nhweaver

If this is your first time quilting with a hoop, I would use what you have on hand. The big BUT is if you have to buy a hoop because you have none and your budget allows, I would buy the best quilt hoop that you find. Take one for a test drive at your lqs. The one I chose has a base that sits in my lap on a stand and rotates on a ball hinge. Used it for years, and now have a floor frame one, but still love the lap holder one the best. Mine came from gruber's market genola MN, but I don't think they are in business. I bought mine years ago from Keepsake quilting in Center Harbor NH. Here are a couple of pics

Hinterland

The first "quilt" I made, I tried to hand quilt with a 6 inch spring loaded embroidery hoop. I didn't think the heavy poly batting would be thick enough, so I doubled it. I could just barely get the quilt in the hoop, but it was a struggle. As I sat there stab stitching away, my mom told me that the quilting stitch was worked from the top. I thought she was nuts, but it's little wonder that the project became my first UFO.

That aside, on my next quilt, 15 years later, I bought a $4 quilting hoop. It worked much better and helped me become addicted to hand quilting. I still have it, it's still useable, but if I used a hoop more often (I use a floor frame now), I would buy a quality hoop.

Janet

JustAbitCrazy

I agree with nhweaver. If you are going to be buying a hoop, get one with a stand, if you can. Dh bought me a Hinterberg for my birthday one year, and it's awesome. My two hands have enough to do with the quilting without having to hold the hoop at the same time. I had a hard time using a hoop without the base. The hoop was a bit pricey, but a great gift. (Whisper in someone's ear---Santa's?)

stampinteresa

It's me again. I took a hand quilting class last year about this time in VA. The lady taught without a hoop. You used the table or a board for support. I was raised seeing the aunts use quilting frames on the floor or hanging from the ceiling. So this really threw me. I am still not sure if I like it. But it is all I know for the actual hand quilting. So I too have been looking at the hoops. I love the look of nhweavers. My dad's sister is almost 90 and nearly blind and she told me a few weeks ago that she still loves her lap frame that has a stand if she wants to use it. Thanks for listening. Teresa