suehenyon wrote: I haven't invested in the proper needles yet!

So, Carrie, show us your 1/8 Inch appliqued circles!

genevacarroll wrote:
Funny!

Thanks to the others for mentioning show #310. I watched it last night & she is great.

Silly me! They are straw needles! Not hay needles.

In any case, have fun.

Geneva

Piecemaker is a good brand of needles also. Most of the time I use John James needles.
Jeanine

Thank you all for the great advice. I will look up the shows that you have mentioned. and i do quilt with a hoop in my lap.

Matthew, everyone else has given you good advice, but I'll chime in anyway. My current favorite needle for hand quilting is the Clover Black Gold quilting needle. They're expensive relative to some of the others, but you can get them in a package with three different sizes, so you could see which you like best. I quilt in my lap, though. I don't use a frame or a hoop. You'll have to try all those things to see which method you like. Stab stitching is where you take just one stitch at a time. First you push the needle straight down through the quilt, then with your underneath hand, you turn the needle around and push it straight back up. I think you need to be working on a frame or a hoop to do it well. Sue Garman has described the process very well on some of her earlier blogs, so you might look for those. Liuxin Newman (episode 310) has a very different technique, so does Suzanne Marshall (episode 203). I suggest watching their shows to get an idea of how they work. You might also check the classroom for Alex's classes on quilting. I think she shows the rocking stitch, but she's using a frame. And I'm sure there are others. Have fun experimenting!

What kind of batting and what type of quilt? The reason I ask, it is hard to quilt through multiple layers, no matter what type needle.
I don't think you can't get really small stitches using a large fat needle through lots of layers, unless you stab stitch. I have hand quilted many years, and use Roxanne, Bohin, John James and Richard Hemming needles sizes 10-12 with YLI quilting thread on the wooden spool with my quilt in a 12 inch hoop. Any good English needle works, as long as you can thread the eye and it doesn't bend or break. You will discern quickly what you like. I use a flat top thimble, loading two or three stitches at a time. Someone told me I am a side stitcher, whatever that means. I wear a rubber cot on my thumb, that grips the needle. One of my friends wears the cot on the forefinger. Whatever works to avoid carpal tunnel, right? I can't sew a stitch without that cot to help grip the needle, even to hand applique. Habit I guess, like getting used to a thimble. In the beginning I started with a leather thimble, then plastic, and now the metal chaised one with a flat top from Colonial needle company. You can find rubber finger cots at quilting, office or art supply stores. My eyesight appreciates Bohin's and Roxanne's Big Eye needles. And, have you seen Minick and Simpson's BIG STITCH quilt demonstration on Utube? Love it. The perle cotton with a big needle applying BIG STITCHES in CONTRASTING thread adds a really cool design element. I just pieced that top, Sunburst, and let me tell you I see why it need big stitches

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zillion layers coming together. So it goes. I would love to hear what you are quilting and what you decide works for you.

Liuxin Newman show is number 310.

I like long slender needles for hand quilting. I don't use a hoop or anything, so like to gather several stitches on my needle. They usually get bent/curved which I like even more. They used to be called hay needles I think.

Like everyone says, try different needles and see what works for you.

Geneva

I have a variety of brands and sizes, because my 'best needle' varies depending on the batting and fabrics.

I agree with Ritzi...try 'till you find something that works for you. Your hands will likely
need a different needle ....More important is the method of stitching used...that can
make necessary a different length and strength. I use a longer lighter needle and follow the
Liuxin Newman method. There is a show..but I don't know the number right off. Someone
will pipe up I'm sure !

Ok what do you mean by stab stitch. I think I know I just want to be sure.

I think you will find that many people have one they like in particular but they had to try many to find what they like. I like a number 10 (which is a short thick needle) because I do a stab stitch and it makes it easy to flip the short needle under the quilt. The shorter, thick needle also means I don't bend the needle as quickly. The brand name is John James.