Please point me in the right direction ?

**Jellybeanz** · 10-02-2005, 01:33 PM

Hi Ladies,

I would like to learn to quilt by hand. Let me start by saying, I have never, ever sewed or quilted. I really don't have any interest in learning to use a sewing machine. Is it possible to learn to quilt by hand, without a sewing machine? And where would one start, if they were learning from scratch?

Ironically, my Mother is an excellent seamstess and makes quilts. However, she never taught me, because she told me I was left handed and therefore did everything backwards. lol So I really don't want to even try to learn from her now, because she's older and has even less patience. I will admit, I was never to adept at learning to sew when she tried to teach me ( around 11 or 12 I think I was) but I keep wanting to do it for some reason, throughout the years. Now that I'm older , I thought it would be a good hobby to learn.

Does anyone know a good book or something that will teach me how to get started? I mean, it has to be very basic and easy to understand, I know zero about it, except that I love quilts and I can at least handstitch in a very simple way. That's about it tho. Should I forget this idea and find another hobby? ! LOL

TIA if anyone knows of anything that might help me.

**SewCrafty** · 10-02-2005, 02:43 PM

Goodness no, don't give up Jellybeanz! I found this link http://www.thecraftstudio.com/qwc/handsew.htm now please I am not trying to embarrass you by sending you a link for children. But this lady seems to understand how to teach hand sewing/quilting to a 'newbie' so thought it may help you too.

Don't forget to click on all her other links on the left hand side of the site too. Lots of good info and ideas there. HTH

**QuilterMom** · 10-02-2005, 04:10 PM

I do everything by hand - no sewing machine here. I couldn't explain how to anyone in a million years though - sorry! homesteadmamma will see this thread hopefully tomorrow and I know she will be able to give you lots of good advice.

**Jellybeanz** · 10-04-2005, 03:48 PM

Thanks Y'all :-)

SewCrafty, thanks for the site. It's actually what I need.. something simple ! lol

Update : Okay I did go to my Mom and told her I wanna learn to quilt but by hand . lol She has tons of scrap materials and this kit that comes with a thing to measure your material into blocks , along with the material cutter and mat to cut it on.So I got a bag of scraps ( beautiful materials, she sewed all her life for a living)the kit, and some thread and now I gotta find some time to cut out my squares . I think I'm gonna cut some four inch blocks and practice away on sewing neat stitches neatly . That oughta keep me busy for a while.

Ya know, my mother , my sister and my grandmother were excellent seamstresses (all my clothes my mom made growing up), and quilters. They did crochet, embroidery, cross stitch. I should have some of this talent in me somewhere! LOL

I always got into computers more and stuff like that, but since I'm getting older, I find myself with more patience and wanting to get back to old fashioned stuff, and so hopefully, I'll pick up on this and learn it.

Thanks for the encouragement!

**homesteadmamma** · 10-04-2005, 04:48 PM

There is a really neat little book out for kids titled Kids Can Do it - Quilting by Biz Storms. It has lots of neat things in to show you how to hand quilt.

I would have suggested the same link as Dee did. It's perfect to start.

**Michele Annette** · 10-04-2005, 05:14 PM

Ironically, my Mother is an excellent seamstess and makes quilts. However, she never taught me, because she told me I was left handed and therefore did everything backwards

Jellybeans I'm left handed and I hate lame excuses like that. (sorry) It's too bad she didn't find someone who could teach you, but I have learned sewing, crochet, quilting, etc. all from right handed people that never taught to a left handed person before. You can do anything and don't let anyone tell you differently.

I don't quilt by hand so I don't have those techniques for you. I hope CJ see's this link soon!

Best of luck to you, you can do it!

**Michele Annette** · 10-04-2005, 05:15 PM

Oops, sorry CJ I didn't see your post right off!

**homesteadmamma** · 10-04-2005, 07:26 PM

My dd is left handed too and has made a couple of quilts (She started when she was 13). Was it frustrating teaching her - nope. She just sews a bit differently than I do. When it came to making the log cabin quilt, we did take a few rows out, however she finally got it the way she was comfortable with.

I think anyone can learn quilting be they right handed or left handed. It just means you might learn slower than right handed people, however don't let anyone put you off because of being left handed.

When left handed, all you need to do is reverse the pattern.

Here is a story of one of the most awesome quilters. You guessed it, she is left handed. http://www.connectingthreads.com/content/jbeyer.asp

A book [ame="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1564771989/103-8815436-6076656?v=glance"]Amazon.com: Your First Quilt Book (or it should be!) (9781564771988): Carol Doak: Books[/ame]

And a book for right and left handed quilters
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1571200398/103-8815436-6076656?v=glance"]Amazon.com: Hand Quilting with Alex Anderson: Six Projects for First-Time Hand Quilters (Quilting Basics) (0734817101635): Alex Anderson: Books[/ame]

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/store/product...prodid=prod847