Hand quilting

[Outtheforest]

I've decided I'd like to make a quilt, I can sew and hand embroider pretty well. Currently dont have a sewing machine and cant afford one. Would I be mad trying to make a double quilt by hand?
Any tips? I'm thinking of getting a patterned fabric and stitching along the pattern as a template would this work ok?

I’m new to quilting too and as my first project I made a sofa cushion cover this way and it took a long time. Also my fingers were so sore even though I had protectors on! For me the piecing of the fabric wasn’t as durable by hand as it is on a machine but could just be my shoddy stitches.

I would be tempted to buy a patterned quilt/throw and embellish it rather than try to piece a double quilt by hand.

Alternatively are there any sewing groups or classes in your area where you can use a communal machine? I know it would limit when you can work but it would allow you to piece it by machine then hand quilt it at home.

Also keep an eye out on Freecycle, my local one had a sewing machine listed recently.

Good luck with your project, there’s nothing more frustrating and fulfilling than quilting!

That's how they used to be made in the old days, but that was when people had nothing else to do in the evenings and it took forever. Plus, for hand quilting you usually need some sort of frame or the wadding and backing tend to bunch up.

Would you consider making a sashiko quilt? It's usually done as a whole cloth, so no piecing. The stitches are bigger and meant to be seen, usually white or cream thread on a dark background, traditionally indigo but other dark colours would also work. Have a look on Google, it's very pretty and a sort of cross between quilting and embroidery. It can be done with wadding and backing or you could just use fleece or flannel without wadding.

I currently have very little to do in the evenings which is why I decided I wanted to make a quilt I was thinking I would use a whole piece of fabric anyway rather than squares so will look into that style.
When you say framing do you mean the entire thing in one frame or could I use a hoop, my local craft shop sells huge quilting hoops.

For context I'm an expat in a rural part of a developing country. Currently unable to work while my Visa processes which could take up to 6 months. Theirs a shop in the village that sells the most beautiful block printed fabrics and I've dreams of turning one into a quilt. Sadly no free cycle or local sewing group, everything here is done by hand. I was thinking if I bought a piece of the fabric and then traced the pattern with stitches to quilt it that would work. I've done this for embroidery pieces before but never with wadding and backing etc.

A hoop would work well. Also have a look at Welsh whole cloth designs, very intricate quilting on plain fabric.

Your idea of the printed fabric would work too, especially if you’re using a hoop to keep it under control.

Excellent I think I'll give it a go with a whole cloth and hoop following the pattern. The fabric is so cheap that if it fails and looks awful it's not the end of the world