both machine and hand piecing and must say that I have better control over my work with hand piecing. I think it's a matter of patience and whether one buys into the notion that nowadays everything must be quick, quick or one is wasting time.

you do beautiful handwork. I've done lapquilts by hand but not as detailed as yours. To me handquilting is just calming. I have a big lapquilt now that I am itching to sandwich up and spend some time handquilting.

All I can say is WOW! Your quilts are gorgeous. Hopefully hand quilting will never die out.

I think one of the reasons machine quilting is so popular has to do with time and patience. At least that's it for me. The quilts I've hand quilted have taken months, and in some cases years, to complete. I like to see results quicker. Also, many take advantage of long-arm quilting services.

I remember when it was the machine quilters who weren't recognized. Machine quilters were told they weren't quilting if it wasn't done by hand. Now it seems just the opposite. I feel there should be a place for each.

I am learning to hand quilt right now. I am working on a full size patriotic QAYG. I think the history of quilting is important to preserve. I appreciate the beauty of the machine quilted projects and know there should always be progress to keep quilting alive, but give me a hand quilted quilt any time.

BTW: Your quilting is beautiful and an inspiration to me.

Your quilts are fabulous. I dont think anything is as pretty as hand quilting, however, I know I have arthritis in my hands and by the time I finsh hand sewing the binding on the back of a quilt,,,,,My hands hurt. So hand quilting (even if I knew how)a whole quilt, would be out of the question. Your work is beautiful!

You do amazing work! Your quilts are beautiful! I admire your handquilting , that is the way my Mother quilted, and she tried to teach me. I was able to do a acceptable stitch, but never really learned the rhythem. I also think I would have a hard time figuring out an appropiate pattern to follow. Maybe that is why so many like the big machines, some have automatic patterns. NOt sure about that, but I think most quilters just want to get their quilts finished and looking nice so they have a finished quilt to show or share.

Ido SO agree, some of the heavily machined quilts make me feel sick.
your quilts are EXQUISITE , the first is my favourite------PLSE KEEP IT UP!!

Rhueluna,
your work is absolutely stunning and you really do wonderful hand work. You speak right from my heart and I feel exactly the same like you. I am an avid hand quilter and I hope I will have a long live time to go on with this wonderful craft. I agree that quilt shows should judge hand quilted works in an special category - not because it's less or more valued but because we have too different crafts here! I will keep hand quilting as long as I can and I'm happy to hear that others feel the same like me.

Your quilts are lovely. I'm a hand quilter but I didn't put in nearly as much as quilting you did on my quilts.

I have carpal tunnel with 2 trigger fingers so I don't know how much longer I'll be able to hand quilt. So I'm having to learn how to machine quilt. Right now I'm concentrating on straight lines.

I agree with you that the all-over stippling and loops have been way over-used.

Just love to hand quilt. Seldom do I not have one in progress. Takes up too much of the dining room, but when I have the big frame up, get lots of company just dropping by to add a few stitches. Do have a wonderful couple that long arm quilts the everyday quilts that I make. Just cannot see putting a lot of time into anything that I applique and then have it machine quilted. I think that there would be more hand quilting done if quilters found out just how relaxing it is. I cannot bring myself to sit in front of the tube at any time without some kind of handiwork going, be it a hooped quilt, crochet, counted cross stitch or any other "hands on" work.

You have a great talent!!!All of your quilts are beautiful!!!

Wow, your work is amazing! I love hand quilting. I love how calming it is and how beautiful the quilts turn out. I also machine quilt on my old Singer. I agree that I wish more people hand quilted. I think it's a lost art! I also love replicating antique quilts, so those always get hand quilted! Here is the one on my frame now! (My stitches are no where close to yours, but I'm trying)

just beautiful!! Thanks for sharing. My first quilts I made were for my 3 boys - memory quilts - the pictures in each block were fabric painted and then hand quilted around each picture. It was a labor of love - now I only know where one is (he had me keep it for him - didn't want to mess it up :?: ) Then hand stitched in the ditch. Then 2 whole cloth quilts (white) for my nieces. They were beautiful if I may say so. I do miss that type of quilting. Right now I'm struggling with peronal type machine (Brother) quilting. I may go back to my hand work. Thanks for reminding me.

the stitching is perfect!

I myself love to handquilt! There's no machine stitching that can compare to it. I admit I do do both, but if I have the time to do a handquilting project then that's the way I go. If its utilitarian (sp) (nothing grand) I normally machine it.

I'm a hand quilter through and through! For me I think it's a control issue. I can't control my machine like I can control my needle. I believe there's a place for both hand and machine quilting but for me the issue is design. If you don't have a nice design that goes with the particular quilt, it doesn't look good whether you hand or machine quilt.

I have to agree with you. The last time I went to a quilt show I was disappointed that I didn't see more handquilted items. I know everyone is pressed for time --- I was feeling the pressure, too. "Gotta make more --- Hurry up -- everyone and their dog wants a quilt!" I put the brakes on that. I put my sewing machine away and started doing hand work. I have 2 projects under way now - both are English Paper Piecing and both will be hand quilted -- and I will be keeping both of them for myself - well...one for me, one for my hubby. That decision relieved a lot of stress I had put on myself. I finally figured it out --- A. the longer the project takes - the less fabric I have to buy (that helps my budget) -- B. the longer I get to enjoy the project -- C. the more satisfied I am with the project and D. the more precious the quilt will be cuz I didn't crank them out like an assembly line. LOL And the final question for myself was "Just what is the big hurry anyway?" I should have many years to develop the skills that you have and I'm looking forward to it. I think I was on my way to 'burn out' if I hadn't made the decision to change my ways.

Although I can appreciate hand quilting, I don't care for the "look" of it and really prefer the artistry of good machine quilting. I decorated modern and don't care for antiques, country decor etc. I think it's important that if you hand quilters want to keep your art going, that you don't put down machine quilters and make comments like "it makes me sick" etc. It's definitely a put-off IMHO when people make disparaging comments about other people's art forms and preferences. Like I mentioned, I don't care for hand quilting, but I'd never make snarky comments about it.

Your work is absolutely stunning! Thank you for sharing this.

Your work is beautiful but I don't like doing handwork. When I made clothes I always got my mother to sew on buttons for me. I have done handwork in the past but I prefer machine quilting all the way. I think it can be as beautiful as some handwork. To each his own.

Sybil

All your work is truly beautiful. And I especially love the New York Beauty or Mariner's Compass quilt. Everything is amazing!! Thanks for sharing!

I agree 100%. Truer words have not been spoken. Beautiful work.

Absolutely beautiful!!!!! I am a hand quilter learning to machine quilt. I no longer hand quilt gifts unless I really know the person appreciates the time I spent making it.
I think each has it's place. For me hand quilting is more relaxing than machine quilting. But, I do agree a lot of quilters do not want to spend the time to learn the talent. My first quilt was a whole cloth and it took me 3 years to complete. Working, single parent.
AND one of the popular magazines had a baby quilt contest and all winners were machine quilted. The beautiful (IMO) hand quilted whole cloth did not even get an honorable mention.
Machine quilting is not as easy as it looks, it is a completely different skill set that takes time to learn.
I still love the look of hand quilting much better, we all have different tastes, thank goodness!!!!
Are the butterflies Alice Brooks (1935??) they are lovely. They are on my 'to do' list.

At quilt shows that I have gone to over the last 3 years - I would say that just over half the quilts were hand quilted.

My personal preference is for hand quilting, and this the form I craft that I create. I do enjoy machine quilting where the overall design is enhanced. What machine quilters create is pretty amazing (and different) to what we can achieve. I have a friend that uses "thread painting" as her quilting method - and her work is outstanding.

I adore seeing what other hand quilters do - you have done an amazing job on those quilts. Just gorgeous :)

I cannot express how beautiful your work is :thumbup: :thumbup: I bow to you :thumbup:

Your work is stunning. For many years I did hand quilting only. Now I am breaking into machine work and loving it. There is place for both. Thanks for sharing.

You do BEAUTIFUL work.

I ONLY hand piece and quilt. This will not be a dying art as long as I am alive.

Candace I just went through every post in this thread again and nowhere was anyone disparaging of artistic heirloom quality machine quilting or hand quilting. I did not see one snarky comment and one poster simply said some heavily quilted items make her feel sick, that could be just visual overload, have you never looked at a piece of art that literally made you feel dizzy? Out of all the posts on this thread you pick that one and add an "etc" to it as though we have been trashing machine done quilts?? Everyone has posted nice remarks about the very artistic machine quilting that has been done.

Both styles have their merits when done thoughtfully. I am a fan of both equally and do both! I just don't understand why you posted this

Your work is absolutely stunning!!! I know many of the posters have told you have beautiful your work is, but I just had to add my compliments, too. :wink: Your applique work is at a level that one day I hope to achieve. I love to had quilt, but my carpal tunnel and arthritis starts to really act up, and I have to put it aside. It find hand work so very relaxing. It's food for my soul. Keep up the magnificent work that you do. :thumbup:

Because, as I stated, I sense a superior attitude in some of these postings and the comment about the machine quilting making one poster "sick" isn't appealing. All the quilt shows I've been to have separate categories for hand and machine quilting.

Beautiful!

[quote=Candace

Because, as I stated, I sense a superior attitude in some of these postings and the comment about the machine quilting making one poster "sick" isn't appealing. All the quilt shows I've been to have separate categories for hand and machine quilting.[/quote]

I don't think it's a superior attitude in as much as it's pride in one's work. When I look at posts that machine quilters share, I sense pride in the exquisite work they do too!

Thank you to everyone who has shared pics of their handquilting here...every single one of them were exquisite.

I, too, am a handquilter. I find it relaxing and meditative. I occasionally will machine quilt a utility or child's quilt on my DSM. However, I find it too much "work" to wrangle with the quilt. I end up with a sore neck and arms. LOL Therefore I like the handquilting because I don't have those problems with it.

I will say that I find a densely handquilted quilt is soft whereas the densely machine quilted quilts I have felt feel stiff. I think it is because you have two threads going into the same space that you only have one thread with the handquilting.

That's just my opinion/experience...your mileage may vary...

Wow you are a true fiber artist, I am in awe of your perfectly exquisite work! I have recently begun to do hand quilting but only in a basic way, I truely love the craft and I do appreciate how much work has gone into all your beautiful quits!

Gal

I---------- am ==================== SPEECHLESS!

Fantastic work. I am no where near your talent. I like to hand quilt, but I just started learning how to machine quilt as it goes faster. I also like to tie some quilts because I like the look .