Lisabeez

I am having a lot of difficulty hand quilting. The quilt is not thick, but the needle gets stuck and is very difficult to force through the fabrics and batting.

Hinterland

What kind of needle are you using, and what kind of batting?

Peckish

What kind of needle and batting are you using? You might need to experiment with different needles, you might find it well worth your effort to invest in quality needles. I really like John James needles, they glide through fabric like a hot knife through butter.

Peckish

Lol jinx....

Tartan

Sometimes cotton batting can hold the needle from sliding smoothly. Don't load too many stitches on your needle and use a broccoli elastic to pull the needle end through.

bearisgray

what is a 'brocoli elastic'?

I also like the John James needles. Even they get dull after long use.

You might need to resort to doing only one or two stitches at a time.

Greenheron

The eye of the needle might be to small for the thread. It's an issue in embroidery, too. The needle must open the layers enough to let the thread pass through easily.

'broccoli elastic': the broad rubber band that holds two or more heads of broccoli together.

ckcowl

what batting are you using? how did you baste your quilt? what fabrics are in the top/back? did you start with a new sharp needle? what thread are you using? there is lots of information we need to really be able to help you with your problem

dunster

I figured out what a broccoli elastic is, but how do you use it?

Tartan

Mea Culpa! Yes, a broccoli elastic is the wide rubber band that holds heads of broccoli together in the supermarket. We quilters find them great for folding over the needle for a good grip. They sell rubber "needle gripper" rubber circles in quilt shops if you want to buy one. You can also use pliers to pull a loaded needle through but they can bend the needle if you are not careful.
I sometimes forget that not everyone has the same level of quilting terms, experience or knowledge, sorry.