Originally Posted by
mickey13
Does anyone have any helpful tips of the trade that I should know about when starting a quilt? And any recommended backing that is the best for one who hand quilts? I plan on hand quilting all of my quilts and I would love any advice that people have. Also any other tips that people know about that they learned through their quilting life that I would only learn from mistakes and experience? I'm so eager to begin but I'm also hesitant and I would love to do this first one right the first time.
I have been a hand quilter for at least 40 years. I like to use the extra wide fabric that they sell at Jo anns that comes in several colors. It saves you having to quilt through the seams that are necessary if you have to piece the backing. I suggest you preshrink the backing and iron it before basting together the layers. I use the curved safety pins made for basting. The only problem with them is that they sometimes catch the thread so you have to keep an eye on them and remove them as soon as you finish quilting the area they are holding together. Depending on the size of the quilt I use everything from a rectangular floor frame to a large hoop, 36inches or so that stands on one leg to a smaller handheld round wooden hoop or plastic snap together frame. The thing I like most about hand quilting is that it allows you to watch TV or enjoy participating in the the conversation of others. It is also totally portable. I find it very relaxing.