We are down to quilting our quilts. Like I said I either know how to tie a quilt or hand quilt. So I will show you how I hand quilt. You should have already marked your quilt top. You can see on this one I already quilted the main part, but the border has two white lines running parallel. These are my quilting lines.
Since I started quilting last fall I have learned a lot from asking questions whenever I go to Amish country or the one thrift store I go to that they quilt at. The first mistake I was making when I started was using the wrong needle. I figured the longer the needle the better because they want you to make running stitches. I was very WRONG! My last trip to the thrift store one of the ladies corrected me. She said use a smaller needle because it is easier to rock it back and forth. She was SOOOOO right. Before I get ahead of myself let me show you the needle I'm using. I have compared it to a small paperclip.
If you don't have one you will need a thimble to fit your middle finger. VERY important... learned this the hard way. OKEY DOKEY... ready to start. BEWARE I am left handed... this will make sense to my lefties not sure about you right handed people. But you'll get the gist. LOL. Take and make a knot at the end of the thread. I am using thread that is cotton and specifically for hand quilting. I think Wal-mart may have it. Not for sure though. I have a pretty decent sized wood hoop I use to hand quilt with. It makes it much easier to stitch if you use one. Thread your needle with about 18 inches of thread. When you quilt you should always start in the middle of your quilt and work towards the border. Separate your quilt into quarters and work each quarter from the middle outward. Now starting about 1/2 inch away from your line put your needle through the first layer of fabric and through to the batting. Do not go completely through the back layer. You want to pull your needle back through to the front layer until your knot pops through the first layer of fabric and embeds in the batting.
Now, starting about 1/8 inch from where you have pulled your thread up take and put your needle completely through all layers. It is VERY important that when you put the needle in it is perpendicular to the fabric. Now put your opposite hand behind the fabric where your needle is coming through. Use your nail of your finger to guide the needle back up through to the front without pulling your needle completely out on the backside. As your needle comes up to the front use your thimble to guide it through to the back again. I can usually get three stitches on my needle like below. The trick is to take small even stitches. I am not very good so I'm only getting 4-5 per inch. Experienced quilters can get more than this and they are all even stitches.
Use your thimble to push the needle through enough to grab with your fingers. Note I am using my left hand to quilt with. I am not sure how right handed people quilt or which way they go around. You may have to look that up on the internet.
Now when you get to the end of your thread I tie a knot. Then take your needle and only go through the top layer and batting and up through the top layer about 1/2 inch away just until the knot pops inside the top layer. Cut your thread. Now I did hear from one of the quilters that she does not knot the end. She takes the needle on the last stitch back towards the stitches she already did brings the needle up through the front layer and cuts it. She claims that the stitches will NOT come out because of the "backstitch." I don't know how this works or if it does. You are welcome to try it. Remember keep all your knots hidden in the batting. Keep stitching until your quilt is done. I am not quite done with mine, but I'll get on it. LOL. Next we will be binding the quilt and it will be done.
Since I started quilting last fall I have learned a lot from asking questions whenever I go to Amish country or the one thrift store I go to that they quilt at. The first mistake I was making when I started was using the wrong needle. I figured the longer the needle the better because they want you to make running stitches. I was very WRONG! My last trip to the thrift store one of the ladies corrected me. She said use a smaller needle because it is easier to rock it back and forth. She was SOOOOO right. Before I get ahead of myself let me show you the needle I'm using. I have compared it to a small paperclip. 
If you don't have one you will need a thimble to fit your middle finger. VERY important... learned this the hard way. OKEY DOKEY... ready to start. BEWARE I am left handed... this will make sense to my lefties not sure about you right handed people. But you'll get the gist. LOL. Take and make a knot at the end of the thread. I am using thread that is cotton and specifically for hand quilting. I think Wal-mart may have it. Not for sure though. I have a pretty decent sized wood hoop I use to hand quilt with. It makes it much easier to stitch if you use one. Thread your needle with about 18 inches of thread. When you quilt you should always start in the middle of your quilt and work towards the border. Separate your quilt into quarters and work each quarter from the middle outward. Now starting about 1/2 inch away from your line put your needle through the first layer of fabric and through to the batting. Do not go completely through the back layer. You want to pull your needle back through to the front layer until your knot pops through the first layer of fabric and embeds in the batting. 
Now, starting about 1/8 inch from where you have pulled your thread up take and put your needle completely through all layers. It is VERY important that when you put the needle in it is perpendicular to the fabric. Now put your opposite hand behind the fabric where your needle is coming through. Use your nail of your finger to guide the needle back up through to the front without pulling your needle completely out on the backside. As your needle comes up to the front use your thimble to guide it through to the back again. I can usually get three stitches on my needle like below. The trick is to take small even stitches. I am not very good so I'm only getting 4-5 per inch. Experienced quilters can get more than this and they are all even stitches. 
Use your thimble to push the needle through enough to grab with your fingers. Note I am using my left hand to quilt with. I am not sure how right handed people quilt or which way they go around. You may have to look that up on the internet. 
Now when you get to the end of your thread I tie a knot. Then take your needle and only go through the top layer and batting and up through the top layer about 1/2 inch away just until the knot pops inside the top layer. Cut your thread. Now I did hear from one of the quilters that she does not knot the end. She takes the needle on the last stitch back towards the stitches she already did brings the needle up through the front layer and cuts it. She claims that the stitches will NOT come out because of the "backstitch." I don't know how this works or if it does. You are welcome to try it. Remember keep all your knots hidden in the batting. Keep stitching until your quilt is done. I am not quite done with mine, but I'll get on it. LOL. Next we will be binding the quilt and it will be done.
Thank you for the tutorial!
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