by Penny Halgren

Hand quilting is basically just sewing the three layers of a quilt with a running stitch. Shorter hand quilting stitches are deemed to be better. Not to worry - even though your stitches may start out fairly long, with practice and the right needles, thread and thimble, your stitches will get shorter.

To prepare your quilt, the backing, batting and top must be layered and secured. Securing the layers can be done by hand basting with extremely long stitches, by pinning with safety pins, or now many quilters are using plastic tabs like stores use to attach price tags to clothes.

Hand basting takes somewhat longer to do than the other methods, and if you are hand quilting, all of the methods are comparable. With nickel plated safety pins, the risk of the pins rusting in the quilt has been eliminated. With any of these methods, the layers should be secured at least every 6.' Once you have quilted in a particular area, the basting can be removed. I usually remove it along the way, before I quilt in a particular area.

You will need good thread, preferably 100% cotton hand quilting thread. Quilting thread is stronger, and often has a wax-type coating to make the stitches go through the fabric easier. Small needles make small stitches. I know this is hard to believe, and when I first looked at quilting needles, I was amazed. Quilting needles are called 'Betweens' and most quilters use size 9, 10 or 12. The smaller needles have the higher numbers. Not all brands are the same size, either, so you may want to look at the actual needle rather than just the size marked on the package.

Good, sharp scissors are a must for clipping threads close to the fabric of the quilt without cutting the fabric. Generally I use embroidery scissors, since they are smaller than other sewing scissors.

A good, protective thimble is probably a must for keeping your finger whole. There are many different styles of thimbles - ranging from metal, fully enclosed thimbles, to metal thimbles with a hole on the tip to allow your finger to breathe; and leather thimbles, both sized and adjustable. A leather thimble usually has a metal piece to add further protection. The kind of thimble you use is completely personal preference.

And you will want a good hand quilt frame or hoop. For larger quilts, especially if there will be several quilters working at the same time, a quilt frame is ideal. I use a small (well 12' in diameter or square) hand quilting hoop so I can turn the quilt around as I sew. The hoop serves to stretch the layers equally so your quilt will not have any major puckers when it is complete.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren

http://www.How-to-Quilt.com - Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

http://www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com - Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

©2005, Penny Halgren

Penny is a quilter of more than 24 years who hosts http://www.How-to-Quilt.com, Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters, and seeks to interest new quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create beautiful quilts.