Here are some pictures about my personal way of handquilting. As you can see I don't use a thimble and I only do single stitches.

What do you use to mark the lines to be quilted?

Your work is so amazing. Thanks for a peek into your technique

You must use a frame? It cant seem to figure out how to do stitches when the fabric is streched in the frame...

Isn't it painful to sew without a thimble? Nice work and beautiful quilting.

WOW WOW WOW so beautiful. Added to the list of questions is that kind of needles do you use?

How many times I wanted to ask you to do this but didn't want to bother you - thank you for reading my mind!

On these pictures I quilt freehand without markings. When I mark I use watercolor pencils for dark fabrics and the method of needlemarking for lighter ones.

I use a hoop on a floor stand for quilting and the tension of the quiltwork is not very high. I must be able to move the needle without too much pressure.

No, it's not. Maybe you can see that I don't touch the needle with my middle finger.

I use a John James Betweens #11. These are one of my favourite brands.

Thanks for posting these, Andrea. Is your other hand under the hoop, pushing up?

Janet

Yes, right! I use the forefinger of my left hand to push the quilt up a little.

Your quilting is amazing.....Is it relaxing to you? It is good that you can sit beside the window for
natural lighting.

I love to sit at near the terrace door the whole day and work on my quilts! The light is perfect and I can see all the birds in the garden, the roses in the summer and the snow in winter! :) It's very relaxing...

Thank you for the tutorial :D:D:D

your hand quilting is beautiful. thank you for sharing the great photos.

WOW Andrea Thanks for sharing how you do your wonderful work.

amazing!

Your work is beautiful. Such a nice place to sit and quilt. I have a floor frame lie that also. I do use it some but also like to use a hoop in my lap.

I greatly admire your work. Thanks for sharing your technique. I'll have to try one stitch at a time.

You do such gorgeous work!!

:) :thumbup: :) :thumbup: :) :thumbup: :) :thumbup: :) :thumbup:

I have never done one stitch at a time either.

Your work is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your technique. I stab quilt because I've never been able to rock the needle. I'll have to try this way of one stitch at a time.

Such beautiful work. You are indeed an artist! Thanks for sharing.

What a beautiful place to quilt! How lovely! And such gorgeous quilting! I like hand quilting, but I can't get my stitches small enough. Maybe one stitch at a time would be the answer.

Your stitching is exquisite as always. I know you have practiced your technique for a long time - haven't you?
Oh how I wish we could have a sit down together and you show us in person. Just wonderful.

Thanks for the detailed pictures! I usually go right to left, but I've noticed the different rhythm of quilting toward myself. Maybe I'll have to concentrate on doing it in that direction.

Your quilting is beautiful

Thank you! I have started hand quilting more than 20 years ago and because I don't piece I save a lot of time for practicing hand quilting! :)

I'm glad to see that someone else doesn't use a thimble. I have yet to find one that fits properly, is comfortable, and doesn't make me feel clumsy or claustrophobic. However, I find that if I cut the fingertips off of the clear vinyl exam gloves and slip them over my thumb and forefinger, I get a good grip on the needle. Lightweight and comfortable. When you're done sewing for the day, just throw them away. Cut more when you're ready to get back to sewing. Buying a whole box of them from Walmart, drug store, etc. is cheaper than buying them from some of catalogs. Plus, the ones in the catalogs appear to be a little bit thicker.

GREAT quilting and great photos.
So how long does one like you're working on take?
More than my lifetime, I think!

Thanks for showing us your beautiful hand quilting. i am making a gayg sampler quilt and although some of the pieces are machine pieced I am hand quilting it all. I have been struggling with stitch sizes but think it would be easier to do one stitch at a time so will give it a go. Like you I don't wear a thimble because I have really small fingers and can't get one to fit properly so it is too uncomfortable however I do find it quite painful so am always looking for new solutions.

Thanks again for showing your hand quilting method.

I'm bookmarking your post and may try handquilting one of these days using your examples. I have a quilting machine and frame, and after spending all that money, I feel kind of guilty letting it sit, but for some reason, lately I've had the urge to try handquilting. Your post may just have been what I needed to start. Thanks :)

Thats so amazing and your work is beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us

Your quilting is amazing. Perfect stitches! I have tried to hand quilt and I can only do one stitch at a time but my lines aren't anywhere as straight as yours.

Absolutely stunning stitching! A fifty years from now, your quilts will be highly sought after, and will end up in museums, and treasured heirlooms. You must have much better eyesight than I do!

Beautiful work!

Do you use stencils for your designs or do you draw them yourself? Do you use beeswax for your thread? I think we have the same quilting hoop but my stitches don't look anything like yours. I'm going to try one stitch at a time. How long does it take you to do a quilt? I've been hand quilting a double size about 2 years and just can't get moving on it.