WIP….still hand quilting and … and…and…
Posted by pegsplace on February 12, 2013
So! Four flowers done = 4 blocks almost done. I have the four small hearts and two connecting ovals and then on to the next block.
I am so liking handquilting. It is satisfying. I am finding what I like best and I am figuring out what suits me.
Here are my favourite handquilting tools so far:
- The marking pencil: I have been trying everything I have in my toolbox and this is what I am most satisfied with. This one is blue and it already rubs off quite easily. I have a white one too but the blue one is perfect. I can see where I am stitching now. It is called “Washout R680 Cloth Marker Blue. I think that I picked it up at Lens Mills so many years ago.
- John James #5 (I think). It is so sturdy and the shortest of the bunch. I have been testing quite a few!
- Thimble: Learning to love it….getting there.
- Waterproof medical tape for the other fingers, protection. But I sure am getting calloused!
- Needle puller-througher
…Using it often to pull the 4 to 5 stitches I can get onto the needle by “rocking and rolling” - My magnifier lenses that clip onto my glasses.
- Quilting Hoop. I tried the white plastic ones but I was breaking every nail PRYING them open. I like this one!
I am officially addicted to hand quilting and I think that one day I will be good at this…just not today .
When I take a break from the hand quilting, I have been working on my redwork….finally figured out that I like the back stitch for outling:
Relaxing.
And for company I have Pye. I set him up in my basket of quilt tops ready to be quilted because I took the rocking chair to quilt:
So what are your favourite hand quilting tools?
I am linking up with The Needle and Thread Network. I can’t wait to see what everyone is up to! I didn’t get to visit everyone last week but will try my best this week!
Dolores said
So glad to hear you are liking hand quilting. I used to just baste the 3 layers and I have used a hoop but now I prefer my 4 wood boards with C-clamps. I haven’t gotten a needle puller througher but my friend has them. I should get some. I always like a good thimble. What kind of batting are you using? My friends and I use polyester batting. It’s easy to hand quilt and it puffs up nicely once it’s quilted.
pegsplace said
Yep Dolores. I really love it. Those needle puller throughers are actually “needle grabbers.”
…I went to look at the package. We are using a polyester batting for this one. It is puffy looking. We are also using flannel for the backing, so that may be why I am having difficulty getting my small stitches. Have you ever used flannel as backing?
jensplayground said
Looking really good Peg, I am so glad you are now one of the group, I love hand quilting much more than machine quilting because it relaxs me and I can take it just about anywhere. Welcome to the club!
pegsplace said
Thanks Jen
Ilene Atkins said
Wow, hand quilting. . . you are amazing for doing that. I have done it, but much prefer anything by machine! And don’t you love those cats helping out. Mine does, too.
marginmirror said
I don’t do much hand-quilting, as I’ve never mastered the rocking motion, and don’t like to wear thimbles. That said, when I do quilt by hand, I generally baste +++ and go hoopless. Comes from my embroidery background, I think.
pegsplace said
thanks Ilene!
…yes, cats are very popular around quilter’s homes! I need to learn how to machine quilt too!
pegsplace said
I guess that I am just as determined with my quilting as with running
…I gotta get it down pat! I tried hoopless but I felt like I was doing something so clandestine 
….ah the pressures we put on ourselves.
Régina said
Great that you love handquilting, and it looks good, but then you have good company!
Marijke said
I’ve hand quilted well over 100 quilts and I love my Under Thimble. It is better than using tape, etc. It is a small metal disk that sticks to your “receiving“ finger with a double sided tape disk. Saves your fingers big time.
YokkoBears said
Hi Peggy, I wrote about my first diaryquilt on my blog.
YokkoBears said
and the second part is written, come and see