HAND QUILTING

[beccasmom]

I am trying my hand at hand quilting and just can't get the needle to rock right. I know what to do by looking at the pictures but my fingers don't want to do it. Being left handed makes it a little tougher to learn also I think. Well I will just keep at it and know that I will someday get the hand of it.

Brenda

[CoyoteQuilts]

Brenda, Being left handed can be confusing when learning things. My daughter is left handed so when I tried to teach her stuff I think she gave up because of that. Some years later I was told by a wise lady 'when you are right handed & teaching somebody who is left handed make sure they FACE you, not sit next to you'. That way your right hand is on the left side of the left handed person.

The best way for you to learn is to watch someone doing it by facing them. It puts things going in the right angle.

Good luck & post some of your work!! Sharon V.

[Susie]

You will get it Brenda. Just keep trying. I can rock my needle some stitches but I know a lady who has been hand quilting for years and does very beautiful work (tiny, tiny stitches and even as heck). She does not rock her needle ever, she stitches one stitch at a time!!! So..I guess what I am saying is you need to do what works for you. Sometimes I rock my needle and it feels natural and good....other times I have to do one stitch at a time because I feel like I am all thumbs!!! Hang in there!
Susie

[Cathy32078]

Great advice. Just keep practicing. You will find what works best for you. I rock my needle but it took me forever to learn how. I had no one to teach me. Just practice, practice & practice some more.

[cindyg]

Brenda - hand quilting is a learned skill so it takes practice. You will get good at it soon and you will be making smaller and smaller stitches as time goes by. One question: is your sandwich stretched too tight? You can't get a good rocking motion if it's too tight. I can't see where being left handed has anything to do with it. I think Alex Anderson is left handed. Keep at it. Can't wait to see it finished.

[beccasmom]

No I have loosened it in the middle and am really following Alex Anderson's instructions in her book since she does show good pictures of left handed quilting.

Brenda

[beccasmom]

Well it is getting a little more comfortable but this hand quilting is going to take a lot of practice. I do enjoy it. While I am hand stitching my mind focus's on it only and it is relaxing. It is the same way when you draw. Your mind does the same thing. It is hard to explain, but I do like being able to let everything else out of my mind and just focus on the stitches.

Brenda

[quilterbee]

I'm a lefty too. I cannot hand needle turn, knit, or crochet. I just can't get it. I wish I was right handed so I could learn more from right handed people. Amie

[beccasmom]

Well I am getting ready to make a go at it again for about an hour. Practice, Practice, Practice, makes perfect (maybe)

Brenda

[quilter78]

When you first start learning to hand quilt don't worry about the size of the stitch just so they are all the same.. once you master that then in time your stitches will be smaller.. try and get several stitches on your needle before you pull through.. Even if it is only two or three stitches.. Remember that you have to put your needle straight down into the material or even a little to the left so the needle picks up the bottom layer... when you feel the needle on your right hand finger under neath push the needle back up... hope this helps. once you get the hang of it the faster it goes. Don't give up for when you learn to do it it is very relaxing.. Mary Ann