Hi!

I am from California. I haven't done much, but really like hand quilting.

My biggest love, however, are the three dogs my sister and I are raising.
We have Mahana, a 12y 4m doberman (looks like what you see in the movies and tv shows); Stormy, a nearly 10y old "rotterman" (rottweiller/doberman mix); and Emma Lee, a new 7 or 8 month old "red" doberman. (Penny, our other red died unexpectedly in May at 9yrs.)


Getting back to quilting; I got myself way in over my head with this latest project.

I want to quilt a large (king) size quilt, but am having a hard time adapting to the hoop to do the quilting! I've only done 12"x12" squares and was able to bunch up the the other material in my hand to be able to hold the material comfortably.

Any help out there?

Hello Celest.. well I am just now working on a King size quilt.. hand stitching throughout... and read your question. I will tell ya how I do it, and see if that helps any. I have my quilt pinned securely, so I know it is not moving. Got hundreds of safety pins in the quilt. I just sat, and reached in towards the center of the quilt.. and put in my 14" embrodiery hoop..........I make it tight, and make sure the back is nice and neat also...I don't try to bunch up the material in my hand, I just let my left hand work under the quilt. I do all the work in that area and move to the next area. Not sure if that helps, but it does work. Happy sewing..
Sharon

Hi, Celeste. I have a lap frame made of plastic pipe that you can get at JoAnn's. Don't remember the brand. It is a rectangle shape. It allows me to move around less than the ovals or round frames, also seems to not bunch up as much. Because the quilt is so heavy, I sometimes set a dining room chair in front of me and drape the quilt over it so that I can still reach under the quilt at the frame, but do not have to hold up all of that weight. I love hand quilting, too, and this works best for me so far, but I am still open to suggestions. Where are you in California? I am in the northeast corner.

Sharonrae and Norah,

Thank you for your advice, I'll give 'em a try!

I'm in Milpitas, which is next to San Jose, 60 miles south of San Francisco.

I too use the plastic pipe for hand quilting. I baste my quilts thoroughly and start with the middle square moving side to side, then I start the next row in the middle and go to each side; I do the row in the middle, then go to the one above, when it's finished, do the one below until I have completed the entire quilt. Just finished a queen size.

Karen!

Sorry I took soooo long to reply. Thank you for your ideas and encouragement. wow, a queen size! I'll bet it looks beautiful!