New Hand Quilting Method
03-21-2016, 12:05 PM
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
I was a self-taught quilter when I first began my "quilting journey", and since I didn't seem able to accomplish the rocking method of hand quilting, I used the stab stitching method. I did do some amazing tiny stitches, but I'm not sure now if that was because of my ability or the fact that my eyesight was so much better back then. LOL. I'm talking about 30 years ago and I can't remember if I had started wearing eyeglasses then. Our craft group at church made the raffle quilt for our Holiday Fair with one woman graciously stenciling a floral basket and a wreath with sashing in between. We raised over $2,500 on that quilt and my children's first grade teacher won it. We made the quilt because the quilting group would not teach us how to quilt because we weren't good enough, so we proved to them that we were and the next year they took back making the quilt; as apparently we were good enough. I'm just happy that our little craft group was still talking to me after working on that quilt "one stitch at a time", but only one person from the group continued to make quilts. I just felt fortunate that the group excused my lack of training and were willing to work together to raise money for our church.
03-23-2016, 12:41 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Montreal Canada
Posts: 1,120
Yes, right now the stab stitching is taking a bit longer but I hope I will get faster as I practice. With any new technique I have to practice, practice to get good at it. The main thing I learned in class was to have the material in the frame very tight (when I learned the rocking motion I was told to have it material a little loose). The teacher stressed that the needle needs to go straight down and straight up so you want to keep that in mind when stabbing. The real key is that it is the right hand that goes underneath the frame and pushes the needles up through the material and it is the left hand that stabs the needle down so you are using both hands. Don't need a thimble and your fingers don't get sore. The light has to come over my right shoulder instead of my left shoulder. It is interesting and I will eventually get faster. My stitches are straighter and more even but if I don't go straight down or straight up they will turn. I use a rectangle square frame with a pillow in my lap but I am going to buy a round frame with legs so it will set higher in my lap without the pillow. It's just a bag of fun!
03-24-2016, 04:15 AM
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Illinois
Posts: 126
Thank you for posting about stab stitching, I hand quilt and was not familiar with this method. Thank you also for encouraging hand work, I agree it is so enjoyable and yes, I don't run to the fabric store often because I spend so much time on one quilt but cranking out quilts is not my goal, just enjoying the process of creating.
And OhCanada, your photo is inspiring, you do beautiful work, thank you for sharing.
And OhCanada, your photo is inspiring, you do beautiful work, thank you for sharing.
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