Sunday, June 03, 2007

A whole new world of quilting

I've finally taken the jump, to hand quilting. I'm using this 30" square quilt top. Cuz it's basically the smallest top I own. :P

My reason for taking up hand quilting is because my room gets too hot from 3-6pm everyday. It's in the corner of the building, so TWO sides get roasted. If I can't stand to be at my computer, there's no way I can stand to even sew. So I figured I could do some hand quilting in the cooler living room area. Or even in the bedroom with the fan blowing on me. Even my husband comments how hot my room gets. It's like 5-10 degrees hotter in here.

And here's a close up. I'll say this, quilting straight lines is for sissies. ;) Ok, so I might have not marked anything beforehand, just eyeballing it. :P

I measured my stitches (in a good area, of course!) and it's about 7-8 per inch, and I'm happy. I probably need to work harder on making sure that the thread catches the back, but since I'm using green thread with a green backing, I'm having trouble seeing if my stitches are going through or not.

I'm hand quilting in hoopless style. Why do I keep wanting to say hopeless? :P I have to keep reminding myself that the evenness counts more than the amount of stitches per inch.

And that is how I'm going to survive the summer and being forced out of my room. :)

Leah

14 comments:

Hedgehog said...

Looks good! I'm about to take the plunge to some hand-quilting, as well.

Valerie said...

Looks great! You've got WAY more stitches per inch than I can! Lol* I like hand quilting, I love the look and it's fun to do while plopped on the couch in front of the tv.

Great job Leah! I always love your projects! :)

QuiltingFitzy said...

Very nice Leah, please be very proud of your accomplishments! I enjoy hand quilting but don't do it much, I get so far behind the 8-ball on a project I run out of time, lol.

I can keep the air off until about 2pm, but yeah, it's a little toasty!

atet said...

Congrats on the plunge -- one of my own projects for the summer as well! Looking good!

Paula, the quilter said...

Good job for your first try! Just remember that it's not how many stitches per inch you can get but if they are consistent in size.

a said...

Good for you and you did much better on your first try than I ever did!!!

Anonymous said...

I've only been quilting about 2 years. Awhile back I took a hand quilting class & had much difficulty using a hoop. Asked the instructor about not using one & she looked at me like I had 2 heads! I quilt by hand without a hoop, thank you very much. It's so fun. You look like you're doing a fine job.
Cathi

Dannielle said...

I'm very impressed! I can only get 5-6 stitches per inch so far. I prefer hoopless, too.

Pretty top!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Very cool! I love my time when I get to hand quilt. If only I would do it more often to keep my finger calloused.

Cher said...

yes, I enjoy handquilting without a hoop as well...enjoy!

Unknown said...

Hi Leah, I am going to be doing the hoopless handquilting also. I did it for a bit when i stayed at the hospital with Josh for a week and found it much easier to get nice small even stitches. When its in a hoop or on a frame the fabric is just too tight! I am looking forward to cooler weather so I can drape my twin size over me and quilt, maybe I can finally finish it and use it after 3 years of it being a ufo!...lol You are doing pretty good with yours! Now since I am going hoopless...anywhere near RI want o buy a Grace handquilting frame???? Sorry but I couldn't resist :-D

Unknown said...

Leah, congratulations on getting into handquilting! I am a hoopless quilter too. I've tried a number of times to use a hoop, but it just doesn't work for me. Enjoy the the freedom of taking your handquilting with you wherever you want.

Clare said...

Gosh! Fantastic stitching. Mine are still a bit hit and miss, but I'm getting there. Hoopless is best I think, but then I have never used a hoop so wouldn't know.

Love Bears All Things said...

Hello, I am a beginner quilter although I have done rail quilts for my grands. I hand quilted those, nothing fancy just in the ditch. I find this method works for me because I can take it with me and I travel quite a bit with my husband. I have taken my machine to do the quilt top. I haven't done any machine quilting yet. I think you're doing a lovely job.
Mama Bear