Grace hand quilting frames
 

I do my quilting with a Q Snap frame and love to hand quilt. My Mother, who is 80 with arthritis, cannot sat for just over a few minutes until her arthritis starts bothering her neck and shoulders. She has looked at Grace frames and wonders if that just might work. She would like to see one up but I cannot find a store that has a frame up. Does anyone use this frame and what would be the pros and cons of using this frame. We live in North Alabama and the stores around here do not have a frame on display. There is a store that carries the small Grace frame but when we ask if we could bring it home and if it did not work return it. We were told that since it was on sale it could not be returned. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

I find the tilt of the Grace frame easier on my neck and shoulders. With a flat style frame I can only work a short time, but I'm usually good for a few hours.

If you have a Hancock's fabric store in your city, they always have one set up in our stores in Wichita. I have an older style one from Grace and I love it. They have good prices on them when on sale which is pretty often here.

I use the q snap frame but I had my brother go to lowes and get some pvc pipe to raise it and tilt it. I had a Grace and found it was not easy to set up or change sizes. Also too big to leave at the largest size as I live in a single wide trailer.

Welcome LinyWH... I also live in Alabama... in East Central AL.... (any storm damage?) I don't post often, never posted a pic; but I love quilting, have quilted since the 70s and have made several; presently working on a Grandmother's Flower Garden, king size; as well as grandmother's fan, and I've done a couple of baby quilts lately. Would love to see some of your and your moms work... Can't help you with the Grace frame. I usually use a quilting hoop; however, I'm not sure that is going to work with the big quilt I'm working on -- still not to the quilting stage, but getting closer every day. So I'm interested in the responses to your question.

I use a 24 inch hoop on all my quilting and have made numerous king sized quilts. I start in the center and quilt toward the sides. Seems to work great for me. Just have to be sure to pin the sandwiched quilt well so it doesn't shift when I move it around. I'm starting to have neck and shoulder pain from arthritis so just make sure that I get up and move around frequently and usually try to rest the hoop on something so I not holding the weight of the hoop and quilt up with my arms.