I've just done a little practicing in the hand quilting and ended up doing exactly this. I came through to this section to see what I should have done. I'm glad I now have the TQS seal of approval!

EllenS wrote:
Wow, now this is a great tip! I am definitely going to try this! I have a terrible time quilting over seams. Even when I stab stitch very carefully, it always ends up looking wonky. This sounds like a great solution!

I've heard that it must be your own saliva, something about the enzimes or something. Haven't had an opportunity to test this, thankfully!
Linda in NJ

Now that is interesting! I had not heard that. Thanks for sharing

I also heard it has to be YOUR OWN saliva. Someone elses' won't work. Is this true?

Yes.. The first thing I was taught in a "Beginning Quilting Class" was that saliva is one of natures best solvents and will remove blood spots when you prick your finger.

Yes your own saliva will break down a blood stain. I have used Hydrogen Peroxide before and that works, but does not bleach the fabric. I have also used oxygen type bleach products you see infomercials and it takes out a lot of stains while not damaging the fabric. So now we know our blood and sweat go into a quilt, but we need to clean that up lol. Susan

Having just finished a quilt where i had to cross MANY seams I found that I tended to just continue my rocking stitch over a seam and then take a small back stitch to fill in the gap if I needed. I did notice that on the back I was leaving a slightly longer stitch when I did that (I was using red thread and had a white back, so I really showed), so I also started hiding the backstitch by running through the batting just a little bit. I don't think I would have bothered if my thread matched my back though. I also stab stitch if it is a really thick seam like in some of my star centers.

Hi Bondgirl,
Does your friend enter to win or to show? Has she won?

Just curious.

I have a friend who regularly gets her hand quilted quilts into the Paducah show and I asked her once about quilting through the seams and she does exactly what you do - the stab stitch! Works for her!

That is a Wah-Hoo!!! moment for me. As a hand quilter, I have asked this question on every forum and of everyone I have ever encountered who is a hand quilter. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

To get back to the original question, I took a class with Mary Stori 2 yrs. ago in Paducah and she said when you come to a seam, stitch thru the top and batting only. When you get past the seam, push the needle thru to the back and flip the quilt over, travel the needle between the layers back to the beginning and stittch thru the bottom and batting only until you get back to the end and flip the quilt back over to the top and continue quilting thru all three layers. ( You're allowed to get pretty smug at this point because only you will know. ) No one can tell you didn't stitch all the way thru and looks just like the rest of your hand quilting.

This has to be up there as one of the top tips I've learned.

Tiffany, I hope this helps you. I wish I had learned this when I started quilting 30 yrs ago.

If you see the drop of blood immediately, using your saliva on it will hydrolyse the red blood cells and the stain will disappear. If the blood has dried on, it won't work. Ask me how I know.

I'm glad to hear of the Skin Shield stuff and will try it next time I hand quilt a piece. My finger tip of the underneath hand gets very rough feeling and pricked alot I also have cut off fingers of rubber gloves to use on my right index finger and thumb in order to pull the needle through the material...it really works great My hand stitching is getting better every time, but still needs improvement for sure! But, as my family memebers say when I give them a quilt and start apologizing for the inexperienced-looking "quilting", "Hey, someone makes you something by hand and from the heart, I'm thrilled to get it...no matter what the stitching looks like!" I know I'd feel the same way, so I don't obsess anymore about making absolutely sure each and every stitch is the exact same width apart...unless a person inspects every inch of the quilt, who'll ever know :