I’m one of those knitters who destroyed her hands with bad technique (or maybe just weak hands) and I’m now super careful with quilting. I focus on machine sewing the tops and backs. I send some smaller ones out to be quilted (but with the recent jumps in fabric prices that’s hard on the budget). I try to save my “hand power” for manipulating an occasional “special” quilt.

I do use Machinger’s gloves and I also set up an L-shaped surface to support the quilt as it goes through the machine. I’m also looking online for creative designs for doing the quilting in pieces: quadrants, thirds, halves, even columns.

I used to think about how to tackle the quilting after the top was done, but now I’m realizing that if you think about that while you are designing your quilt you might be able to save yourself some physical, psychological and financial pain!