Handquilting question

"Marcella Tracy Peek" wrote in message
...

With that in mind, how does your thimble fit? Does the needle have a
place to sit in the thimble so it doesn't slide around on you?

Well I have a thimble but I don't like it. I guess it's too small. I don't
like the way they feel on my finger. Guess it's one of those things I'll
have to get accustomed to.

I am going to assume you are doing the traditional rocking stitch. Down
goes the needle (perpendicular to the quilt top) when the tip is through
the back side you will rock the needle back nearly flat with the quilt
(no pushing though - that whole needle control issue comes in to play
here) with your lower hand push up on the needle, with your upper hand
- the thimble is holding the needle and your thumb pressed down on the
fabric in front of your under-finger - this will fold the fabric in a
little cliff. Then push the needle through the top.

Ok you kind of lost me on this one. I was pushing the needle through - top
to bottom - my left hand (I'm a lefty) and catching it underneath the with
my right hand. Then I had to bring my right hand on top to push the top down
to push the needle back up. I don't know if this is making any sense or not.
I can't explain it really. I just know I'm confused now.

Mika

Several have mentioned "betweens". Another one of my ignorant moments. What
are betweens? I thought a needle was a needle and I've been sewing for 40
years. Thanks for the other suggestions.

Mika

" Ellison" wrote in message
om...
Howdy!
What Denise said. ;-)

Also, I don't use a frame; too much trouble to bend over the frame,
too cumbersome to move around it, too much time consumed in
rolling the quilt, re-rolling the quilt, then bending over it again.
I like my 12" or 14" hoop. Just my preference. ;-D

Try several brands of quilting/betweens needles. Some are better,
some bend more, some have an eye that's too sharp and will cut
your thread while you're quilting (due to poor production/finishing
at the factory). They're not expensive. Stock up. When a needle
gets bent, change it.

Get some finger cots, at a quilt shop, on-line shop, or the office supply
store
(cheap ones used for counting money or shuffling papers). They're good
for grabbing that needle.
Coats&Clark and Gütermann HANDquilting threads are great;
the C&C is a poly/cotton mix I've never had a problem with; you'll only
need one strand. I cut the thread at about 12" inches, that way it
doesn't
get worn down too fast (esp. if there's a sharp eye on that needle),
doesn't tangle, doesn't get hooked around a pin (I pin baste), and no
thread goes on for too long
(if someone were to somehow cut into one of those stitches
or pull it, only 12" of quilting stitches would get pulled out).
I don't leave more than 3" of unquilted space in any direction (usually
only about 2" of open space is all I allow). Don't pull your thread too
tightly.

Some quilters like to "warm up" before they get to the big project;
have a scrap sandwich (top, batting, backing) that you can take a few
stitches in, get the feel for quilting, then go to the real quilt.

One other thing: I never count stitches. And I'm a professional
handquilter. g I just don't care how many stitches per inch,
as long as they look good.

Good luck. Have fun with this.

Ragmop/Sandy--in beautiful north Texas
"Denise Jameson in Ontario" wrote in message
...
You need a 'between' needle and ONE thread of hand quilting thread.
Start with size 9 and perhaps work up to a smaller needle once you get
the hang of it. Size 10 works great for most quilters and the very
experienced handquilters probably like a 12. Don't worry too much
about the length of your stitches just yet (i.e. stitches per inch),
but rather concentrate on getting them even. With practice, they'll
get smaller. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

You're too far from me to come show you how, but hey...you can send me
your chocolate delights in the mail! ;-) yummmmm

Denise in Ontario, Canada

On Thu, 04 Nov 2004 14:53:38 GMT, "Mika"
wrote:

| Well I finally got my 30+ year old quilt top on the quilt frame to give
| handquilting a try. When I was in Vegas last month I found some straw
| needles at Sandy's fabulous LQS, Quiltique. So now I'm ready to begin
| quilting. In fact I tried a few stitches last night after we finished
| tightening the top on the frame. My question is, how in the world do
you
| get 12 - 14 stitches per inch when the needle bends and the sandwich is
so
| pliable? I feel like I need 3 more hands. My stitches are not coming
out the
| way I want them to. As much as I try I cannot get the needle to pull up
from
| underneath close to the previous stitch the way I want it to. I need a
hand
| underneath to guide the needle and one on top to hold the sandwich in
place
| and this doesn't include the hand that holds the needle. What am I
doing
| wrong?
|
| Also, I think I may have asked this awhile back but I can't remember.
So I'm
| going to ask again and hope that you all will forgive my short memory.
When
| doing hand quilting do you double the thread or use a single thread? I
| started out with a single thread but I almost feel like I need a
double.
| Don't know why just feel that way. What do you all do?
|
| Oh yeah, anyone who wants to come by for a visit and add a few stitches
is
| most welcome. I'll put on a pot of coffee and I could probably be
talked
| into whipping up a batch of my Chocolate Delight. ;-)
|
| Hugs,
| Mika
|

It sounds like you are doing stab stitch--which is perfectly okay, just
slower than rocking stitch. I do it alot, especially if the pattern has
lots of curves or direction changes. It takes some practice, but, as a
lefty (which I'm not), you should be able to keep your right hand on top
(where you can see what it's doing) and your left hand underneath ('cause it
has a better sense of what it's doing). I started out practising with a
small piece in a hoop so I could check that the needle was coming up making
a straight stitch on the back before I pulled it through. After a while the
hand underneath (always put your dominant hand underneath) has a sense of
whether the needle is straight, and your stitches will look just the same on
the back as on the front.

Does that make sense?

Betty in CT

Actually here in Canada the package says "in betweens" Go to a quilt
store there you can see the difference between them and others when you
find them.
Joanna

Mika wrote:
Several have mentioned "betweens". Another one of my ignorant moments. What
are betweens? I thought a needle was a needle and I've been sewing for 40
years. Thanks for the other suggestions.

Mika


--
Remove Quilt to reply

What
are betweens? I thought a needle was a needle and I've been sewing for 40
years.

A "between" is a short, sturdy needle that is perfect for hand quilting. Buy
some, and compare them to "sharps," which most people use for general hand
sewing. When you try a "between," you will appreciate the difference.

Kathy


http://community.webshots.com/user/katquilts53

Repeat after me......."Spray Starch is my Friend!"

I learned to quilt from my Grandmother and she didn't have any frames, she
just used a hoop for the more intriquite patterns. If I am doing a fairly
straight or running border, I don't even use a hoop. I base quite thoroughly
then just hold the needle in one hand and the quilt in anaother and go. I
get about 6 stitches to the inch and it looks just fine. I think the
important thing is to have your stitches consistent in size which I think
will come naturally as you do more. I use a sharp that is about 2" long and
flexible. Oh yes, a thimble is a must. There are so many different kinds, if
you don't like the hard thimble try one of the leather ones. If you don't
use a thimble the fiinger you push your needle through the material with
will be full of holes and very sore.

Boca Jan


"Denise Jameson in Ontario" wrote in message
...
You need a 'between' needle and ONE thread of hand quilting thread.
Start with size 9 and perhaps work up to a smaller needle once you get
the hang of it. Size 10 works great for most quilters and the very
experienced handquilters probably like a 12. Don't worry too much
about the length of your stitches just yet (i.e. stitches per inch),
but rather concentrate on getting them even. With practice, they'll
get smaller. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

You're too far from me to come show you how, but hey...you can send me
your chocolate delights in the mail! ;-) yummmmm

Denise in Ontario, Canada

On Thu, 04 Nov 2004 14:53:38 GMT, "Mika"
wrote:

| Well I finally got my 30+ year old quilt top on the quilt frame to give
| handquilting a try. When I was in Vegas last month I found some straw
| needles at Sandy's fabulous LQS, Quiltique. So now I'm ready to begin
| quilting. In fact I tried a few stitches last night after we finished
| tightening the top on the frame. My question is, how in the world do
you
| get 12 - 14 stitches per inch when the needle bends and the sandwich is
so
| pliable? I feel like I need 3 more hands. My stitches are not coming out
the
| way I want them to. As much as I try I cannot get the needle to pull up
from
| underneath close to the previous stitch the way I want it to. I need a
hand
| underneath to guide the needle and one on top to hold the sandwich in
place
| and this doesn't include the hand that holds the needle. What am I
doing
| wrong?
|
| Also, I think I may have asked this awhile back but I can't remember. So
I'm
| going to ask again and hope that you all will forgive my short memory.
When
| doing hand quilting do you double the thread or use a single thread? I
| started out with a single thread but I almost feel like I need a double.
| Don't know why just feel that way. What do you all do?
|
| Oh yeah, anyone who wants to come by for a visit and add a few stitches
is
| most welcome. I'll put on a pot of coffee and I could probably be talked
| into whipping up a batch of my Chocolate Delight. ;-)
|
| Hugs,
| Mika
|

Oh Mika, you're a doll! I was just joshing you. People here are
always begging for quilts, fabrics, chocolate, and all kinds of
goodies! :-) It's very sweet that you'd even consider it. BTW, I'm
in Kincardine, approx. 3 hrs. from Toronto (just for FYI).
Let us know how your quilting goes. :-)

Denise


On Thu, 04 Nov 2004 17:55:58 GMT, "Mika"
wrote:

| Thanks for the suggestions Denise. I appreciate it. What part of Ontario are
| you in? DH was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago. When I can figure out a way
| to send it through the mail without it getting ruined I will certainly send
| you some. I just haven't figured that out yet.
|
| Mika

In article ,
"Mika" wrote:

Ok you kind of lost me on this one. I was pushing the needle through - top
to bottom - my left hand (I'm a lefty) and catching it underneath the with
my right hand. Then I had to bring my right hand on top to push the top down
to push the needle back up. I don't know if this is making any sense or not.
I can't explain it really. I just know I'm confused now.

Mika


Ok.

Left hand on top, and it stays on top.

Right hand on the bottom, and it stays on the bottom.

Left hand - using thimble finger push the needle tip through the quilt
layers.

Right hand - feels the needle pierce the backing.

Left hand rocks the needle back.

Right hand - pushes up on the fabric to make a little hill above the
needle tip.

Left hand - thimble finger only pushes the needle through to the top
while left thumb presses the quilt layers together against that
underside right finger.

It's really hard to describe the rocking stitch! If this makes no
sense, well shoot, I don't know where you live but perhaps check your
local library or take a trip to a quilt shop (assuming there is one near
you) and browse the books or ask an employee for a quick demo.

Favorite handquilting books of mine a Handquilting with Alex Anderson
because she has GREAT pictures and the only book on handquilting that I
know of that has pictures of a left handed person hand quilting! It's
on sale at Amazon.com for around $10 but unfortunately no inside
pictures are available.

Winning Stitches by Elsie Campbell is a good all around hand quilting
book but no lefty pictures.

There's a book by Ami Simms - Improve your quilting stitch (I think) and
it has drawings rather than pictures. Good directions and some
discussion and sketches of left handed quilting.

marcella

If you have pix in a book---set the book in front of a mirror. Look at the
MIRROR, not the book, for directions. That will give you left-handed
instructions. Had a left-handed boss and he learned a great number of things
using this method.
HTH
Butterfly
"Marcella Tracy Peek" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Mika" wrote:

Ok you kind of lost me on this one. I was pushing the needle through -
top
to bottom - my left hand (I'm a lefty) and catching it underneath the
with
my right hand. Then I had to bring my right hand on top to push the top
down
to push the needle back up. I don't know if this is making any sense or
not.
I can't explain it really. I just know I'm confused now.

Mika


Ok.

Left hand on top, and it stays on top.

Right hand on the bottom, and it stays on the bottom.

Left hand - using thimble finger push the needle tip through the quilt
layers.

Right hand - feels the needle pierce the backing.

Left hand rocks the needle back.

Right hand - pushes up on the fabric to make a little hill above the
needle tip.

Left hand - thimble finger only pushes the needle through to the top
while left thumb presses the quilt layers together against that
underside right finger.

It's really hard to describe the rocking stitch! If this makes no
sense, well shoot, I don't know where you live but perhaps check your
local library or take a trip to a quilt shop (assuming there is one near
you) and browse the books or ask an employee for a quick demo.

Favorite handquilting books of mine a Handquilting with Alex Anderson
because she has GREAT pictures and the only book on handquilting that I
know of that has pictures of a left handed person hand quilting! It's
on sale at Amazon.com for around $10 but unfortunately no inside
pictures are available.

Winning Stitches by Elsie Campbell is a good all around hand quilting
book but no lefty pictures.

There's a book by Ami Simms - Improve your quilting stitch (I think) and
it has drawings rather than pictures. Good directions and some
discussion and sketches of left handed quilting.

marcella

I think these are the instructions I used to learn to hand quilt:

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00024.asp

kristen

"Mika" wrote in message
et...

"Marcella Tracy Peek" wrote in message
...

With that in mind, how does your thimble fit? Does the needle have a
place to sit in the thimble so it doesn't slide around on you?

Well I have a thimble but I don't like it. I guess it's too small. I don't
like the way they feel on my finger. Guess it's one of those things I'll
have to get accustomed to.

I am going to assume you are doing the traditional rocking stitch. Down
goes the needle (perpendicular to the quilt top) when the tip is through
the back side you will rock the needle back nearly flat with the quilt
(no pushing though - that whole needle control issue comes in to play
here) with your lower hand push up on the needle, with your upper hand
- the thimble is holding the needle and your thumb pressed down on the
fabric in front of your under-finger - this will fold the fabric in a
little cliff. Then push the needle through the top.

Ok you kind of lost me on this one. I was pushing the needle through - top
to bottom - my left hand (I'm a lefty) and catching it underneath the with
my right hand. Then I had to bring my right hand on top to push the top
down
to push the needle back up. I don't know if this is making any sense or
not.
I can't explain it really. I just know I'm confused now.

Mika