- Hand quilting can relieve stress. It is very relaxing and allows you to do other things.
- By focusing on your quilting, you can pull together the disparate parts of your life and find a sense of calm.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, consider taking up hand quilting to relax and unwind.
You can take your stitching anywhere you go, not restricting you to a machine on a table. You can stitch with friends and family or take the quilt with you when you know you will be sitting around time to work on it.
Your quilt takes on an heirloom quality when stitched by hand. giving your quilt a personal touch and a unique charm. Heirloom quilts are often considered valuable because of their sentimental and historical significance. They are usually passed down from generation to generation and can be a way of preserving family history and memories.
You can create customized designs for the quilt for areas that you would like to emphasize. You can also use different threads and even thicker threads such as embroidery threads and Perle cottons. This will give your quilt more color and texture. You can also embellish your quilt with buttons, jewels, or other fabrics and textures.
Develop a sense of confidence in your quilting as you acquire rhythm and consistency in your stitches.
If you want to try hand quilting, here are some of the basic supplies and tools you might need:
- Hand-quilting needles: These are special needles called betweens that are short, sharp, and easy to control.
- Hand-quilting thread: This is a heavier weight thread that is coated to glide through the layers and prevent fraying.
- Hand-quilting hoop or frame: This will keep your work taut and make stitching easier. A hoop is portable and can be held in your lap or on a stand. The frame is larger and less mobile but offers more quilting space.
- Thimble: When it comes to hand quilting, using a thimble is a great way to protect your fingers from the needle and to help you create even stitches. It will also make pushing easier and help create perfect stitches. Thimbles should be worn on your middle finger snugly. This is because when you begin quilting with a thimble, your finger will contract, resulting in the thimble falling off. There are different types of thimbles available on the market, including traditional metal thimbles, open-sided thimbles, leather thimbles, silicone thimbles, and hand-held quilting thimbles. Each type has its own unique features and benefits.
