j

I am so afraid to start my kingsize quilt to do by hand. How do I get the 3 layers with no wrinkles. Can you sew across one side - so it doesnt shift and then start quilting to the other side. I have two quilts made but now I feel stuck. - Joan

Hinterland

My first quilt was almost king sized, and I did it by hand. I basted the layers before I started by stretching the backing out on my living room floor, then adding the batting and the top. Then I started quilting in the center and worked by way out.

Janet

Annaquilts

Yes, you can use only a hoop or even no hoop or frame at all. Hawaiian quilts een the very big ones are often hand quilted on a hoop. I have two large hoops. One has a double hoop and it lifts it up a little off your lap. I really like that one for larger projects.

AshleyR

Have you basted them? I only baste the edges when I hand-quilt. I hold the layers together with clamps, not pins.
I always start in the center and work my way out. I put the quilt in the hoop and pull it tight, especially the backing. There's no way a wrinkle can get in there!! Then I push my thumbs in gently to give it a little "give" and check and double check and then only when I'm sure there are NO wrinkles (there will be some around the frame itself, but you're not quilting that close to the frame) I start quilting.
Take a deep breath and relax. This is supposed to be fun!

Annaquilts

Oh with a hoop besure to baste and then work from the center out in a circle. I had the good fortune of having a friend that is an avid hand quilter show me how to work with with a hoop. Now my hand quilting, stitches, leaves some to be desired but it is very peaceful work.

Annaquilts

I do baste, minimal with very large bastig stitches, the whole quilt but work very much the same after that. Yes, relax and enjoy. I also find it is nearly impossible to get wrinkles. The only time I did was when I quilted a section out of order. So I had quilted from the center out and then had skipped a section. When I tried to quilt that later it had wrinkles so I ended up taking everything past that skipped section out to straighten it. So besure to work from the center out in circles with hoop quilting.

Shankquilt

I think the answer is baste, baste, baste and then you can even go without a hoop. You need to do what's most comfortable for you.

Annaquilts

I like this hoop lap stand. You can find some of the smaller sizes on overstock.com and others on amazon too.
I think mine is 10 and 14 in. or so. You can use it either way, dismantle it for travel or use one by itself without the lift. They are non slip and don't wear like the wooden ones. No I am not affiliated with them. lol

http://www.nosliphoops.com/lap-stands.html

Goodmama

I am making my first quilt! The top is done (Amish Tulip Quilt with appliques). I've done a great job if I have to say so myself. I'm ready to start putting layers together and I want to hand quilt. I have a little bit of back trouble so I'm looking for the most comfortable way to proceed. So here are my questions:

1) Does the floor hoop pull close enough that you can quilt easily without leaning forward? Can you sit up straight or even lean back on a sofa to use that? OR

2) Would a lap hoop be easier on my back because my position could be more flexible?

Thank you in advance for your advice! Thank you to the woman I bumped into at JoAnn Fabrics who told me about this site.

burchquilts

Back in the day when I used to hand quilt, I didn't use any kind of hoop... I just had the quilt loose in my lap. Granted, I never did huge ones, but I just found hoops to be too cumbersome.