osewme

I know I am always wanting to learn new things & I've been reading a lot about hand quilting. I've seen lots of different ways to do it on the web. I've seen quilting on a frame, on a hoop with a stand, hoop on your lap, no frame or hoop at all, etc. Also, different people use different threads to hand quilt with. Alex Anderson uses quilting thread where others use Perle cotton. I am seeing that just like in all phases of quilting, there are so many different ways/supplies/techniques to hand quilting. I'm thinking about starting out with very little investment & with a very small project (like a pot holder) to see if I think it is something that I might explore further.

Any suggestions, help or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and one other question. Does anyone piece their quilts by machine & then quilt by hand?

osewme

Another question...has anyone ever done a quilt as you go by hand quilting?

Faintly Artistic

There are a couple of current threads right now...I big stitching almost all of my quilts. No hoop, size 12 or 8 thread. Start with a small project and see how you like it. Your stitches will get better with time. Look at examples on Google images or pinterest to see what you are drawn to.

Tiggersmom

I have only hand quilted one quilt and that was a lap quilt for my inlaws 50th anniversary. I swore I would Never do it again, LOL, i was so contortion-ed out of shape trying to do it, my body hurt for ages.

At their party my father-in-law was impressed! But mother-in-law just glanced at it, go figure.

I never thought of doing a pot holder!!!!!!!! Now that I might try.

quiltingcandy

You might want to take a class at a local quilt shop. Since I was self taught for hand quilting I decided to take a class just to see if there was an easier/better to do it than the way I was quilting.
The one piece of advice she had that I really liked was having a quilt sandwich to use as a warm up piece. Usually it takes a few minutes to get your fingers warmed up and your stitches even.

Even though I haven't tried to hand quilt a pot holder, I don't think I would try it since I use special insulated batting along with a layer of cotton batting.

sinceresissy

I hand quilt on a small rectangular plastic frame that sits on a pillow in my lap. I do the rocking method with a thimble on my middle finger. I have hand quilted pot holders but I used two thicknesses of cotton batting not any special insulated stuff. Because of the thickness the quilt stitches were bigger. I try to keep my stitches even but to be honest it depends on the material I am quilting how straight and even my stitches come out. I love to use oriental material and because that material may have a lot of gold in it it is harder to keep stitches even. I do the best I can and forget it. I am quilting for my pleasure and ease of something to do while watching TV. I am not doing it to be judged in a quilt show. I have done the quilt as you go method hand quilting an it is an okay thing to do. I didn't like having to sew all the pieces together on the sewing machine in the end. I try to avoid the sewing machine as it hurts my back to sit humped over a machine. It just seems like work to me so I try to do everything by hand except the binding.

grammasharon

I really enjoy hand quilting and would still do all my quilts if my hands would cooperate. A short needle made for hand quilting works the best. I could manage my stitches better. For big stitch quilting I like pearle cotton and quilting thread for all others. Yes it does take a bit of practice to keep your stitches even but comes with time. If you like doing hand work and bindings you will enjoy it, otherwise not so much. Oh, almost forgot to mention that I sometimes use a hoop and many times if I have it basted well, I just do it without a hoop. Works either way.

DeltaMS

My first major quilt was a quilt as you go pattern from Georgia Bonesteel. It was like a white whole cloth quilt, but it was blocks about 20 inches and each one was a different pattern. I was able to put each block in a hoop. I have tried quilting in a frame, and that takes a lot of practice. Quilting in a standing frame limits the direction that you have to quilt in, and my arms got very tired.

luvstoquilt

I am in a hand quilting group that meets every Wednesday. We have frames set up and it is so much fun and relaxing. I love hearing the buzz of conversation. Could that be why it is called a "Bee"? When I Quilt at home I use a frame for a large quilt. It is made from PVC pipes and it came from Keepsake Quilting. I have had it for years so I don't know if they still sell them. Small quilts don't need a frame. I am doing my first table runner with big Stitches and pearl cotton thread. Fun!

NJ Quilter

I am a self-taught hand quilter. I've done 'big stitch' quilting w/pearle cotton and like the look for some quilts but it is not my 'go to' method. I normally use regular hand-quilting thread and #11 quilting 'betweens'. For most (I think) hand quilters, thimbles are the trickiest tool to find the correct style and size that works for you. I use the Thimblelady thimble on the middle finger of my right hand. I also use a rubber finger tip on my index finger of that hand to help pull the needle through the sandwich.

I tend to use a hoop in my lap because it makes it easy for me to find where I've left off quilting. Sometimes I use no hoop. I usually pin-baste my quilt sandwiches but for queen and king size I now tend to thread baste as it lessens the weight of the quilt in my lap while maneuvering it to quilt.