Tippy

They'll be fine as long as you don't leave the hoop tight in one place for months on end. If you're going to leave the project for a while. just take it out of the hoop.. no problem.
I actually prefer a floor frame to a hoop, especially for large quilts.

Up North

I use a dissapearing marker to mark my quilts and have never had a problem with hoop imprints. The quilt in my frame is for a friend to raffle off for The Cancer Walk. She bought the top at an auction and I am doing the rest for her.

feline fanatic

I use a Roxanne #11 quilting between
I use a round lap hoop. I think it is a 14" diameter
I love love love Valdani 35 wt thread for hand quilting. It is not coated so you can also use in machine. Have bees so beeswax is in abundence and I do run my thread through beeswax just before I thread the length on the needle. http://www.valdani.com/products/#spools
When threading needles I like to load up about 6 needles before starting a session.
I mark as I go with chalko liner or Fons and Porter mechanical pencil. I found out the hard way that these items rub off to easily if you mark the entire top and then try quilting. By the time I got to my 3rd hoopful I couldn't see any of my markings.
My hand quilting time is my therapy and I sit with my husband as he watches TV and I alternate between watching the TV and watching my quilting stitches.
I do not use anything on my underneath hand. I have special thimbles for top hand that has the back of the thimble cut out for my fingernail. I am wierd I push the needle with index finger and thumb instead of the middle finger. So I have a thimble for both index and thumb. I can not start stitches with any thimble so I push the needle with my fingernail to get it started. Then I slip the thimble on and do the rocking stitch. Here is a link to a thread that I posted showing how I quilt http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-29365-1.htm

Ninnie

HI April
I use a size 10 or `12 between needle. but when I started hand quilting years ago, i started out on an size 8 needle.
You can use what ever size hoop is comfortable for you, or not use any at all. And I like Coats & Clark all cotton thread, just my choice. It is a little thicker than using a polyester thread, but I like the looks of the stitches more.
when you look at threads, there will be one that will say for hand quilting, and any of them will do.
Hand quilting is so relaxing and you should just relax, and enjoy it. Don't worry about how small your stitches are. the most important thing to practice is getting them all the same size. Also learning how to "pop" your knots into the middle of your quilt to hide them. Have fun with it!!!!
I use a Fons & Porter mechanical pencil to mark with. It comes with dark and white lead. And you can also use masking tape. I also use 1/4 in tape, to quilt 1/4 in from the seams.

Sharon - NC

I hand pieced and hand quilted the quilt in my avatar. I used thread that was specifically made for hand quilting (got at LQS) and use a size 11 needle. I didn't use any kind of hoop or frame.

LovingIzabella

Hi Ninnie
So you mark off a quarter inch from the edge of the area you are working on so it is all even? Sorry don't mean to sound ignorant I just want to make sure I do this right lol
Hugs
April

dakotamaid

I'm different I guess. I don't do much hand quilting because of my arthritic hands but when I do I don't use any hoop. I just pin, pin, pin, use a small needle, begin in the middle and work out. I must have luck on my side cause when I look at the finished product I'm usually within a 1/4 of an inch of being square.

Ninnie

Yes, the reason you mark 1/4 in. in is to miss the seam allowance, it is easier to quilt that way. Here are picturs of one marked with tape, but not yet quilted. You can see that I have quilted a flower pattern in the center, and now will quilt the 1/4 in around it. I am by no means a perfect hand quilter. but it is my chosen way to quilt. :-D

LovingIzabella

Ahhhh Okay I got it-thanks so much Ninnie the picture helped my poor clogged brain!
Love your stitching!
Hugs
April

LovingIzabella

WOW-that is impressive. I am not sure with everything suggested I am going to do the top justice but one can hope lol
Hugs
April