Have you always wanted to learn to hand quilt?? Well, what is stopping you?
Starting is as simple as picking up some fabric, batting, needle, and thread.
STOP making it a big deal and
START quilting!!
Just DO IT!!! And HAVE FUN!!!
So many of us are perfectionists and that leads to paralysis. We tend to wait for that "special quilt" before starting to hand quilt and when we have the special one we are afraid of ruining it ... Any of this sound familiar?
The best remedy is just to START stitching.
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| Batik Tulips - Sandra Starley - pattern available |
Here are the very simple basics:
- 15-inch piece of fun fabric for the top,
- 15-inch piece of batting (I recommend a thin wool or silk batt), and
- 15-inch piece of fabric for the back.
- Cotton thread
- Quilting needle
- Thimble
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| Folk Art Applique - Sandra Starley- pattern available |
Grab a chalk pencil to draw a simple grid or geometric design. Use a white lead for dark fabric or the pencil chalk for light colored top. Or try quilting along the lines of a large plaid or a floral or holiday pattern - no marking needed.
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| Cheddar Stars -Sandra Starley - pattern available |
Layer starting with backing wrong side facing up, batting, top fabric right side facing up. Hand baste (simple running stitch through all 3 layers) or pin to secure. And don't forget a thimble to protect your finger. Think of this as a test and don't put pressure on yourself. It is only a little bit of fabric. Get comfortable with the process on this sample instead of your great masterpiece. If you like it make it into a pillow, if not, save it to look back on in a few years and see your progress.
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| Detail - Virginia Is For Lovers - Sandra Starley |
Just Try It!!
Thread a quilting needle with a cotton thread - it doesn't have to be special quilting thread or a super teeny needle. You will need to tie a small double knot at the end of the thread and pull it through into the batting. Use your needle to pull the thread end out of sight. There are two basic stitches: rocking stitch or stab stitch. Try both and see which you like. Try different battings - see which suits YOU best. Same with needles and thread. Find your bliss!!
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| Mini Moab Landscape - Sandra Starley - pattern available |
HAVE FUN!!!
Hand quilt where it will show - block centers, borders. Feel free to machine quilt in the ditch, in seams, etc. Showcase the hand quilting. As you grow in confidence start using fun, bright threads and bolder designs/patterns.
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| Detail Pennsylvania Posies - Sandra Starley |
Keep on Learning - visit the rest of the blog hop stops to learn something new everyday this month!
Here’s the blog hop team and their topics:
Day 1 – September 1 – Sam Hunter: Sewing Long Seams Without Stretching – huntersdesignstudio.com
Day 2 – September 2 – Susan Arnold – Joining Binding the Easy Way – quiltfabrication.com
Day 3 – September 3 – Angie Wilson – Fussy cutting tips and techniques – www.gnomeangel.com
Day 4 – September 4 – Andi Stanfield – No-Mark HST: Let your machine be your guide – truebluequilts.com/blog/
Day 5 – September 5 – Bobbie Gentili – Say YES to Y-seams – geekybobbin.com
Day 6 – September 6 – Mel Beach – 5 Reasons to Say Woo Hoo! to School Glue – pieceloveandhappiness.blogspot.com
Day 7 – September 7 – Laura Piland – 7 Ways to Use a Laser on Your Sewing Machine – www.sliceofpiquilts.com
Day 8 – September 8 – Suzy Webster – How to solve loops in free motion quilting – www.websterquilt.com
Day 9 – September 9 – Tara Miller – Accurate Stitch-and-Flip Corners – quiltdistrict.com
Day 10 – September 10 – Latifah Saafir – Accurate Seams Using Masking Tape! – latifahsaafirstudios.com
Day 11 – September 11 – Sarah Ruiz – The Magic of Glue Basting – saroy.net
Day 12 – September 12 – Jen Shaffer – Ways to stop your ruler from slipping while cutting – patternsbyjen.blogspot.com
Day 13 – September 13 – Cheryl Sleboda – Basics of ruching (a vintage fabric manipulation technique) – muppin.com
Day 14 – September 14 – Raylee Bielenberg – Choosing quilting designs for your quilt – www.sunflowerstitcheries.com
Day 15 – September 15 – Jen Strauser – Accurate and Attractive Machine binding – dizzyquilter.com
Day 16 – September 16 – Jane Davidson – Matching points for all types of intersections – quiltjane.com
Day 17 – September 17 – Teresa Coates – Starch and starch alternatives – teresacoates.com
Day 18 – September 18 – Jen Frost – Benefits of spray basting – faithandfabricdesign.com
Day 19 – September 19 – Sandra Starley – Getting started with Hand Quilting – utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com
Day 20 – September 20 – Karen Platt – Drunkard’s Path Made Easy – karenplatt.co.uk/blog/
Day 21 – September 21 – Kris Driessen – All Kinds of Square (in a Square) – scrapdash.com
Day 22 – September 22 – Sarah Goer – Planned Improv Piecing – sarahgoerquilts.com
Day 23 – September 23 – Kathy Bruckman – Organizing kits for on-the-go sewing – kathyskwiltsandmore.blogspot.com
Day 24 – September 24 – Cheryl Daines Brown – The Secret to Flat Quilt Tops: Borders – quilterchic.com
Day 25 – September 25 – Cherry Guidry – Pre-assembling fusible applique – cherryblossomsquilting.com
Day 26 – September 26 – Laura Chaney – Getting started with English Paper Piecing – prairiesewnstudios.com
Day 27 – September 27 – Ebony Love – Cutting Bias Strips from a Rectangle – lovebugstudios.com
Day 28 – September 28 – Tammy Silvers – Working with heavier weight threads in your machine – tamarinis.typepad.com
Day 29 – September 29 – Kathy Nutley – Create a perfect facing or frame with 90 degree angles – quiltingsbykathy.com
Day 30 – September 3 – Joanne Harris – Using Leaders and Enders – quiltsbyjoanne.blogspot.com
I love the look of hand quilting. I've tried, but don't seem to have the knack for it. I'm guessing I struggle with how long it takes.
ReplyDeleteTry using it just in special areas like block centers and do the other areas by machine. Hand quilting in smaller spots will be a LOT faster than quilting across seams or in the ditch and give you a bigger bang for your stitches!
ReplyDeleteAlso don't be so hard on yourself. When you look at 2 or 3 stitches it is easy to say they look too big or uneven but if you do a whole section those little issues tend to disappear. And the more you do it, the better you will get.
Another option is to try "big stitch" - making a larger hand quilting stitch using embroidery floss or perle cotton and a larger needle. It goes faster than small stitching and shows up more with the thicker thread. Hope that helps. Keep me posted.
I like your philosophy of ... just do it, don't try to be perfect at it! I'll never win a hand quilting award.... but I sure love the overall look and soft feel of a hand quilted quilt, so I "just do it!" on some of my quilts for sure! Your Moab mini is so pretty - the glowy blue sky against the desert. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing such an awesome blog the way you have explained art with fabric it is very easy to understand and your choice of color is brilliant. They provide various types of fabric I suggest you to see textile fabric manufacturers they have Moisture Managed Fabric, Soil / Stain Release Fabrics, Repellent Fabrics, Anti Bacterial Fabrics, Flame Retardant Fabrics
ReplyDeleteGreetings, fellow quilting enthusiasts! I stumbled upon this wonderful blog post by Utah Quilt Appraiser, and it's a treasure trove of valuable information and tips for hand quilting.
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