Handquilting virgin needs advice!

[Hannelore N.]

No, it's not me, even though I don't handquilt as much as I would like (I'd never finish anything if I'd stick to handquilting).

So, last week I was asked by a novice quilter what to do next. She went to a workshop, but the teacher concentrated on piecing, using a special ruler that has her name on it, and didn't give any advice about what to do after the piecing.

The pieces is a smallish lap quilt size, mainly pieced from batiks (about 85%), with a batik border. So, for handquilting, what wadding (batting) would you use (type, make)? And would a batik backing be 'overkill', seeing that batiks are very densely woven, and so don't 'needle' as easily as some other cottons.

Any other advice? I obviously told this lady to become a member of TQS!!

[Hannelore N.]

If this is her first hand-quilting, she may have a difficult time with the batiks--as you say the fabric is very densely woven. I would suggest something else for the backing. I do a stab stitch so don't really have a problem, even if the fabric is a batik. I guess it will depend on how she hand quilts. I would suggest a wool batting if it is going to be used as a lap quilt. If she is going to hang it on a wall, I have read that wool doesn't hang well. I like Quilter's Dream cotton and their wool.

[Margo C.]

For what it's worth....I am NOT a hand quilter, but a dear friend of mine is. I helped her piece a large quilt for her son and she has told me (often!) how difficult it was to hand quilt with batik on both the top and bottom. She said that she had to use a rubber disk to pull each needleful of stitches through and that she could only get 3 stitches loaded each time. She has sworn that she would never try that again. :roll:

[Hannelore N.]

Thanks, Ritzy and Margo. That's what I thought. So we definitely have to tell her not to put a batik on the back. Now for the wadding...... What is the easiest to 'needle'? This lady has never had any handquilting lessons. I think she won't use a short needle and 'rock' tiny stitches. She has done a fair amount of cross stitch in the past and intends to use a 17inch square plastic frame. I don't mind passing on advice and wisdom, but I really haven't got the time to sit down with her and teach her. I also told her to search the net for hand-quilting info. and videos.

I have important priorities this year. Besides seeing Ricky in Oldham in April, and interpreting for a German teacher at Festival of Quilts in August for two days, there is my older son's wedding in May. We went to church today for the first reading of the bans. It's getting scarely close (19th May).

[Hannelore N.]

I would tell her to go with the wool. It is wonderful.

[Hannelore N.]

Handquilter from way back, so I do love to hand quilt with wool batting, though Hobbs 80/20 is nice to quilt through as well. Stay away from all cotton batting like Warm and Natural since it is very dense. If you wash the batik backing fabric using a liquid fabric softener it will make it a little easier to quilt, but I'd recommend steering clear of the batik as a beginner. Why make it harder? Most important tip: don't tighten the tension of the quilt sandwich in a hoop like you would for embroidery. Place it in the hoop--tighten it up so it's straight across but not stretched tight and then gently punch like you would bread dough to loosen it slightly. Now tighten the screw to hold that tension you've created.
Insist she join TQS and let her see Alex in action--she is a wonderful teacher.

[Robin G.]

Hi Lorchen, That was a good suggestion to look for hand quilting videos on the Internet. I've been looking recently because I'm trying to improve my hand quilting. Some she should look for are Sharon Schamber (yes, she does hand quilting as well as machine quilting and has a great video), Luixin Newman (there's a episode of Simply Quilts that Luixin is on, but also her own web site has videos, mostly demonstrating her products, but still, you can get the idea), and sewjournal.com. Also, there is a blog dedicated to hand quilting: http://celebratehandquilting.blogspot.com/. I use wool batting because it's easier to needle. I've been using Hobbs Heirloom, but I plan to try both Hobbs Tuscany wool and Quilter's Dream wool. I've heard that both are easier to needle than the Hobbs Heirloom. Some polyesters are also good to needle, and bamboo can be as well, though the brand I've used tends to beard.
Congratulations on your son's upcoming nuptials! An exciting time!! Hugs, Robin

[Diane F.]

Yikes! I would not want to hand quilt through batik fabric. Suzanne Marshall hand quilts without a hoop (TQS show 203). Would that help?

http://www.suzannequilts.com/suzanne...e_or_hoop.html

Suzanne's email address is mailto:[email protected]

[Teri L.]

I've hand quilted through batiks with no problem. Show her the thimble lady website - she makes a plastic version of her metal thimbles that positions the needle on the pad of the finger rather than the tip, this gives more leverage while quilting and prevents sore fingers and wrists. For needles I, personally would use a size 11 Richard Hemmings, they're sturdy and short. For a beginner an 8 or 9 is fine and good even stitches are the goal rather than tiny.
Part of the trick will be good basting and then having the quilt in the hoop fairly loosely or as Suzanne Marshall does - not in the hoop. Make sure she gets a decent thimble and doesn't try to load more than 3 stitches on the needle.
Thread heaven will help the thread glide through the batik.
Use wool batting as that has the natural lanolin, at least some, that will help lubricate the needle.

Teri