Hand Quilting - Stitches
#71
Thanks for that Quiltmaniac. I will put in more basting and see how I go. I am using safety pins at the moment and they are getting in my way- back to basics I think.
I am probably a bit too obsessed with having tiny stitches, but I am afraid it won't be "cushiony" if I don't really nail it down!
Moving in different directions is a good idea- I'll try that too.
This doll is going to have a really one-of-a-kind quilt (if I ever finish it....)
I am probably a bit too obsessed with having tiny stitches, but I am afraid it won't be "cushiony" if I don't really nail it down!
Moving in different directions is a good idea- I'll try that too.
This doll is going to have a really one-of-a-kind quilt (if I ever finish it....)
#72
Originally Posted by sewcrafty
When I learned to hand-quilt I started by using the tiger tape. Its a tape with little black lines on it. It comes in different spacing. You just follow the spacing to get the rythym. Like down a black and up to black. It really helped out. Draw a bunch of straight lines and put the tiger tape next to it and practice.
You'll see, it'll happen! :thumbup:
You'll see, it'll happen! :thumbup:
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: central California
Posts: 636
When I first started hand quilting, I did ok, but didn't really understand the rocking motion. I went to a quilt show and watched a lady quilting. WOW! That was what I needed, to see someone doing it. I almost instantly was able to do it after that. So I recommend finding a quilter who will let you watch her. You may not even need a class, just a chance to see it done.
#74
I tried the Thimble Lady way. It seemed to work better for me and my shoulders didn't get all bunched up like when I did it the regular way. But I only did my class project. I do my quilting on the machine, so far.
#75
I haven't hand quilted in a while and I never measured the length of my stitches. I find that the most important thing is to have consistency. As long as your stitches are uniform, it will look good. As far as hand quilting at the seams, I found that stab stitching worked best instead of a quilting stitch.
#76
Noveltyjunkie,
Uneven stitches on the back can come from not inserting the needle into the fabric at a 90 degree angle or not rocking it back to ninety on the 2nd or 3rd stitches. Something to try. It just takes practice, you will get it.
Uneven stitches on the back can come from not inserting the needle into the fabric at a 90 degree angle or not rocking it back to ninety on the 2nd or 3rd stitches. Something to try. It just takes practice, you will get it.
#77
I had a few more thoughts (in the middle of the night!)
Since you are re-basting, be sure to baste from the center out - up and down and out to each side, then to each corner. On a large project you will need to baste between these lines, too. If you don't baste from center out you will have a mess trying to line things up at the edges.
Don't try to take too many stitches on the needle at first - just two at a time, then increase it as you become more comfortable.
As many others have stated, it's more important to get your stitches even than tiny.
Since you are re-basting, be sure to baste from the center out - up and down and out to each side, then to each corner. On a large project you will need to baste between these lines, too. If you don't baste from center out you will have a mess trying to line things up at the edges.
Don't try to take too many stitches on the needle at first - just two at a time, then increase it as you become more comfortable.
As many others have stated, it's more important to get your stitches even than tiny.
#78
I feel like I have a lot of support on this one- thank you all.
Someone else might learn from my mistakes, so here goes:
Hoop error: I sandwiched the quilt and then pulled it to get it straight. Because I had not basted enough, I stretched the top more than the other layers, meaning I was building up to an overspill at the edges, (and also working against myself as I want a "cushiony" look). Had fun re-basting to re-distribute what could be lots of puckers! Luckily, one of my fabrics is a cute abstract floral with lots of lines on it, and if I outline many of these, I can use up the puckers (I hope!)
Stitch obsession: definitely letting my idea of the perfect lines of stitches get in the way of learning to do the rocker stitch. (I wish I had more real projects to look at and examine the stitches on- I have a store bought whole cloth quilt and the large(ish) quilting stitches on it really bother me, but I suppose I need to GET OVER IT!)
Batting- definitely not using that polyester stuff again- bits of it keep leaking and leaving me with filaments. Urgh. If I wanted to be cheap, I should have used an old towel as my batting.
Thimbles- lots of issues- feeling the needle coming though but then loosing it as I rock- surely not normal to have to visually inspect the back every stitch.
Obsessive, moi?!!!
Anyhow, I am having fun, and getting better- thank you all again.
Someone else might learn from my mistakes, so here goes:
Hoop error: I sandwiched the quilt and then pulled it to get it straight. Because I had not basted enough, I stretched the top more than the other layers, meaning I was building up to an overspill at the edges, (and also working against myself as I want a "cushiony" look). Had fun re-basting to re-distribute what could be lots of puckers! Luckily, one of my fabrics is a cute abstract floral with lots of lines on it, and if I outline many of these, I can use up the puckers (I hope!)
Stitch obsession: definitely letting my idea of the perfect lines of stitches get in the way of learning to do the rocker stitch. (I wish I had more real projects to look at and examine the stitches on- I have a store bought whole cloth quilt and the large(ish) quilting stitches on it really bother me, but I suppose I need to GET OVER IT!)
Batting- definitely not using that polyester stuff again- bits of it keep leaking and leaving me with filaments. Urgh. If I wanted to be cheap, I should have used an old towel as my batting.
Thimbles- lots of issues- feeling the needle coming though but then loosing it as I rock- surely not normal to have to visually inspect the back every stitch.
Obsessive, moi?!!!
Anyhow, I am having fun, and getting better- thank you all again.
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08-03-2014 05:20 PM