Borntohandquilt

I use stencils, I use patterns I find in books and make cardboard templates, I draw patterns myself and I do freehand quilting. The hoop I use is a Jasmine Easy Spinner and I love it. The thread I normally use (YLI) is a hand quilting thread and it is already coated, so beeswax is necessary. For the quilt you see here on the pictures I needed 4 months (6-8 hours per day) and ca. 1100 yards of quilting thread. I will post pictures of the finished quilt as soon as possible.

Borntohandquilt

Yes, I use a darning needle for that. Here are some pictures if you are interested:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-89527-1.htm

Borntohandquilt

I am a self taught quilter. Unfortunately my home country (Germany) does not have a quilting tradition like the US have and before I started quilting in 1989 I didn't even know what a quilt is and I had never seen one. I found a book about quilts in my favourite library and that is how I got hooked to it. My mother and my grandmother both did knitting, embroidery and other crafts.
When I started hand quilting and studied the pictures in my book I tried very hard to put several stitches on the needle because the author emphasised this was the right way to quilt. I never felt comfortable with using a thimble as well. Just before I began my second quilt I found a book written by Barbara Chainey, a very famous quilter, quilt historian and author from UK. It was a great relief to read her statement about doing single stitches for practice first! And she also wrote that is okay to keep that method when it works better for you. Well, I kept that method for me. I have a better control on my quilting stitches and they are more even - and I think I quilt quite efficient. For me the time factor is not so important. But this is just my personal point of view!

cjaye44

Your quilting is exquisite!!! What kind of batting do you usually use? I am planning to try your method of marking with a darning needle. I knew there was a reason I never threw away those old needles I found in an auction box :lol:

Borntohandquilt

I like the Hobbs 80/20 and the Legacy 80/20, but I have also used Tuscany cotton, Quilter's Dream and they are also great. I prefer low loft battings.

Quilting Pastor

Beautiful work!

gigi10

I have bookmarked your post so I can show it to my Mother who also handquilts. This is just gorgeous. Thank you.

DonnaC

Thanks for posting these pictures. You sure do make it look easy! I'm totally terrified of attempting hand-quilting LOL.....

mommafank

Thank you so much---what a wonderful help to those of us who have worried we cannot do it the way it is recommended-----rocking the needle. Your quilting is so beautiful!

marymm

absolutely gorgeous.