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Saturday, August 27, 2011

hand quilting

I started hand quilting my apple cake quilt last week. I am not a proficient hand quilter. Shoot, I'm not a hand quilter at all, but I'm attempting it on this quilt anyway. I think it suits the quilt very well. I have been plugging away at it a little each day. It has been such a nice project to sit with and work on amid the chaos that has been going on in my house as summer is drawing to a close. I even took it along to my sister's house when we went to visit this past week. I have 62 leaves done and there is only a small hole in my finger. :)

56 comments:

  1. Amanda,hi-I'm really wanting to hand quilt my first english pieced hexagon patchwork. Do you spray glue, baste or just pin your layers together when hand quilting?ta

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  2. I love hand quilting!

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  3. thimble sweetie, it'll save the punctures on your fingers. I also use those stick on ones for my underhand.
    hugs

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  4. You never have idle hands!

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  5. beautiful beautiful beautiful! It HAD to be hand stitches :)
    x

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  6. Well done! I'm a big fan of the Nimble thimble, myself. I'm not sure if there's a vegan alternative - I like that it's so subtle, but still effective.

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  7. There is something magic about hand quilting.

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  8. I always start out with a thimble, but get annoyed with it making me clumsy after a while and ditch it. Don't worry, you'll have some great callouses built up soon, and you'll hardly notice the excruciating pain after that! ;-)

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  9. It is going to be so beautiful! I haven't tried hand quilting quite yet, but it is on my list of things to try one day! It sounds like you have made good progress so far!

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  10. mine is not a 'Nimble Thimle' but it is an old leather from my grandmother and it is the ONLY kind of thimble i like! Matter of a fact my mother used to always call them leathers! not thimbles!

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  11. Anonymous4:44 PM

    Great job! I love hand quilting!! Takes a long time but very worth it in the end. I should get a thimble too. I hate holes in my finger!

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  12. It going to look wonderful. I poked a hole in my index fingernail at one time hand quilting! I still have a terrible time at it with a thimble. Quiltsalot has a spoon method on her blog that might help if it is the finger under the quilt. I am too set in my ways. Again, it's going to look beautiful!

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  13. But think of how satisfying it'll be when you finish the last stitch and you can tell yourself you did it by hand!

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  14. I love your apple cake quilt and to see it being hand quilted is a treat! I think this is a fabulous scrap pattern!

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  15. It's looking wonderful Amanda, hope you're wearing a thimble! I never wore one until about 10 years ago, If you find the right one you will love it!

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  16. I love how relaxing handwork is - you really do focus on the process and not so much on the product.

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  17. Even seeing a little corner of that, it looks amazing!

    I hand-quilted a small quilt for my sister last year...and it took forever...but was just beautiful. Worth it!

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  18. I love this quilt.....it will be a real treasure with your hand quilting.

    Happy Sewing

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  19. Yay Amanda Jean! It's going to be great. Now I need to get going on Single Girl.

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  20. very sweet, and you will love it with all the work put into it!
    One small bit of advice about hand quilting - much easier if you stitch where there is not a seam allowance (ie, in the background fabric to outline the leaves.

    Margaret

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  21. Seriously, if you are not using a thimble, please start. It's like anything else, you get used to it. The more you use it, the more comfortable it becomes until you find that whenever you pick up a needle to do some hand stitching or quilting, the thimble goes on first. If, on the other hand your small hole is because you have poked your finger on the underside, then get used to it. Put some hand cream on every night and then you'll get calluses.
    Seems like your having a grand time.

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  22. Any suggestions on a good hand quilting tutorial? I am almost finished piecing 20 squares that my mother left in all her fabric scrapes. She passed away 5 years ago and I am completing it for her. They are beautiful appliqued flower wreaths. I am almost ready to do some hand quilting around the wreaths and have never done that. I want to have a beautiful quilt that she would be proud of

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  23. Anonymous8:14 PM

    Nimble Thimbles by the dozen.
    It's the only way to quilt.
    I may not produce as quickly as others but they are all heirlooms!
    This is lovely, glad to see you hand quilting it.
    Isn't it fabulously therapeutic???

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  24. Have you ever looked into using a notion called the Aunt Becky. I started using this method a couple of years ago. It is fast and easy, but takes a lot of practice. Jean Brown has a website and there is an online video of her on Shar Jorgensen's show . It is very similiar to spoon quilting that Ginny Beyer does also.

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  25. loving those colors...

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  26. Looks so beautiful so far! This is going to be one heck of a gorgeous quilt. I admire you for hand quilting this one - such an amazing accomplishment that you are going to treasure even more with that extra work you put into it.

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  27. It takes a long time to do, but I find it very relaxing. Do you use a hoop when you quilt?

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  28. Took me a while to get the hang of hand quilting, but it is relaxing once you get going. Can't wait to see the finished piece! :)

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  29. I love your blocks. This will be an extra special quilt for sure because of all you are putting into it with the applique and hand quilting.

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  30. I've tried hand quilting for the first time last winter. I loved it. It's hard on your fingers but it's so relaxing. And it will always be a special quilt.

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  31. I agree with all the other ladies- you need to get yourself a thimble!

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  32. I only quilt by hand and I love, love, LOVE it. It calms my mind (which takes some doing, I admit). My hands, subsequently, look like....well, let's not get into that. Always use a thimble on your right middle finger and you could try some of those silicone stickers on the first two fingers of your left hand.....Happy quilting!

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  33. It's looking good... the more you practice, the easier you'll find hand quilting to be. I LOVE to hand quilt, and don't feel right if I can't quilt even a little bit in each day. Keep it up!

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  34. Love that. So pretty.

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  35. I just have to say that I LOVE this quilt! I think it is my favorite of all your quilts..and that's saying alot!

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  36. Anonymous8:09 AM

    Your stitches look great! Very small and even - you sure are good at it for not doing it very often! Hope it is as relaxing for you as it is for me - your blog is a treat!

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  37. OOOOOOh I am with ya on the hand quilting this weekend friend! Trying to complete a huge flower on this top I finished the other day. Not the best looking,but I like it and it is the first time with regular thread and not floss! (hoping to get my hands on some Presencia finca soon)

    Have fun with stitching!!

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  38. jackie9:15 AM

    It's nice to have some hand work around, a thimble is great, I forced myself to wear a thimble for a whole day to get used to it, and you will acquire a callus on your finger below. Hand quilting is a nice change of pace, and nice and warm in the winter. Your blog is always fun thanks!!!!

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  39. Wow. I really wish I could hand quilt. And one day, I'll take the time to really learn it. Haven't gotten there yet. Good for you for doing it!

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  40. Well done! I heart hand quilting! So precious!

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  41. I haven't done much hand quilting, but it's on my list of things to learn. I am impressed with your efforts!

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  42. Ya, ya, a thimble. But some people just can't get used to one, like me. Here's what you can do: Get some of that white medical tape and cut a couple of tiny squares where the needle digs into your finger. Then put a little strip over the top of your finger and another one around. The strips keep the squares in place. It doesn't feel like a thimble but does the same trick. I also didn't have too much trouble getting used to a silicone thimble, probably because they're soft. They're great too. Enjoy your handquilting time!!

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  43. Really awesome quilt! It's so amazing that people used to do all quilts by hand and then with simple machines. Thanks for showing your progress!

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  44. Awesome work. Your shared apple cake quilt and to see it being hand quilted is a treat. I think this is a fabulous scrap pattern among all blogs comparison.

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  45. Ack. Blogger just ate my really long comment. So I'll try it again.

    This is a beautiful quilt and the hand quilting is wonderful. What a treasure it will be when it is completed!

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  46. Perfect Ms. Crazy! I think you'll be so happy that you chose that route. I debated and debated about hand quilting my beehive quilt last summer and I'm SO glad I didn't give in and take the quick route. I can't wait to see it finished!

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  47. I have an quilted a few quilts over the past few years and my biggest recommendation is a LEATHER THIMBLE. My mom introduced me to them and I cann't imagine doing a quilt without one. They are pretty easy to find at most fabric stores. One a large quilt, twin size and up, I have needed more than one.
    I love hand quilting. I find it very relaxing at the end of the day to sit down for a few minutes and have a quiet project to work on while everyone else is asleep.
    Best of luck!

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  48. It's beautiful! Perhaps I've already commented on this. But I think I haven't had a chance, even though I read your post.

    Anyway, I think you're doing great. Hooray for Apple Cake!!

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  49. This is beautiful Amanda Jean! very fresh, cosy and cheery.

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  50. I think there are some quilts that just need to be hand-quilted because of their style. This will be lovely. And I LOVE your fall nine-patch. I've been coveting it since I saw some of your blocks on a previous post. It's just gorgeous.

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  51. I love hand quilting; yes it's slower but some quilts just lend themselves to those hours (and hours) of handwork.
    I don't use a thimble, I just can't get used to it. I use a product called new-skin (walmart or any pharmacy) and I put a couple of coats on my quilting fingers before I even start! It doesn't prevent all "injury", but it sure helps!!
    I also like to quilt my quilts with a hoop; there's no feeling like having a bit quilt on your lap and knowing you're bringing the artistry to fruition.

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  52. I love the pace of a little hand quilting. A bit a day sounds perfect and what a great way to work on this hand-appliqued quilt. Just lovely!!!

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  53. When you hand quilt do you use a hoop? or just lay it out?

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  54. I'm too chicken to try hand quilting!

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