Quilt in a Day Forums

I am going to try to hand quilt the quilt tops I made for Christmas and am not sure where to start. Do I need to "draw" a pattern on the top before placing on the frame?

The Grace frame is a floor model with all kinds of cogs for adjusting the quilt. I've had it for six years and set it up once. So this is going to be a real learning experience. I had a very old simple frame that I had found in an attic of a house we bought. I sent to my sister in Va because she was into quilting.

As for the quilt patterns--I have several to finish. I think I will start with the Delectable Mountains first. That was the first one I finished.

The others are -- Tossed Nine Patch, Love Knot, Rail Fence, A Fussy Cut With Lattice Border Around each block.

What pattern are you planning on hand quilting? Usually you do need to draw out the pattern. What kind of frame are you going to use? I use a large hoop designed for hand quilting. Sometimes I have drawn the pattern as I go.

I am using a grace frame and haven't decided on a pattern. Do put the binding on after I quilt or before?

Wait until the quilt is quilted before putting on the binding.

What pattern is the quilt?

I am not familiar with a grace frame. Is it a floor frame?

I've done it both ways. If you are just outlining or stitch in the ditch handquilting, you don't need to mark the quilt. If it is a quilting design, then do it BEFORE you load the quilt in the frame--it's much easier! When I handquilt the 1/4 inch away, I use 1/4 inch masking tape to measure (I'm not good at judging the distance!).

One problem I have is that I forget what quilting designs I'm putting where! When I start quilting on the bottom, then by the time I've rolled it to the top, I've forgotten what I'm doing in the corners and the border! So, for me, it's best to draw on the quilt first or make a paper diagram.

And, like Quilter7 said, put the binding on AFTER it is quilted!

My husband made my 3-pole frame for me--it's awesome! He looked at a picture of the Grace frame for reference. Is yours a 3 or 2 pole frame?

Joanne:0)

If you have the 3 pole gracie remember to keep the backing tighter than the top or you will have puckers. My DH bought one for me so I could pin baste my quilts before I machine quilted (it got me up off the floor). That was the only problem I ever had with the blasted thing. I always worked the top tighter than the back & ran into trouble that way.

Good luck & send us pics, please.
Sharon V.

Thanks everyone. Joanne, I never thought of using the frame for basting and hand tying. It nearly kills me to crawl around on the floor to put everything together.

I recently have started to use a chalk pounce and stencils to mark my quilts as I go. At first I had problems with the chalk smudging or disappearing before I got the design quilted, but I read a tip that suggested after applying the chalk to spray it with some spray starch. It really works and I no longer have to worry about whether the quilt marking will come out after I am finished quilting. I also like to use the pens that wash out with water. I use a wet Qtip or small paint brush and erase the marks after I finish each section. On my first hand quilted quilt I just eyeballed the fans I did. It was a very good learning experience. It helped me let go of trying to make it perfect and now I don't worry so much about how small my stitches are but how even they are to one another. I used to love piecing quilt tops but now the hand quilting is my favorite part.

Good tips and helpful ideas. I learn something new everytime I read your comments. Thanks.