How to Hand Quilt with Esther Miller ~ Lesson 2: first stitch & first direction, plus tools

[@cylenadee]

Is this Heaven or what?! I have been passionate about Esther’s quilting techniques for years, even with the limited videos available back then! What a joy and thrill to have all of these videos at hand! I absolutely love hand quilting and hand piecing too, Esther’s quilting technique is the way to my heart’s delight!! A BIG THANK YOU!!

[@millersquilting]

Thank you Cylena.

[@heidilecompte4198]

What a dear lady. Quilting sure does “connect more than three layers of fabric “.

[@millersquilting]

Yes it does

[@emilypena01]

Omg protect this woman at all costs! I want to see up a block just to practice hand quilting now!

[@kyststudio-epicartadventure]

Amazing! REAL knowledge like this is rare on KZbin. Thank you.

[@millersquilting]

Im so glad it's useful for you.

[@TheHawkeyeQuilter]

Thank you for this playlist. Just what I've been looking for: learning proper techniques of hand quilting so I don't have to unlearn poor practices later as well as recommendations for helpful tools.

[@millersquilting]

You are welcome

[@JenniMeer]

One of the memories I have of my grandmother quilting was the pliers in her basket.

[@millersquilting]

I've seen people use old scissors.

[@millersquilting]

Some have used broken scissors..

[@barbaraness4507]

You’re right about the stitches not being worn out, but the fabric. That’s what happened with the quilt my grandmother made me. She had the tiniest stitches!

[@nancywood9722]

Love these. Tips

[@barbaraness4507]

Thank you so much for sharing your skills with us!

[@millersquilting]

You are very welcome

[@tanabeverly1306]

You are an absolute delight. Oh how wonderful it would be to spend an afternoon with you and mentor under you. Thank you for these video's and sharing your talents. What a gift and a blessing.

[@millersquilting]

Thank you so much. Esther loved teaching and would have been happy to have you sit with her.

[@borgiawasem385]

Such helpful information! Thank you so much!!

[@millersquilting]

So welcome.

[@HopeMinistriesAlsace]

Thank you so much for your help. I am just a beginner and I appreciate your teaching

[@millersquilting]

You are very welcome

[@rubybackert3612]

Thank you so much for this. I was recently involved in helping to catalog old quilts and I was dumbfounded at the level of stitching in some of those quilts. They were beautiful and the best for me was what was stitched on the front (the pattern) also showed up on the back. I have no words to describe the beauty and when you think of what conditions people were quilting back 100 or more years ago. All I can say is astounding.

[@millersquilting]

Thank you.

[@AngelinaLopez-r4g]

Love your small stitches of your quilts it really helped me with the tools you used for quilts. 😊

[@millersquilting]

Great!

[@terribishop5313]

Thank you, grateful 💗!

[@shirleydevore4388]

I am enjoying learning your way of hand quilting and, I look forward to being able to put in my stitches in without injury to my fingers, hand and wrist. I learned in one afternoon how to do the rocker method years ago but am always pricking my finger that is underneath the quilt. You are a lovely lady and have such a peaceful way about you. Thank you so much.

[@marthabenner6528]

I'm glad to know there's a thimble that does this. I grew my left index finger and thumb nail an extra cm long and use two or three layers of top coat nail polish to do this.

[@millersquilting]

We used to have a customer who used her French nails to do exactly that. The French coating is extremely hard and lst a long time even when used as a needle slide..

[@femmefatalexX1]

Can none Amish people come and take a class with these ladies?

[@davidb.3122]

Thank you. I have been using these thimbles for years and 11 Betweens needle and would not be able to quilt without them.

[@millersquilting]

I am glad you enjoy them (and your frame ;))

[@AngelinaLopez-r4g]

Thank you for sharing this information gave me a great idea. For the quilts.

[@millersquilting]

You are very welcome.

[@AngelinaLopez-r4g]

You are so passionate on quilting

[@millersquilting]

Esther quilted from the time she was 4 until she was 77, when she passed away. That's 73 years.

[@Rose-r1v]

I loved it . Thank you so much

[@terridean4784]

You are awesome. I can lap quilt with tiny stitches but I didn’t know the proper way to hold a needle to angle different designs-which is why i couldn’t use a frame. I also couldn’t get the same size stitch on the front as the back and I have never found a thimble that works for me. I am thoroughly enjoying this series.

[@millersquilting]

That's great. Thank you

[@TerriMagoo]

Me too! I agree

[@conqueringmountscrapmorewi2509]

Lovely! Thank you!

[@michellegallas9916]

Your voice is very soothing.

[@millersquilting]

Thank you

[@asunshineylife4689]

I have just discovered your videos and am fascinated. You share such wonderful information. I have several quilt tops from the 1930’s that I plan on finishing. There is something magical about finishing something someone began and worked tirelessly on so many years ago. I am excited to watch more of your videos and learn from you. Thank you for sharing!

[@millersquilting]

Thank you for sharing.

[@janetcperdiz]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I am trying to learn hand quilting!!

[@wibawanidewi4181]

You are the best...

[@millersquilting]

Thank you. She really was.

[@daleevans4261]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@yalissa73]

Lovely. Thank you for sharing. I’ve done one quilt hand quilted but I wasn’t happy with it. Now that I’m learning from your lessons, I’ll do better and maybe go back to redo the first quilt.

[@millersquilting]

Never give up. With a handful of techniques and a bucket full of patience..

[@maddygvanlifer435]

Have you thought of making and selling that thimble that you modified? I be would definitely be your first customer. I'd take about 4 of them (to put in every room in the house). Thank you for your tutorials. They are wonderful.

[@millersquilting]

Well in fact we have been selling them for quite some time now.. Head over to mqlt.de to check it out. Be sure to use the sizing instruction video.

[@TerriMagoo]

❤❤❤

[@ashleyh249]

I've had a hard time with metal thimbles fitting and being comfortable. A little over a year ago I tried out a leather thimble, and it is the best. Not as protective as metal, but better than the bandaid or duck tape I used before.

[@millersquilting]

For me the leather th9ble would only last a few weeks. It got too pricey.

[@leamubiu]

How is it working for you? My leather thimble (handmade with supple but thick-ish scrap leather) has been a faithful companion for regular sewing projects, but something tells me it might get punctured with the pressure in this quilting technique.

[@millersquilting]

What Esther tried was the metal thimble with a metal insert. This was not strong enough.

[@millersquilting]

There is another thing you can try. Go to a veterinary and ask for bite proof tape. This is sometimes used to protect injuries from animals teeth wanting to chew through the bandage. It can be very helpful if wrapped several times around your finger. This is what Esther used in her classes when she had students with swollen knuckles or similar issues that caused none of our 15 or sizes of thimbles to fit.

[@leamubiu]

@@millersquilting Thank you for the tips! I never knew about such tape✨

[@sylviebissonnette645]

To pull the needle after having quilted, I use a finger cot on my thumb, it doesn’t let the needle slip

[@millersquilting]

With the short needles Esther used, it would be hard to grasp it. She quilted for over 50 years before finding these tools. She never went back. But of course it is possible to quilt with less specialized tools.

[@hazelem1266]

Good morning from Melbourne Australia. What did you use to mark your quilt? Thank you.

[@barbaraness4507]

I have larger fingers, and my hands swell so I bought a leather thimble, and it works well.

[@millersquilting]

We would have recommended the sterling silver thimble by Roxanne. The sterling version adapts better the daily size changes of your fingers. Esther would always wear through the leather thimbles within weeks.

[@barbaraness4507]

@@millersquilting I was able to find an adjustable metal thimble, and a needle puller like hers. I bought the same for my husband as we plan on working on a quilt together soon.

[@millersquilting]

Sounds great. Keep quilting.

[@GloriaWright-v9p]

I am very anxious to learn how to hand quilt in the method you are teaching. I have recrived an email but it is in German but I need it in English in order to understand.

[@millersquilting]

If you have a question just contact us by email.

[@lucillekelm2763]

I just can’t do it that way. So I like the old poke and stab method, it works best for me. But my average is 11 to 14 stitches to the inch. I like John James needles the best. I like size 10 for quilting and size 11 for hand piecing. I also have a Hinterberg Fold Away Quilt Frame.

[@millersquilting]

Esther learned from her amish mother at age 4 and quilted for over 50 years with the rocking stitch before discovering the needle-slide method. It made teaching her students much easier, because they would catch on much quicker. Her quilting also improved, although most people found it immaculate before.. Only the artist sees the. Mistakes..

[@fuyukazemi]

I must order a needle slide for hand quilting! Should I email your company?

[@millersquilting]

Best would be if you order online at mqlt.de

[@qltygrl3187]

Do you loosen the tension overnight or only if not quilting first a few days?

[@millersquilting]

Esther only loosened the quilt when she took longer breaks the tension is not high on the rail frames. On the hoops it's a different issue because they are being squished between the outer and inner rings.

[@karinbaird2499]

There seems to be a problem with the link to the shop. I get up a notice that it can be breached and won’t patch me through. Would love to try her special ceramic thimble.

[@millersquilting]

Try www.mqlt.de

[@swc2019]

Where can I find the needle glider? I've looked on line and can't find one. Also, thank you for such a great video!

[@millersquilting]

It's on our website. Www.mqlt.de. Then go to thimbles. You need to use our video instructions for measuring your index finger.

[@swc2019]

Thank you

[@deirdrecurtis3043]

Where can we find the porcelain thimble for purchase? I can't seam to find them any where. Is it called something special? Thank you for the amazing videos.

[@millersquilting]

Check our website at mqlt.de. It's called The Needleslide.

[@ellenmcnamara535]

@@millersquilting Miller’s quilting

[@katinewmanhowe5080]

What is the navy blue & metal thing on your right hand (I’m not referring to your thimble worn on your middle finger)?

[@millersquilting]

That is a needle puller. You should be able to see Esther use it every time her needle is fully loaded.

[@debmetheral6596]

I tried to order your needle slider and I couldn’t fiqure out how to measure my finger I use a sm thimble and a 3 1/2 Roxanne thimble.

[@millersquilting]

Check out our video. It explains how to measure your Index finger. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHXZfWOQmM96r8U

[@lidiaborken-hagen9793]

Hi. Thank you for your classes. I have one question. I have needle number 11 but is not strong, it's bend pretty fast. I have different brands and I have the same problem, what is your suggestion?

[@millersquilting]

We recommend using the number 11 betweens by Roxanne. They are. Short and strong. They also come in a pack of 50 for around 12 euros. If they get bent too much you need to replace them. It's normal.

[@lidiaborken-hagen9793]

@@millersquilting Thank you 😊

[@beckysmith7328]

Where can we buy the thimble and other things she is using?

[@millersquilting]

At www.mqlt.de

[@KelseyJohanna1016]

Where would one be able to find the porcelain thimble tool you use for your underhand? I've been using a spoon, but I would love a better, more ergonomic tool!

[@millersquilting]

You can purchase yours at our shop. Www.mqlt.de. Be sure to follow the sizing instructions.

[@GypsyDove]

@@millersquilting what is that handy needle puller tool called? An where do you find those?

[@angelomiller]

@@GypsyDove It is called a needle puller. The originals are no longer available but there is a remake version that is pretty good by bohin/sew-line

[@femmefatalexX1]

It’s would be nice for a Christian retreat for woman 🥰

[@bunelladunella]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@millersquilting]

You are very welcome..