mlsa3 Posted May 15, 2015 Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 There is a lady in my church that has been in the hospital for the past 6 months. She has RA really really bad and is in a wheelchair and her little hands are drawn up so bad she can barely write her lesson plan each week. She ended up with some type of really bad infection that almost killed her twice. I've been filling in for her for those 6 months. I decided to make her a prayer quilt. It's a scrappy string quilt. I used my left over stash and made the colors as bright as I could so that it would be cheerful when she looked at it or used it. Once quilted I'm also going to put the string ties on it so that her class can pray over the quilt and tie a knot in the thread. In the red 4" border I'm just doing a simple stippling. In the large blocks I want to use circles within circles. I have a jig (copied after one of my woodworking circle cutting jigs) and it works great for different size circles. This brought a question to mind. Typically, to stop I normally take the 3 or 4 very small stitches to lock my stitches. I know for show quilts you hide the stops. My question is do any of you (for your own quilts) ever backstitch to lock your stitches as they do in garment sewing or do you just take the usual 3-4 short stitches? With these circles within circles that's going to be an awful lot of starts and stops. I'll probably still use the 3-4 short stitches but now I'm curious what you folks do. Thanks David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted May 15, 2015 Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 I do both. Small stitches in one direction, regular stitches over top in the other direction. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enchanted Quilting Posted May 15, 2015 Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 I have done all kinds of starts and stops...most of my customer quilts I use 3-4 teeny stitches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted May 15, 2015 Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 I knot and bury everything...old habit from my hand quilting days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted May 15, 2015 Report Share Posted May 15, 2015 Small stitches in two directions, if there is a seam line you are stitching over with the circles you can hide them in that. or start in a colour similar to the colour thread you are using Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted May 16, 2015 Report Share Posted May 16, 2015 I know and bury everything too, just a habit and it always looks good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecmoore Posted May 16, 2015 Report Share Posted May 16, 2015 For those who knot & bury... how does it not take FOREVER to do so? It took me another 10 hours or so to do it on the one quilt I tried it with, and I feel like there must be some easier way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lkl Posted May 16, 2015 Report Share Posted May 16, 2015 I knot and bury, it takes time. I use a spiral eye needle, they are a bit expensive but work really well. http://spiraleyeneedles.com Leslie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted May 17, 2015 Report Share Posted May 17, 2015 I feel like I can knot and bury almost as quickly as I can reduce stitches, unless of course I'm in manual mode. I just pull the bobbin to the top, tie a knot as close to the quilt top and then bury it. I use the easy thread needles or the side load needle, I think called spiral eye. I guess I'm just used to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibbyG Posted May 17, 2015 Report Share Posted May 17, 2015 I take teeny stitches and then backstitch. I can't bear to think, after I've put in all that work, that the stitches would come out. If it shows, it shows. That's life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dramaqueenB Posted May 20, 2015 Report Share Posted May 20, 2015 Lol. I agree with Libby. I'm so nervous my stitches will come out after a few washings and I'd hate it. So I too do tiny stitches forward and back, just to be safe. I don't do a lot of drastically different thread colors yet as I gain skill and confidence. I mostly use blending thread, so it doesn't show much and I feel secure. Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpkinpatchquilter Posted May 20, 2015 Report Share Posted May 20, 2015 Yes, I do a few little stitches forward and then often back stitch a couple too. It's not as pretty looking but you can keep it neat if you're careful and do it in an inconspicuous spot! Especially for a quilt that will be used....I want to make sure it's going to hold up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltermidwife Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 I've never heard of the Spiral needle but I like the sound of it as I knot and bury everything as I go along. It seems they are only made/available in the States (I'm UK). Postage is quite high at approx $10 - it can only weigh a few grams!! Anyway can anyone who uses them tell me which size I should buy? Thanks Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lkl Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 Chris I use the SE 8Q size. They are mailed in a card size envelope. Leslie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cegates Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 I tried the spiral needles but was frustrated by the eye catching on the batting. User error I'm sure, but I gave mine away. I use an embroidery needle with a large eye when I knot and bury. Carol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 I'm with Carol, embr. needle and am using the machine embroidery needle too, have yet to have a negative stitching with them. I also use them to sew the binding on with the dsm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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