Final Thoughts

I finished both quilts in the same way. I used the outside edges of the top as a guide and cut off the extra batting and backing using a ruler and rotary cutter.  Then I attatched the binding. Here they are totally done:


Once they were done  I was struck by how different they were. The hand quilting looked so handmade and pretty, whereas the machine quilting looked more clean and modern. Either way, you’re now equipped to do try it yourself!

As a post script: I ended up washing the handmade quilt to fluff it up for the pictures and it BLED! You might be able to see it in the photos above but here is a close up.


This is because I didn’t pre wash my fabrics. It was pretty sad after spending so much time and energy on it. I cannot recommend pre washing enough. Even if you’re in a hurry to start it will save you time and heartache in the end. Happy Quilting! --Molly

Comments

[helen]

Thanks for this tutorial Molly. So far I have only done machine quilting and picked up some great tips from this. I'm especially taken by the curved pins - got to get some of those! And also just leaving them open - I'd never thought of that but v. good idea.

I'll definitely be referring to the hand quilting section for my next project too. Fab!

[sammi]

I've always wanted to try hand quilting. Thank you for your great visual tutorial! It makes sense and can't wait to try it out. - sammi

[Becky]

I'm a TOTAL quilting novice (and have never sewn much more than a button), but would really like to try the hand quilting. I was following and understanding the directions pretty well until the part about attaching the binding. Can you post more details on that? Thanks!

[purl bee]

Dear Becky,
This is in the works, coming soon!

[Lauren]

I agree with Becky. I am new to quilting and am currently hand quilting my first full sized quilt and I have a bit of anxiety about what will happen when I get to the actual quilting part. Fortunately my pattern calls for so many small pieces that I think I will spend the better part of this winter consumed with piecing! But when I get further along I will be looking forward to more guidance especially for hand quilters.

[Valerie]

I'm in the process of making my first quilt for my first grand-daughter. Your tutorial was very helpful, and helped me decide to hand-quilt my special heirloom. I would like to see your advice about the binding---mitered corners and all that fun! Thanks.

[Lorraine]

Thank you very much for this tutorial! It amazes me how little information there is to be found on hand quilting. Most books concentrate on piece work and/or machine quilting. And would you believe it - I have NO WHERE locally that teaches hand quilting? (The guilds and stores only teach machine quilting). I prefer the look of hand work. So thank you again for the tut!

[elyse]

Thanks for the post on hand quilting. I too couldn't decide between hand and machine quilting for my grand children's quilts, and decided I'll do it by hand. As they are twins, I'm going to have to do a simpler pattern than I did for their older sister!
Do you know about color catcher sheets? They are available in the grocery store laundry section, and they trap excess dye in the wash. You might be able to salvage the red quilt if you use one and rewash it.

[elka]

Use Shout brand Color Catcher cloths when you wash your quilts and it absorbs all the extra dye. I have had amazing luck with this handy item.

It's in the laundry section by the dryer sheets.

Also keep in mind that red dye is the most likely to bleed. I used to spend hours pre-testing swatches to avoid really bleedy fabrics, and now I don't even worry about it.

[Penny Sanford Fikes]

Great tutorial. Put 1/2 cup of tablesalt in the washer with cold water. The salt helps prevent any bleeding of colors. It has worked wonders for inexpensive pre-made quilts from overseas that we have cut up for quick projects.
Thanks for the great tips/tutorial.
Penny
www.pennysanford.typepad.com

[shelle]

Thanks for the great tutorial! I just started my very first small hand-quilting project, and it's true, most of the info around is on machine quilting, so it was wonderful to see you do a comparison/side by side tutorial for both. Hand-quilting may be slower of the two, but I'll tell you what, it goes a heck of a lot faster than cross-stitching!

[Jill]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have had a finished quilt top waiting patiently to be finished but I haven't had any clue how to actually quilt the whole thing together until now. Thanks again for the tutorial...especially with the machine sewing, I had no idea I needed the walking foot!

[kortni]

do you have to just worry about prewashing the fabric, or the thread too? beacuse it looks like the thread bleed not the fabric? thanks

[purl bee]

Hi Kortni-
The thread I used was white so it didn't bleed. The red fabric from the other side bled through the quilting. So in answer to your question, you only ever need to prewash the fabric. Thanks for your question- Molly

[lisa]

uh oh! I am almost to the basting stage (just have a little applique left before I piece the 5 strips of blocks together...). I have a lot of amy butler, michael miller, anna maria fabrics that are pinks and blues and greens...I guess I will try the color sheets? I think Retayne is only for prewashing the fabrics...

[purl bee]

Hi Lisa-
I don't think you have to worry about the fabrics you mentioned bleeding. In my experience it's solids (especially vibrant red ones) that are the bleeders. If you want to be extra safe I'd sew some of your scraps together and wash them just to make sure. But as I said earlier I wouldn't worry about the fabrics you mentioned bleeding.

Thanks for your comment!- Molly

[Linda]

Now, how about a binding tutorial? :)

Also, question -- I was taught to turn the wheel *away* from you and have always done that. Does it really make a difference?

[Bellgirl]

Thank you so much for your tutorial! I'm about to start my first quilt and would like to print out your instructions to refer to, but I can only print the first page. I was wondering if you have a 'print-friendly' or PDF version of this tutorial?

[purl bee]

Hi Bellgirl,
We don't have a pdf or print friendly version of this. I would recommend copying all of the text into a word processing program and printing it from there. We've been getting a few requests for print friendly versions lately so we'll definitely consider it for future stories.

[angie]

Hi,

Thanks for the tutorial. I am about to start my own quilt. I keep seeing quilts that have overstitching in different designs, curly Q's, crazy 8's in addition to the traditional Diamonds. How is this done? Is there a special sewing maching that has programmed patterns??

Thanks if you know the answer.