I started my first hand quilting project today with much help and encouragement from one of my most favorite people. The basic design is a traditional sunflower in the middle surrounded by some intersecting circles. I'm not sure if it will be a wall hanging or the top of a pillow covering (or a draw liner if its really bad...). But here are a few things I learned very quickly:
1. it is impossible to thread a needle while someone (however kind they may be) is watching you
2. there is quite a difference between low and high quality thimbles
3. hand quilting when you unknowingly used a cotton-poly blend is enraging
4. batting you love on your sewing machine may betray you when hand stitching
It seems that most people are either one or the other - machine or hand quilters. They may occasionally venture into the other area, but often turn back. Though my fingers are raw from yanking my unwilling needle out of my poorly chosen fabric, I will finish quilting it. And I will hand quilt another project! But I do like the speed of the machine quilting.
After tomorrow my sewing machine will be taking a break by living in the basement for a while. Actually, it may go see a doctor since my free motion quilting hasn't been going too well. No matter what I do to the tension, the bobbin thread is tight and the top thread is getting pulled through the back on even slight curves. At least I'll have my hand quilting.