anntitus (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

My left hand is under the quilt, palm up. The fingers on that hand push up against the quilt as I stitch. The bottom of the hoop rests on my ribcage and the left edge of the hoop sits in the crook of my left arm. So my left hand is not grasping the hoop. It is under to help with the stitching. The right hand is on top of the hoop, as you can see from the video. Hope that helps.

justbringit3600 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

can you explain how to hold a quilt again

anntitus (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

No, I don't backstitch. When starting and stopping I "bury" a knot between the layers. Stability comes from using quilting thread, which is thicker and stronger than regular sewing thread. But I don't know of any quilters who backstitch.

purpleingridpurple (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Do you ever add a backstich for stability?

Nilyentaraka (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

So that's how you use a thimble! :")

anntitus (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Hi I have 2 hoops: a 10 inch a 14 inch. Both work well for me. My hand underneath is not really holding the hoop. It is just supporting by being under the quilt. Actually, I place the bottom edge of the hoop against the area of my diaphragm and the left-bottom edge sits in the crook of my left arm. The hoop is steadied between my chest and the crook of my arm. The underneath hand holds the quilt and the hoop up as it pushes up on the quilt. Hope that helps!

promisso (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thank you so much for sharing your skills and knowledge it has helped me so much. I'm a novice and have learned so much from the video and your explanation ie keeping the quilt loose in the hoop and 'pleating'. What size hoop do you use? I feel that my underneath the hoop hand isn't big enough to hold the hoop and feel for the needle tip on the bottom of the quilt, or am I doing something wrong. Best Wishes and thanks

anntitus (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Hi. I thought that I had responded last week to your question but obviously something was not right. The grid that you see is drawn on the front of a "practice" piece of quilting. I use the practice piece to teach and to also help me warm up if I've not been quilting in a while. On a real quilt, the marks would be temporary. The pencil used here is permanent.

jpoklar (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The pleating explanation is a terrific help! Thanks . . . also, I wonder if the grid I see is on the front or the backing? Is it temporary?

Click2u (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thank you for hand quilting. I just can't seem to wrap my brain around all the machine sewn that are labeled hand sewn. I only unerstand hand made quilts with needle in hand, and you stitch