Well I've go A-'s diamond quilt together and am working on hand quilting it now. I decided to forgo a binding. I just made an envelope and folded it inside out and then stitched a quarter inch from the edge to keep the edge from rolling. I cut the top straight but maintained the diamonds on the other three sides.
I've been a bit frustrated with my quilting frame. In the past I've used one of the Q snap frames when I hand quilted a project. I liked the fact that it broke down easily and made the project portable. With this project I've found it a bit frustrating because the Minkee fabric is rather bulky and it takes several tries to get the sheaths to stay in place on the frame. Plus I'm finding I have to balance the frame on a knee and/or forearm to support it. This causes me to hunch over the frame and I end up with a lot of tension in my shoulders. I've seen several hand quilters using lap frames that are supported by a post. The frame/hoops sits in the quilters lap or the quilter sits on a support plaque. A similar hoop was shown in Luixin Newman's book and she is selling it on her site, thimblelady.com. I decided to do a little research to see what other lap hoops were available. I fell in love with the Jasmine Heirlooms EasySpinner Situpon hoop. It looks very adjustable and easy to use. Unfortunately, I can't justify spending $200+ US dollars on a hoop I want to try. So I bought the Thimblelady's hoop. I can't wait for it to come to see if it makes any difference.
My stitches haven't been very consistent so far. Sometimes I do well and others I just don't seem to get it.
The interesting thing about hand quilting with the Minkee on the back is that I can't take too small of a stitch because of its bulk. You also don't see the stitches. You have an impression of a stitch line but the stitches get lost in the plush. This can be good if you want to hide your stitch flaws but bad if you want to know how consistent your stitch length is on the back. As you can see in the detail picture I'm using a rather bold thread but it can't even be seen on the back.
I've been dragging my feet on quilting the diamond quilt because I'm waiting for my new frame to arrive. So I took time out to make a coverlet for A-.
I used Hoffman's "Pretty In Pink" fabrics as inspiration and mixed them with coordinating green and pink fabrics. The center block has the children's Nursery rhyme that inspired the fabric collection, "Monday's Child is fair of Face".
I used a green Minkee fabric on the back.
Each block is 5 inches square and the overall coverlet is 50 inches by 50 inches.
I've been a bit frustrated with my quilting frame. In the past I've used one of the Q snap frames when I hand quilted a project. I liked the fact that it broke down easily and made the project portable. With this project I've found it a bit frustrating because the Minkee fabric is rather bulky and it takes several tries to get the sheaths to stay in place on the frame. Plus I'm finding I have to balance the frame on a knee and/or forearm to support it. This causes me to hunch over the frame and I end up with a lot of tension in my shoulders. I've seen several hand quilters using lap frames that are supported by a post. The frame/hoops sits in the quilters lap or the quilter sits on a support plaque. A similar hoop was shown in Luixin Newman's book and she is selling it on her site, thimblelady.com. I decided to do a little research to see what other lap hoops were available. I fell in love with the Jasmine Heirlooms EasySpinner Situpon hoop. It looks very adjustable and easy to use. Unfortunately, I can't justify spending $200+ US dollars on a hoop I want to try. So I bought the Thimblelady's hoop. I can't wait for it to come to see if it makes any difference.
My stitches haven't been very consistent so far. Sometimes I do well and others I just don't seem to get it.
The interesting thing about hand quilting with the Minkee on the back is that I can't take too small of a stitch because of its bulk. You also don't see the stitches. You have an impression of a stitch line but the stitches get lost in the plush. This can be good if you want to hide your stitch flaws but bad if you want to know how consistent your stitch length is on the back. As you can see in the detail picture I'm using a rather bold thread but it can't even be seen on the back.
I've been dragging my feet on quilting the diamond quilt because I'm waiting for my new frame to arrive. So I took time out to make a coverlet for A-.
I used Hoffman's "Pretty In Pink" fabrics as inspiration and mixed them with coordinating green and pink fabrics. The center block has the children's Nursery rhyme that inspired the fabric collection, "Monday's Child is fair of Face".
I used a green Minkee fabric on the back.
Each block is 5 inches square and the overall coverlet is 50 inches by 50 inches.
Ah! You just solved a dilema for me. I've been handquilting with a flannel backing and I was wondering why my stitches weren't showing--that makes sense. --Julianajaldous@microsoft.comhttp://spaces.msn.com/members/jaldous/
Posted by: Anonymous | April 20, 2005 at 03:27 PM
wow! These quilts look amazing. I have always wanted to make a quilt, but I can't seem to find the time and I not very good at sewing (I sewed my finger with the electric sewing machine in high school!), but my grandmother used to make quilts. It looks like a very theraputic thing to do!
Posted by: Clarajean | June 28, 2005 at 01:19 PM
Several years ago I made miniature quilts and used flannel for the batting. It does not "needle" well. It is often difficult to handsew/quilt through.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 30, 2005 at 07:30 PM
Yes! I'm hand-quilting a full-size quilt using the Q-snap 11X11 hoop. I've been researching the swivel hoops as well.....so, did you get the hoop from Thimblelady and do you like it? I'm desperate for a better method of hand-quilting without all the expense.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 12, 2006 at 08:53 AM
Yes I like my hoop from Thimble Lady. I keep it pretty loose on the bolt so that I can easily spin it and adjust my angle. I may be slowly bending the bolt becasue of this. I can fold it up a bit and get it and the quilt into a large tote bag for carting around with me too.
Posted by: quiltmommy | April 05, 2009 at 06:21 PM