Tutorial 4: Hand Quilting

Quilting By Hand

Personally I love hand quilting, I even love doing it!

The quilting gives a third dimension to the quilt and can really enhance the design.

The quilting stitch is very simple. One important rule is to always start the quilting in the centre of the quilt and work outwards in a sunburst effect. In this way the fabrics can be kept even all around.

It is recommended to use a quilting needle which is very small. However, I once taught a lady with arthritis in her hands and she achieved very good results using a normal sized needle. Using quilting thread is necessary as it is stronger than ordinary thread.

Cut a length of thread about 18" long. Thread the needle and make a simple small knot about 1" from the end of the thread.

Slip the need through the top and wadding layers about 1" from where you want to begin quilting. Taking care not to go though to the back of the quilt. If you put your finger under the quilt you will feel if the needle comes right through.

Pull the thread through until the knot reaches the quilt material. Give a gentle tug and the knot should disappear into the wadding and become anchored. Make a very small back stitch at the first point of the quilting line. This is to secure the knot so it won't pull through.

The quilting stitch is a small running stitch. As can be seen in the diagram, the needle is a most freely held in the thimble which is on the third finger and rocked up and down, in and out of the quilt.

The needle will almost lie flat against the quilt as it is rocked downwards and become almost vertical when rocked upwards again. Use the thumb of the hand holding the needle to gently press down on the quilt just ahead of the next planned stitch. When quilting, keep one finger under the quilt to feel the needle as it passes right through. Your finger will become quite sore. In fact I have sometimes worn a thimble on the under hand when I have had to get a quilt finished in a hurry. It is important that the needle makes it right through to the back of the quilt, as it is the quilting that holds all the layers together. This may take some practice and although the aim is to have small stitches, it is better to work at having even stitches at first. Small stitches will come with practice. It is possible to get anywhere between 3 and 6 stitches on the needle at one time, but to begin with you might find it easier to takejust one stitch at a time.

When you get to the end of the row of quilting, it may be possible to move onto the next row without knotting off. If the next row is no more than 1" away, pass the needle through the quilt top and the wadding and bring it up right where your next row begins.

If you need to finish the stitching line and move further than 1" away, bring the needle to the top and make a loop with the thread, pass the needle through the loop and draw the knot through so that it lies about 1/2" from the stitching.

Take a tiny backstitch and draw the needle and thread through the quilt top and the wadding, giving a geltle tug to get the knot through the fabric.

Again taking care not to let the needle go through to the back of the quilt. Bring the needle up about 1" from the stitching and the thread can be snipped close to the quilt top.

I find that its quicker to make another little knot before the thread is cut. Make it in the same way as the knot at the end of the stitching and leave a good 1" of thread to act as the anchoring tail for the next row of stitching.

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