Hand Quilting or Machine Quilting or Both?

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02-19-2010, 07:35 AM

#31

Sharon - NC

Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: From Baltimore, currently live in Charlotte, NC

Posts: 501

I hand pieced and hand quilted (without a hoop or frame) the quilt in my avatar. I thoroughly enjoyed it but it took a very long time. I'm now learning to machine piece and finished my first project, a wall hanging. I want to machine piece and then do a combo of machine SID and hand quilting some lap-sized quilts for chemo patients. I chose to do them by machine because otherwise I'd only finish one every couple of months and wouldn't be able to give many away.

02-19-2010, 08:45 AM

#32

lynmh

Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Posts: 76

Glad to see someone else does both. I too like to hand quilt, but some of it I do enjoy machine quilting. Since I dont plan on entering anything in shows I see no reason to do both.
Yes machine quilting and sewing is faster..I do not like to hand piece but I LOVE applique and needle turn is all I do. So it is totally your choice.

lyn

02-19-2010, 01:32 PM

#33

Emily Brown

Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Dalton, Ga

Posts: 44

Hi. To me it would depend on what type block it is, what the quilt is going to be used for, lots of use , wall hanging etc. Dont give up on either one. You can enjoy both. Emily Adair :-)

02-19-2010, 01:47 PM

#34

Olivia's Grammy

Super Member

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Fayetteville, GA

Posts: 2,879

I started by hand quilting. I have hooks in my ceiling where my frame hung. My DH had his cousin make my frames. I did several that way. Now I have a HQ16 and machine quilt. I still do hand work in the evenings. I like to do redwork.

02-19-2010, 02:59 PM

#35

Jingle

Power Poster

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Outside St. Louis

Posts: 38,213

I hand quilted 24 quilts before machine quilting became popular and items to do it were available. I have machine quilted 36 in a lot less time. At 64 years old, I just want to make as many quilts as I can. I was never good at hand quilting so I figure machine quilting is just as good. To each their own. Do whatever makes you happy...

02-19-2010, 05:12 PM

#36

sylvia77

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Winston,GA

Posts: 1,821

I quilt entirely by machine. I have arthritis in my hands so I never even learned how to hand quilt and I don't have the time. I love the look of hand quilting but I have to quilt using my machine. It's not always easy but you do what you got to do.

02-19-2010, 06:28 PM

#37

jljquilter

Junior Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: West Central Wisconsin

Posts: 104

I agree. You do with what you have. People worry about hand quilting that the stitches won't be small enough. Most people are just amazed at the quilt either hand or machine quilted. It takes ability and skill to do either.

02-19-2010, 06:42 PM

#38

grammypatty7

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: FL/formerly IL

Posts: 699

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxxigrani

I do both on the same quilt. I may hand quilt some parts and machine others, all depends on how I feel and what the quilt says. I always thought that was funny what the quilt says and had never had one talk to me until recently. I had a quilt in the frame ready to hand quilt and for some reason could not get my mind around the hand quilting on this one. I am not a fancy quilter in either hand or machine, usually just do echo hand and either sitd or just a diagional. Very simple, but this quilt said no hand. Go figure. I know I am getting a little old, but I don't hear voices YET. lol. Its whatever you prefer, its your quilt and I do like both in a quilt.
Since I am so simple minded that is.. Opps did I say that outloud?

Rita

You're listening to the quilt and following your instincts - me too. Many won't understand that but I sure do.

02-19-2010, 06:46 PM

#39

grammypatty7

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: FL/formerly IL

Posts: 699

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tippy

I did nothing but hand work for years.. I have actually had other "experienced quilters" stand in a shop and argue with me that I had machine pieced a quilt. Then I was told that I did not know how to quilt...despite the piece laying there with my needle still attached, because I do a stab stitch or needlepoint quilting as some have called it. Recently I learned to use a longarm and have started machine piecing and quilting. I think both have merits.. depending on the pattern I can sometimes hand piece faster than I machine piece.. some blocks that I love to hand piece I wouldn't even attempt on the machine. Other quilts go way faster on machine. as far as how long they last, I strongly disagree with that lady. Just look in the museums.
Hand stitching can last just as well as machine.depends on the materials and the workmanship.

I have 25 years plus of quilts in hard daily use and the few quilts that have needed repair was due to getting caught when drug around the house or fabric wear - my hand quilting has held up amazingly well and is beautiful. My first two quilts that I hand pieced did NOT fare that well as I ended up having to do a lot of repair of the piecing and vowed never again so I now machine piece and hand quilt. I'm in the process of beginning to experiment with some machine and some hand quilting to see how that goes.