zennia

I am another lap quilter. just can't rock my fabric in the hoop. Every once in awhile I will try a hoop but it never last long. As long as you enjoy the process nothing else matters. Have fun.

cabbagepatchkid

She also has a video showing how she quilts without a hoop. I love her videos.

Iamquilter

Can't help you at all because I do all my quilting on a floor frame, but do it the way it feels best for you.

just janet

I hand quilt in a hoop on my lap. Gives me the best even stitches. When I don't use a hoop my stitches are uneven on the back of the quilt.

running1

And this method works wonderfully!! The sandwich stays in place until you quilt! And, like so many others, you should quilt the way that is comfortable for you!! Have fun!!

just janet

Forgot to add, I use quiltak's to "baste" my quilts. My thread would get caught on the safety pins when I tried that method. I never could get the hang of basting a large quilt and though lap quilts weren't a problem I still prefer the quiltak gadget.

Abby'smom

I agree, no rules, whatever works best for you -- I have found that I like an oval hoop instead of a round one for turning and reaching around -- but find what works best for you!!

NJ Quilter

I don't think I could every use any kind of floor frame. I wiggle too much to get comfortable whether I'm quilting or not! I use a 12-14" hoop in my lap mostly. Sometimes I use no hoop. I like the hoop as it's easier for me to find where I left off. But if I'm doing a really large (king) quilt with lots of pins, I sometimes just use no hoop. I've more or less migrated to thread basting the queen/king quilts that I do as it reduces the amount of weight I'm moving when adjusting my quilting angle. I can only quilt in one direction. I've heard that any type of floor frame quilting is most efficient if you are able to quilt both towards and away from you. I have yet to attempt, let alone master, that technique.

All of that said, if you are comfortable, go with it. There is no right or wrong way.

AnneTa

As most say: do what is most comfortable for you... If you get even stitches while lap-quilting, just don't hesitate!
Don't let anyone force you into some way you 'should' quilt.
(When I learned quilting, the teacher in the local quiltshop - who made rather large stitches - told me mine were too small. I tried and tried, but couldn't quilt with larger stitches and still have them even. That way my joy of quilting has been taken away for years, until I read the book by Roxanne McElroy, who seemed to favour my 'too short' stitches.)

Quilt the way that gives you the most satisfying experience, both during the quilting as with the result!

willis.debra

A lot of hand quilters do that. Do what feels right to you.

I quilt in a frame or hoop because that's what works for me.

Check out celebratehandquilting.blogspot.com. There is also a Facebook group.