Big Stitch Hand Quilting Series 3 of 4 [The Technique] 

Oh no!...would it have been held together by just the binding then at that point? He had such good intentions!--and he knew what basting was!

I guess I should have said he knew the term basting...LOL! =)

There are so many different shades of yellow...I always gravitate toward a nice warm yellow but the cooler yellows aren't usually my favorites. =)

Thank you so much!

You are so welcome! Happy Stitching!

I'm so happy you have the joy of quilting back. =) I've been those quilt police bring other quilters down as well. Making quilts should be fun! I hope you enjoy every minute of your stitching. =)

I hope you love trying it out!.. I don't think it's hard--it isn't a fast thing to do..but it's fun!

Thanks Gwen!..I've changed the way I do some of those stops/starts a little bit so the video keeps you up to date!

You're so welcome!

You're so welcome! I'm trying to think what I might have said...I don't save cut-offs so I know that I didn't have anything planned for them. I wonder if I might have just said you could save them for another project? You would have had cut-offs from the first block and the 4th block....but it almost wouldn't be enough for another project by themselves. If you prefer to save your cut-offs from stitch/flip as well as flying geese, I think what I would do would be to start turning them into HSTs right away and trimming them all to a uniform size. Once you've collected enough of them, they could all be sewn together into a mini quilt/pillow/table topper. Or, if you end up with a lot of them from many projects, you could make a lap quilt/throw.

You are welcome!

I'm so glad...thank you!

You're so welcome!

Mine always does. If you were concerned though, you could always make your knot and start your first stitch in a little bit from the edge so it wouldn't get trimmed off. You should try it and see what you think...just something small...it's so much fun!

In the second video of the hand quilting series I shared about the tools I like to use for hand quilting including my needle preference. You can find that video here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-T2r9kuD_6Yw.html I also have a printable PDF of the supplies I like to use linked in the description box.

In the previous video I talked about a couple different options you could use...there are a lot of different things we can use!--another one that's nice is the Hera Marker--I mentioned this one if you don't want to make any sort of mark on your item.

You can use waxed thread for hand quilting...I've never looked for a heavier weight waxed thread but certainly lighter weights for those smaller hand quilting stitches.

The link is working...the title of Part 1 is called "Hand Quilting Trunk Show".

Thank you, I finally figured it out

It's still coming. =)

I'm so glad!...I hope you enjoy your stitching!

You are exactly right...so cozy in the cooler months!

Helps to clear the mind too.

I really appreciate that Lee---thank you!

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy your first foray into hand quilting!

Thank you!...the rocking stitch makes such a difference. =)

How fun!

I don't enjoy thimbles either although sometimes I do need to use one! You might like the little thimble pads better for the times that you need one...they just stick to the tip of your finger and are much less bulky than a thimble is. Embroidery is so nice too!

I'm so glad you found my channel!...thank you so much for watching. =)

You're so welcome!...I'm so glad that has been inspiring. =)

I really enjoy hand quilting...you'll have to let me know if you give it a whirl!

You're so welcome! There might be other ways to go about it too...it always seems like there is more than one way to do most things in piecing and quilting!

You certainly can use a frame/hoop if you'd like to! And you can use flannel in place of batting for a lighter weight quilt. You might find that your needle pushes through the flannel a little bit differently than the batting but you might not notice a difference. Some textiles are harder to quilt through.

No, I haven't...do you recommend it?

They are very comfortable and work well!

That's exactly right Kelly. =)

I haven't tried Tiger Tape specifically but I did try another type of tape. It wasn't a favorite for me but other quilters do use tape for hand quilting so you might find you like it.

Thank you! I will just roll it over from one edge...my projects are usually pretty small--pillows, wallhangings, or table runners.

Are you talking about how the stitches and spaces line up (for the most part) horizontally in each row on my little practice project? If I'd be stitching out an actual project, I would be stitching across vertically as well as horizontally and turning my project around as I'm working...so sometimes coming in from the left and sometimes from the right. I think this does change up the spacing a little bit...and I also wouldn't typically have so many stitch lines so close together. I don't think I've ever done a project with just straight lines in one direction. You can also adjust the stitch/space a little bit by slightly adjusting where you start that first stitch...it doesn't take much to make them not line up on an actual project if you don't want them to.

You're so welcome!

You are so welcome!

You must have very lovely quilts!

You could if you wanted to!..there are a lot of ways we can mark our quilts so choose the method that works best for you. =)

In the next video in this series: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WGiQqQgfTRI.html you can see both corners and crossed lines. I also shared a blog post in conjunction to the video with more photos of the projects that I shared in the video: corianderquilts.com/hand-quilting-video-part-4-of-4-fun-projects-to-hand-quilt/

Just in case!...maybe you'll want to add a stitch here or there. =)

I tried crochet thread. I thought it would be such an economical choice. However, it doesn’t pull through the fabric nicely at all. I was surprised how much of a difference there was. You can try it and see what you think. It would hold the layers of your project together if you don’t mind working with it.

There are a couple things that could be making it harder to get through the 3 layers. 1. Are you using high thread count fabrics? (like a batik or Art Gallery Fabrics)...these are much harder to get a needle through. 2. Is your needle too fat?...wider needles are harder to push through the layers 3. Are you using a fusible batting?..This is difficult to push through. 4. Are you using a thimble?..as I mentioned in the video, I forgo a thimble much of the time but using one does make it easier to push through the layers. 5. Or perhaps the issue is that you simply miss the back layer. Make sure that you have your other hand underneath your project and feel a light prick of the needle before you pivot your needle back up through. 6. Are you loading too many stitches on your needle?...the more stitches on the needle, the more you'll have to push it through.

Thank you!...I do not. =)

I am not sure if I follow exactly what you are asking?...is this what you are saying: You are going to have two quilt tops each with one or more borders. You would like to use one for the front of the quilt and one for the back of the quilt. You are going to make the quilt centers and borders the same sizes and you'd like to have them hand quilted together so that the centers of each of the tops and the borders of each of the tops align?

@@CorianderQuilts yes that is correct. What I would like to know is this: the back is complete, with tshirts/hoodies surrounded by a 3/4 inch frame (160x210 cm) then two 5 1/2 inch borders. On the front I would like to have a plain fabric that I will put a large appliqué after the quilting. Should I put my 3/4 inch frame and two borders on first then quilt the tree layers or should I quilt the plain fabric in the centre, then square (or try to) it up and then add the frame and subsequent borders to match the back. Sorry if it sounds confusing. This is my second only quilt also hand sewn.

The weights refer to the size of the thread. A 50 weight thread is a much finer thread (often the size of the thread we piece with) whereas a 12 weight thread is much thicker. The finer threads are more often used with smaller stitches whereas the heavier weight threads are used for the bigger stitches.

@@CorianderQuilts Thank you 😊

I don't think there is any failing at hand quilting!...if we are attaching the three layers together (top, batting, backing) and it's holding things together as it should then we are succeeding. =)

What thread do you normally use?--we have so many choices!

You're so welcome!---I'm so glad!

I've actually never used a thread conditioner. I'll use lengths of thread as long as I can manage. =)

@@CorianderQuilts thank you. Can’t wait to give this a try 😊

No it does not and I don't, but you can if you'd like.

I prefer to hand quilt small projects...the largest I've done without a hoop/frame was about 48" x 60". Once they get bigger than that I would rather use a frame. I have seen people hand quilt large quilts how I've shown and they'll place the project on a table to relieve some of that weight.

@@CorianderQuilts thank you so much i

I responded to your other comment, so you may have seen that. Batiks are harder to hand quilt because of the higher thread count. You can do it, but it will be a bit more work than quilting cottons. The needle will push through much harder. If you are determined to hand quilt it, I would plan on doing just small portions a day...definitely make sure you have a thimble that you enjoy using.

@CorianderQuilts Your right .. really wanted to do big stitch. It is the Fence Rail pattern....thank you so much for all your help..

You are so welcome!

In this specific video, I was using 12 weight Aurifil thread. In the previous video, I talked about a few different types of threads and weights that I like to use.

Oh I hope you love Buttercup & Slate when you see it in person!

If your knot is too large, it can pull threads...especially as you use heavier weight thread you have to make sure not to use large knots. As far as pulling the knot completely to the other side when using a smaller knot...this happens if you are not moving away from where the knot will go up/down. You saw me move at least 1/2" inch away from where I was ending my knot and then come back up to pop the knot through. If you try to do that right where the knot is and go straight back down, that is when the knot can go all the way through. I hope that makes sense...it's hard to explain with words...but if you go back and re-watch the part where I was showing how to start and stop using knots in the middle of a project, pay attention to where the needle goes when you are popping the knot through.

Hand Quilting does become difficult for a variety of reasons! My mom is no longer able to hand quilt due to arthritis in her hands. I have the Sashiko machine and I've found it to be a very temperamental machine and I don't use it very often. If you are patient with it and plan to use it only for small projects it does add the look of hand quilting without having to actually hand quilt.

You are so welcome! I try to encourage people to know that in piecing quilts as well as in hand quilting, our projects should make us happy and they only need to be as perfect as we'd like them to be. We don't need to worry about impressing our friends or what they might think as long as it's bringing us joy. =) I know that sometimes we'll make mistakes but we should never let the fear of making mistakes hold us back from the joy of what could be. =)

Annie I've used the double bandaid trick myself a couple times. =) For some reason it does feel less bulky than a thimble, doesn't it!

It was a great question!...many people wonder about that. =) You'll have to let me know what you think after you try it.

Linda!...of course, your name is very familiar to me. I love when those names I recognize pop up! I don't use a hoop to hand quilt--because I don't prefer using a thimble it's not my favorite. =) I bet there are hand quilting videos on RU-vid though that would show you--when you do the rocking stitch your needle rests on your thimble as you rock and then you push it through after you've loaded several stitches. The largest quilt I've hand quilted is 48" x 64"...a throw size. For shadowing, when you are starting/stopping in the middle of your project, make sure you are wiggling your needle in the batting so that your thread doesn't lay right under the top layer of fabric. I talked about this at about 15:15 if you want to see what I mean. =)

I really enjoy hand quilting with these longer stitches...it goes a lot faster than the small ones! =)

I'm so glad you feel that way! I've heard so many stories of people afraid to try hand quilting or even giving up after one go because of other people's opinions/advice on their stitching. The purpose of quilting or projects whether by hand or by machine is to hold all of those layers together permanently (backing/batting/quilt top) and it doesn't need to look a certain way to successfully do that! =) I hope you do try it and that you love it!

You're so welcome!

Yes, just one strand of thread...8 weight or 12 weight so you have the thickness you want.

Thank you, Annette, for the reminder to show the back! I know that's so helpful to see. =)

You are so welcome!

I keep things simple with big stitch...because of the spacing, if you try to do fancier designs it's easy to lose the shape. I like a lot of straight lines, cross hatch, you can outline shapes as long as it's not too complicated of a shape.

You can & some do...your stitches won't be as even on the front and the back.

Thank you so much!...I hope you enjoy big stitch hand quilting!...I think it's such a nice addition to so many different projects!

I was so glad to be reminded to show the back of the project!

You have a lovely day as well!

You are so welcome!

You are going to be a whiz with the big stitches! My mom always comments about how much faster it is than the smaller stitches. She would have grown up with the same background you did it sounds like.

Thank you!

I'm so glad you found it helpful!

That would make such a cozy quilt!

You're so welcome!...and no, the front/back stitches are often a little bit different. Practicing on a pillow is a great idea--you won't see the back once it's turned into a pillow!

You are so welcome Chris!--I am always so happy to talk about just about anything quilty! =)

Yes! That is exactly how you would want to do it if you had your project in a frame or a hoop.

I really enjoy embroidery as well! You've reminded me that I have a little holiday embroidery project I should get back out! =)

You’re welcome!…thank you!

I think it will be fun!

If you’re used to the smaller stitches this will be a fun spin!

I hope you love hand quilting! I always try to be encouraging in my videos so I appreciate you saying that. Sometimes different parts of quilting/piecing can feel intimidating and I always want everyone to feel that it's very doable!

You are probably already quite proficient at it!

I'm glad that was helpful!

You’re so welcome!…thank you for watching!

You can do it!

You’re so welcome! Thank you for watching!

You are so welcome!

You're so welcome!

You are so welcome!

Very welcome!