using rocking stitch for hand quilting

[Cherie P.]

Hello,
I need some suggestions please. I am using the "rocking stitch" method to hand quilt on my Grace z44 frame. I love the frame and have no problems with stitches moving away, toward or diagonally from my seated position. However, I am having difficulty with stitches that move horizontally to my position. Even though I have attempted to change my body position nothing seems to help. The result is that my wrist keeps "breaking" with the stitches and now has pain so that I must stop quilting for a while (oh no!). Any tips on how to use the rocking stitch when quilting horizontally?
Thanks,
Cherie

[Kathryn S.]

Hi cheri, I don't really have a suggestion based on experience, since I have only hand quilted one quilt, a wall hanging. Can you quilt with your thumb? I think that alex shows how to do that on her tutorial videos.

I've only quilted in a hoop that I can turn, not on a frame.

kathy

[Jo H.]

Cherie,

Have you tried using your thumb instead of your finger? I move my chair to the left or right of the quilt and use my thumb as much as I use my finger.

[Cherie P.]

Hello,
Thanks for the tip. I do use my thumb but - a "duh" moment - I don't think I used it to quilt horizontally, just "away" from my position. I will give it a try. I am taking a class with Deidra McElroy in November on hand quilting so I hope that will help too. Thanks again, I will let you know if it helps.
Happy quilting,
Chere

[Kathryn S.]

Do let us know how it goes with the thumb quilting and also your class. She is a hard-core hand quilter, she probably has lots of answers.
kathy