I am very new at quilting. I've hand-quilted all but about 15" at the bottom of a quilt, and my frame broke. :cry: I've tried quilting without any frame but I apparently I still need something to hold things together. A large hoop frame is the only thing I can think of, but before I go buy one I wondered if any experienced quilters might have a good suggestion.

I love the Internet! How else would I have access to so many quilters?

If you were using a pvc frame, a dowel of the same diameter would work. If you use something small, like an embroidery hoop, be sure to baste it well and take the hoop off as soon as possible to avoid stretching.

If the frame is wood, you may be able to glue or screw on a temporary splint, but I would go easy with a repair. A well placed clamp may be needed to reinforce the splinted section from below.

Welcome to the board endmom!
All I ever use is a hoop. The one I use most is about 18" diameter, I have larger ones but they can get awkward.
What broke on your frame?

I don't know all the proper part names, but this floor frame has a metal piece in the end of each dowel, attached to a wheel with the "teeth" that hold the dowels at the right tension. The wood split where one of the metal rods goes into the dowel, so that dowel slips all the time resulting in no tension - the quilt just unrolls onto the floor.

The frame was my mom's, as is the quilt I am finishing. She had the top pieced, the batting purchased and the backing cut/sewn to fit, but no quilting done, before she passed away. It means a lot to me to finish this quilt; we have two baby quilts she made for my sons, but no larger quilts. I'm looking forward to having a quilt that my mom and I collaborated on, even if she didn't know it was going to happen that way. She was a wonderful quilter, and it's an honor to have the chance to finish this one for her.

I see a quilting hoop in my future....and perhaps some smaller quilting projects so I can learn how to do this right!

Good luck! Such a sweet story and I am sure you will be able to finish it to perfection.

You could put a clamp on it and tighten it where it is splitting. The PVC ones are quite cheap at the 18 inch size, and are available at Joanns. I got Mine for 8 dollars with a coupon. Also C clamps and some boards and presto instant frame :D

Let us know how it all turns out! We would love to see pictures of your quilt!! And Mom would be proud I am sure!!!

You speak kind words, beachlady, but I already know it won't be finished "to perfection" based on what I've done so far. :wink: However, it WILL be done at some point, soon I hope, and I will be happy as a clam with it.

You all are so wonderful. If a person got this kind of positive support in every aspect of life, the world would be full of happy, confident, caring people. Even if I don't quilt anything else for a while, I'm coming back to this board!

Here is a link to make your own quilt frame. Alex Anderson's father helped her make one for her (if I remember correctly,) first quilt.

http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/joe-sladkys-quilt-frame/index.html

Your mother will be so proud of you!

Would it be possible to use some glue in the split and posibly wrap the whole thing up real tight say with wome tape of some sort to hold it together long enough for the glue to dry? I wish you the best of luck getting it done.