Are there rules to hand quilting because I think I just broke them!

[Kazd]

I haven't done any hand quilting either, but I have been trying to read and watch videos because I would like to try it. I went to you tube and typed in " how to hand quilt" and there are a lot of videos. Maybe if you looked there, you might find something that works for you. I think the basics are the same, you just need to find a technique that you are comfortable with. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
I have no suggestions on uploading your pics. I use my ipad whenever I upload pics...sorry.

Hi
I have done the same, watched loads of quilting video's and now watching hand quilting ones and they make it look so easy. Have found a class in September so think I will sign up for it.

[Kazd]

When I hand quilt, I use a metal thimble on my middle finger. The top of the thimble is dented in a little. I then push the needle through the quilt with the tip of my finger. The dented in top keeps the needle from slipping off the thimble. At first your stitches will be a little longer, but with practice they will get better.

These are the thimbles that I have bought.

Clover Natural Fit Leather Thimble: Medium
Clover Coin Thimble

[Doloris]

Thimble Nickel Plated Steel Crimp Top-3 sizes at Joann.com
this is what the top of the thimbles I use look like
Dritz Slip Stop Thimbles Size Small at Joann.com
this is what the whole thimble looks like.
I don't use a thimble on the underside of the quilt. This type of thimble is available everywhere very inexpensively.

[bakermom]

When I hand quilt I use adhesive tape on my fingers instead of a thimble. Learned that from the quilters I knew growing up. You are right about the needle and thread. Just finished hand quilting a DWR for DH. HE threaded 90% of my needles 'cause I just couldn't see to do it. I do like the short betweens though. DH complained they were getting curved-I said "yeah, they are supposed to"

[Claire OneStitchAtATime]

I'm a novice hand quilter too, but I did get to take a class in person at my LQS. The experienced lady there does not try to control the needle with the thimble alone, like you see online. She puts the thimble on the middle finger of her dominant hand to push the needle through, but uses her index finger & thumb to control & rock the needle. The Guterman quilting thread, in my opinion, is thick & wiry, & hard to get a nice-looking stitch. She does use a hoop, but there is no law saying you have to use a hoop. Not everyone does. If you do use a hoop, make sure the fabric is very loose in the hoop, not tight like it would be for embroidery.

She also said that some people find it easier to push the needle with the side of the thimble/middle finger, not with the top of the thimble/ tip of the finger as you often see online.

Finally, as you probably know, needle eyes are not symmetrical because they are punched through the needle, and are easier to thread from one side. It sometimes works to try threading from the other side of the eye if you are having problems.

Good luck! I also tried to teach myself from the web alone & found it very frustrating. It seems a lot of people who make videos about hand-quilting are the quilt police type, & don't teach the easiest way.

[bakermom]

The big thing is practice! I learned to hand quilt in my teens. I sometimes go a long time between hand quilting anything. Even after all this time(45+yrs) I find my stitches become more consistant the further I go along in a project.

[Kazd]

I'm a novice hand quilter too, but I did get to take a class in person at my LQS. The experienced lady there does not try to control the needle with the thimble alone, like you see online. She puts the thimble on the middle finger of her dominant hand to push the needle through, but uses her index finger & thumb to control & rock the needle. The Guterman quilting thread, in my opinion, is thick & wiry, & hard to get a nice-looking stitch. She does use a hoop, but there is no law saying you have to use a hoop. Not everyone does. If you do use a hoop, make sure the fabric is very loose in the hoop, not tight like it would be for embroidery.

She also said that some people find it easier to push the needle with the side of the thimble/middle finger, not with the top of the thimble/ tip of the finger as you often see online.

Finally, as you probably know, needle eyes are not symmetrical because they are punched through the needle, and are easier to thread from one side. It sometimes works to try threading from the other side of the eye if you are having problems.

Good luck! I also tried to teach myself from the web alone & found it very frustrating. It seems a lot of people who make videos about hand-quilting are the quilt police type, & don't teach the easiest way.

Being able to see the eye would help but they are miniscule. I managed to thread three this afternoon, thought I would get a few lined up since apparently you are a lazy quilter if you have a long thread! Who knew! Anyway what I did was to clamp a magnifying glass in my glasses cases and then put the glasses case between my boobs and the table and et voila I managed to thread the needle. Didn't make my stitches any better though. To be fair I did manage to do some probably not very well though. I am going to have to unpick the first few I did especially the ones with the backstitch.

I have just been watching a quilting method by the thimble lady, she designed a thimble with a deeper dimple and uses a really long needle (more my type of needle) does anyone use her method, she does not prick her finger at all underneath the quilt.

[Kazd]

Yes I worked out what to do (actually hubby did)
So this was my first attempt, pretty rubbish I know.

[Kazd]

This was my fourth attempt but by this time I had abandoned the proper quilting method and was just hand stitching with a back stitch which I know is completely wrong so I will be un picking.

[Doloris]

Yes I worked out what to do (actually hubby did)
So this was my first attempt, pretty rubbish I know.

That is not bad at all for your first attempt. It is not so important to have tiny stitches as it is to have even stitches even if they are longer, just don't get them too long. Shorter stitches will come with time. Be careful how long a needle you use because you will bend it. I use a med sized needle, and have lots of curved needles