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From: momofone
Date: 01-30-2005, 04:58 AM (1 of 6)
| is it possible to make a quilt by hand? this has always been a dream of mine to make a quilt but i dont have a sewing machine.....possible??? |
User: momofone
Member since: 01-30-2005 Total posts: 3 |
From: toadusew
Date: 01-30-2005, 09:42 AM (2 of 6)
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I'm no quilt expert, but yes, I do believe it's possible to make a quilt by hand. You would be hand piecing instead of machine piecing. I do think the techniqe is a bit different than machine piecing, and it might be a bit trickier to get an accurate 1/4 inch seam. If you post this on the beginning quilters thread, there will be more experienced quilters who can answer your question much better than I have. 
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-30-2005, 09:42 AM (3 of 6)
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ABSOLLLLLLLLLUUUUUUTELY!!!!! This is the only way that our grandmothers and great grandmothers would make them. They would have never considered putting a machine made stitch into their work of art nor would they have one in their houses. It is a wonderful craft and very satisfying! Not only that, when my sister was in high school home ecl, she was required to make a baby dress by hand before she was allowed to sew on a machine (in the late 50's). There was a time when all fine baby dresses were made by hand. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 01-30-2005, 09:54 AM (4 of 6)
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hand quilting is great, and if you do it all by hand it is considered to increase the value of your quilt, it just takes longer. There are a lot of great books out there on basic quilting and piecing technique. I would likely start with a wall hanging or crib quilt, for a couple of reasons, you will get it done in a reasonable amount of time and the feeling of accomplishment will be great! And... if you are new at this the smaller size is easier to to handle. But then my first quilt was a queen size  , I did machine piece it but quilted it by hand, took over 6 months to quilt!
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: mamadus
Date: 02-01-2005, 03:39 PM (5 of 6)
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I have a number of my grandmother's and great grandmother's quilts.. some dating back to 1905.. they are mostly hand pieced and all are handquilted. some of the plain quilt tops I have from my great grandmother are backed in sugar bags... hand quilting a quilt is not as hard as you might imagine, it just takes patience and practice to get the right stitch length... have fun!! MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
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From: Zabelle
Date: 02-14-2005, 08:11 AM (6 of 6)
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Hi Momofone, For many purists, quilting by hand is the only genuine quilting method. At least it is so among French quilters! I'm always a bit ashamed of doing it all by machine.  I know that for many over here (i.e. France) it is not considered "real" patchwork. So I shy away from French quilting lists!  I've seen some hand-made quilts at an exhibition in Paris and true, they are gorgeous. Their stitches have that special something that implies so much care, so much love. I'd say go ahead and you'll have a magnificent heirloom that you'll treasure for the rest of your life. If it may encourage you, last year when I didn't have a sewing machine yet, I made a dress entirely by hand (Mary and some other friends may remember it, we talked about it last March :bluewink . It took me so much time, but I'm so proud of it.  To tell you the truth I learnt an enormous lot about garment sewing while making it: I had so much time to think while my hands were busy stitching that I could think about the pattern and the sewing techniques over and over! I realize this was a great way to start sewing clothes without making any mistake, and I imagine it should be the same for quilting for you.
English sewing journal: Kitty Couture
In French: Journal d'une cousette |
User: Zabelle
Member since: 02-25-2004 Total posts: 98 
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