Tip Of The Week

Hand Quilting Part III

Hand quilting is simply a running stitch that binds your quilt top, batting, and backing together.

Most quilters strive to make short and even hand quilting stitches. To do this, it helps to have the right tools to work with.

High quality, 100% cotton quilting thread. Quilting thread is a little different from other threads in that it has a kind of waxy coating on it to help it glide through all the layers of your quilt.

Signature Ctn Quilt Thread 3000yd Vari Rusty Orng Signature Ctn Quilt Thread 3000yd Vari Raspberry Signature Ctn Quilt Thread 3000yd Vari SmokeyBlue

Quilting needles, called Betweens. These needles are shorter than other needles which helps create the smaller stitches. They come in sizes 9, 10, and 12. The larger the number the shorter the needle.

Small scissors for clipping threads. I use very sharp embroidery scissors for my quilting.

Thimble that fits the finger that will push the needle through the quilt. Some quilters use their middle finger, others use their thumb. Whichever it is, you will have more success in hand quilting if you use a thimble that fits.

Quilt frame or hoop. This will put even tension on your quilt and help prevent puckers and pleats. A quilt frame generally is a large frame that stands on the floor by itself. A hoop is smaller, and you can hold the quilt in your lap.

One of the things that makes quilts special is the quilting stitches - especially when they are small hand quilting stitches.

Many hand quilters strive for small, tiny stitches.

Some time ago, I heard say that it wasn't so much that the stitches were tiny, but that they were even.

That makes sense.

But, still, how do you get even stitches?

Hand quilters learn how to perform a type of "rocking"
motion with their needle to create the stitches in the layers of their quilts.

However, there are a few techniques that make the stitches easier to make and more even:

poke your needle into the fabric from the top at a 90 degree angle
have your other hand just under the quilt and stop pushing your needle when it touches the finger under your quilt
use your thumb to move the quilt away from the needle
when it comes back up to the top of the quilt keep the quilt relatively loose in your hoop

More than anything, it is a matter of a good thimble, a sharp needle, smooth thread, and (sorry!) a lot of practice.

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Make a flannel board to help sew your blocks

1. A flannel board is easily one of the handiest tools for quilting, and it is also one of the least expensive.

It is created from a simple square of cardboard, a left- over piece of flannel, and some tape.

Originally masking tape, you could use duct tape, if you like.

It just needs to be tape that will keep the flannel stuck to the cardboard.

The flannel board is about 18 inches square, and seems to be just about the right size.

It holds patches for all but the largest blocks, and has enough space to spread out the patches for even those small blocks that have a bunch of patches. This is a good penney pinching idea.

2. To save your finger tips from poking pins, use snap-shut hair clips to secure your binding in place for hand stitching. Just clamp them over the quilt binding to keep it in a secure position, and then blindstitch. Use several clips at a time and just keep moving them along as you stitch.

To cut down on starting and stopping, cut off a piece of thread twice the length you normally use. Do not knot the end, pull it half way through, leaving a long piece.

Quilt with one side of the thread until you run out of thread. Knot and end that line of quilting.
Turn your quilt around and quilt using the other end of the thread.

To make this successful, you need to have quilting space on both sides of where you pulled the thread into the quilt.

When you are hand sewing, having your work raised from your lap can save your neck and eye muscles.

One way to do that is to put a comfy, soft bed pillow or folded quilt on your lap under your hand work.

Not only will that lift your work closer to your eyes, but it will give your arms a nice place to rest.

Looking for a small lap table? Cover a ceiling tile with batting or flannel and place it on your lap.That creates a solid, lightweight surface that your fabric pieces will stick to and not slide off onto the floor, chair or couch.

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