nancia

I'm just learning hand quilting. I tried a longer needle and found it more difficult to make small even stitches. I use little leather stick on dots for my thimble and really like them. Several other women in my guild are trying them, and liking them. I can't handle a conventional thimble.

richardswife

There must be something wrong with me. I quilt with a group of ladies and I have no trouble with quilting with warm and natural, but one of the other ladies complains a lot about it. I use a small short needle and she uses a large and long one. Maybe that's the problem there. But it may help me because we have a large quilting frame that we use( like an old fashioned quilting bee). But if it gives you problems it sounds reasonable if you just want to take it out and change the batting. It's best that you enjoy your work and be happy with the results.

richardswife

Another thing I use ( because of arthritis ) is I use a leather needle. It fits over my swollen joints much better.

lockesnest

I have done two Grandmother's Flower Gardens. I trim the excess fabric from the individual hexies before I layer the quilt and batting and backing. I use Quilter's Dream Request batting and the needle (size 11) goes right through with no trouble. I also super glue a Red Dot on my finger to push the needle through. I hate thimbles.

aquiltersheart

That is the prettiest GFG quilt I have ever seen. Quilters dream cotton, select or request are like quilting through butter. No scrim. I honestly don't use any other kind even when I teach Machine quilting. Every kind of batting they make from silk, wool, recycled 2 liter bottles, poly, poly-cotton, etc. , you cannot believe how awesome it is. Love , love, love it!. When quilting by hand or machine, remember to start in the middle for most , and turn or rotate your quilt very so often, so the shifting that occurs , when you rotate , it will shift it back, to prevent puckers too.

oregongirl

your quilt is just gorgeous! well done! i saw your update and am glad you figured out it was the seams causing your troubles and are having more success now.

i do a lot of handquilting. typically i use Quilter's Dream and it's very easy to quilt. I also use sharps - rather large but i don't know what size. I don't worry about the size of my stitches, partially because i tend to use variegated threads and figure i'm intending them to show. With practice my stitches have become very even in size and I like the look of the threads showing.

I have noticed that some threads "stick" and drag as I stitch, especially the thicker variegated ones. the project i just finished using a thick-ish thread kept having the batting pull through with the needle, making me say GRRR!

just a thought for your future project . . .

I tend to baste thoroughly and quilt without any frame, just over my lap and tucked under my legs. I did an entire queen-size quilt that way and it lays flat with no puckers or issues. For me it's easier than in a frame. I'm sure that's not for everyone, but it works for me.

have fun finishing your quilt. it is a beauty.

BETTY62

What an awesome quilt.