my "blog" related to quilts and other things that interest me.

This week on the blog that I contribute to Celebrate Hand Quilting we will be having a blog hop sharing tips of the trade and just general information – if you like to check it out all week go to the link on my side bar or on the link above.

For hand quilting (and I think for machine quilting) a lot of us mark out our quilting using stencils or you can do it free hand.  I use the pen Mark B Gone for this (lots of different brands almost all work the same way) – I know there is controversy about this pen – you either like and have had no trouble with it or you do not like it and refuse to.  I’ve used it for over 20 years with no problem on any of my quilts and never and I really and truly mean never have had a problem with it as long as it is used correctly it works. Quilts that are 20 years old have never had the marks come back on them and they have been used and washed numerous times.

I mark all my stitching lines on this quilt that I am currently working on.

I use this big stencil for the borders  Most of my stencils come from The Stencil Company – good prices and a large variety.

I have a smaller stencil that I use for the background bits and I use a square ruler to mark quarter inch lines for the bow tie areas and on the background areas.

My tools of the trade – a small pair of scissors, King Tut thread (almost always I use this thread for quilting) a little rubber needle pull, and my “paddle” thimble which really works well at a floor standing frame as I can quilt in any direction.  I have been using this thimble for years and have 3 of them.

Needles – I used to always use Roxanne between #11 but in recent years after they changed ownership in my opinion the quality of their needles went down hill.  Someone recommended that I try Jeana Kimball’s Foxglove Cottage Betweens so I am currently using #11 and overall I like them but I think they bend just as easily as Roxanne but I find them sharper than Roxanne so I will stick with them for now.

The biggest pieces of advice I have for someone who wants to try hand quilting or already does but isn’t confident with their work –

1- don’t rush your work – it doesn’t really matter if it takes you 4 weeks or 2 years or more to finish a quilt does it – well I guess it does if you set yourself a deadline – – I guess I should say as a beginner don’t set yourself deadlines – you will enjoy it more!!

2- do not worry about stitch length!!  everyone quilts differently – with experience you will develop your stitch length – just try to be consistent.  I have been quilting for years and my stitch length still varies – depends on the needle – the fabric – the batting – if you have arthritis and/or other medical problems – DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT – it really spoils the experience.

3- relax! above all relax – don’t quilt for hours on end and then wonder why you are stiff – get up and move around, or sit in place and stretch every so often.

4-Don’t think you can’t hand quilt without a thimble – really and truly some quilters do not use a thimble and have no problem with that and really hate it that they are always told they have to use a thimble.  When I started I never used one – I used my fingernail – yes I wore a hole through it numerous times then I found a leather thimble and liked it – I can’t stand the regular standard metal thimbles on the finger – my fingers have problems and I can’t wear one.  Quilting is more comfortable though with a thimble and I encourage you to try numerous ones until you find one you like-  if you have trouble with your fingertips, finger joints or skin rashes as I do from medical problems you might find the paddle thimble (hand held) works for you or a stick on disc in leather or metal.

5 – Don’t make it work – just sit back and enjoy

6- if you have a problem with hand quilting ask someone for help –in this world of quilting blogs there is almost always someone to answer a question if you do not know someone who hand quilts.

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