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 Quilting Techniques : The Joy of Hand Quilting

You will get arguments on the best way to quilt. You have those who do everything by hand, and you have folks who want to speed up the whole process, using a sewing machine from start to finish. Quilting doesn't have to be an "either-or" situation. Part of the appeal of quilting is the soothing repetition of hand quilting, whether it be throughout the whole process or just in the finish quilting.

Needles have always been one of the most important tools of a society. From fishbones to bronze and steel, we have seen many changes in this basic tool. Mending gave way to creating new clothes and necessities, and with the advent of serious quilters, we have looked for just the right needle for our sewing.

Look at the packages of needles in the store. Sharps are very good for everyday hand sewing, like mending and replacing buttons. For hand piecing, consider a number 10 Sharp. Don't settle for one without trying it out. Depending on your sewing, you will want strong needles that don't bend and are long enough. For hand quilting, check out "Betweens," designed for hand quilting because they are thicker and shorter than a Sharp.

Your needle will effect your hand quilting stitch. Many quilters follow the adage that the shorter your needle, the smaller your quilting stitch. When shopping for needles, remember that the higher the number, the thinner and shorter the needle. Beginning hand quilters should start with a 9 or 10 Between. If you have issues with your hands, go for a larger size. Keep in mind a needle threader may be your best friend!

You can hand piece the whole design of your quilt, or you can save the hand quilting for the finishing touches. If you decide to hand piece your blocks, measure and cut carefully. Mark your seam allowances, particularly the corners where points will meet. Use a strong thread for this part, as you don't want your blocks coming apart after use. You may hear that polyester thread is too strong and will tear fabric. This is erroneous; when fabric tears, it is at the stress points in the seams and corners. If you use cotton and you piece with cotton thread, you have stabilized the stressors on the quilt because you match fibers. Choose your thread carefully, including color. You want a color-fast thread, so you don't have bleeding when washing.

When hand quilting a finished top, choose your threads carefully. There are threads specific to hand quilting in a variety of colors. You need to decide on a quilting pattern for your top. Where will you quilt? Just "in the ditch" along seam lines? What's the purpose to your quilting? Is it to enhance a design, to add more texture, or to secure different embellishments? For each one, you have a specific thread. You can baste your quilt top with older threads, but remember that threads dry out and get brittle. Don't just grab for any ole spool; take your time and get the best for you and your quilt.

There are two basic types of hand quilting stitch. You can "rock" your needle through the fabric, doing three to four stitches at a time. You can "stab" down through the fabric, come back up and repeat the process, a single stitch at a time. This is a very personal decision, as is stitch length. Use a length that is comfortable for you and gives the enhancement you want for your quilt.

Five stitches to the inch, or ten, it is all a personal choice. You want to enjoy the quilting and the thoughts that go into each stitch.

Related : More Quilting Techniques

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