Hand Quilt without a frame
 

Have any of you hand quilters seen or own the book "Hand Quilt Without a Frame" by Barbara Schaffeld? If so, what is your opinion--worth the price or not?

My friend handquilts KS tops with a 18" embroidery frame. I think it is amazing. She starts with the lining spread out on the floor, then batting, then quilttop and pins away. Then she starts in the middle with her smallish hoop working her way around and finishes up with a lovely handquilted quilt, doing 3 or 4 a year after dinner watching TV. Wish I could do it but if I get on the floor I must have 2 very strong people to get me up. No laughing matter the way I fall around. Anyway She and I for years have discussed me learning how to hand quilt. What is going on in both of our lives we seldom see one another. She is still my best friend, always in my heart.

I haven't seen the book, but I never use a frame or hoop to handquilt. I just can't get the stitches even, and it's awkward to hold. I have 2 floor hoops too. One of them an expensive one that adjusts and spins 360 degrees. I just can't do it. I get nice, small even stitches without a frame or hoop, no stress,. Very relaxing to sit and quilt with the quilt laying on my lap, watching a good movie or a football game.

google "hand quilting without a frame" and you will get lots of references.

When you sandwich your quilt, do you pin, baste or both? How do you keep everything smooth?

I am fortunate enough to have a room in the basement where I have 4 boards and clamps. Clamp it together and put it on four legs and stretch the bottom,batting, and top on and start quilting. I can't get down on the floor so this is the best way for me and how I learned from my mother. Never have any problems with it not being flat, it is always smooth and use a chair with rollers so I can shift any which way I need to .

not that book, but i've heard of Lap quilting with Georgia Bonesteel.

I've got her book. Each square is quilted separately. I tried that and it's okay but this other book indicates that you don't quilt until the whole top is sandwiched.

I hand baste and clip the basting as I quilt. I also will start quilting in the center. One round is done clockwise the next counter clockwise. It helps me prevent skewing.

I can't get on the floor either!! Lol!!

Thank you for this info! I've been learning how to hand quilt, but as yet my stitches are not always even. However, it's good to learn how to go from the center out. I never cease to marvel at all the 'little' tips I pick up on this board, like your tip of clockwise and counter clockwise.

I hand quilt - up to king size - mostly with an 18" hoop and sometimes with none. Don't have the room for a full frame and would find it far too confining. I pin baste mostly, sometime thread baste - never the 2 together. It all stays stable and if I have a pucker along the way I just tug and smooth it out.

I never use a frame when I hand quilt, it is too awkward. I just pin or baste well, put it in my lap and quilt away. I have one of those pvc floor frames from Joanns and I never use it.

I also have that frame. Used it once and it's now in the box in the storage bldg. Think I'm going to try the pinning and basting really good for my next quilt. Am surprised how many of you don't use a hoop or frame. Makes me feel like it's an okay way to do it my way.

I have this book. I started handquilting without a frame and this book was the first one I bought when I was a beginner. The quilt pattern in it is worth buying the book. It's a very detailed pattern for the Star Spin Quilt. I think the book has been out of print for years.

Did the book give good instructions on hand quilting without a frame? I've seen the book for sale on the internet and it has a Dewey decimal number so I'm going to check our library to see if it's on their shelf.

The hand quilting instructions were very helpful to me. I had to stop lending it out. It was about to fall apart. The book a small size paper booklet form so don't expect a substantial book.

[QUOTE=BellaBoo;4718945]The hand quilting instructions were very helpful to me. I had to stop lending it out. It was about to fall apart. The book a small size paper booklet form so don't expect a substantial book.[/QUO

I've googled it and found it for sale for as much as $59. If it's out of print, that could explain the price but for I've also seen it listed as having 60 pages. Don't think I want to pay that price for 60 pages! DUH!!

I use a hoop and start in the middle..works for me. Google hand quilting...you can get a wealth of information. As far as the book being worth it, why not go to your local library and see if they can get you a copy to check out first.

I tape the back to my cutting table with masking tape. Then I lay the batting on the backing and smooth it out. Next I lay the top on the batting. I smooth it out and I use big safety pins to baste everything that is on my table. I never pick up the fabric until I have gently pulled the whole thing to the top of the table. This means that it is all pulled to one side, sits on the top while I work on it. I baste close enough that nothing moves and I quilt by hand until it is finished. I don't use a frame or hoop. I like to sit at a table and work. It keeps the weight of the quilt off of me. It also helps me to have a better posture and no backache.

That's what I plan to do. The Dewey number is 746.46 so they should be able to locate it for me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can look at the book and see her instructions.

I buy a fair amount of used books on Amazon.com, I looked for you.....no deals there...boy thats one expensive book.
39.00
I say just dive in and learn as you go. Just make sure the quilt is well basted or pinned and yes start in the center.

That's what I'm going to do. Just make sure it's basted/pinned really well. Thanks for checking on price for me. That's what I found & evidently the book is only 60 pages. Being out of print makes it more expensive but definitely NOT necessary for that price.

I personally would spend that money on more backing or fabric. I use plastic clamps from Lowe's Hardware Store to clamp the backing first to my cutting table (can't and won't get on my knees anymore and saves my back too) then lay down the batting and smooth and clamp it down then the top. I then pin generously and move the whole thing as I need to(making sure there are no wrinkles in the backing as I go) and continue until the whole quilt is generously (key word) pin basted and then I remove the quilt, get comfortable and start at the center and work my way out to the edges. Works for me...lol!

When I do the sandwiching like this I start in the center and work my way out to the edges. Yes it takes a lot of pins but it is worth it because when you are done quilting you don't have to spend time taking out the pins. You remove them as you quilt.:)

I was taught to quilt on a small lap frame of PVC pipe-about 12 inch square. EZ snap I think is the name. First i mark the quilt with quilting design then I layer the quilt then baste together with a "X" and a "+" and around edges. Then I put my frame in the center of the quilt, pull it on to my lap and quilt from the center out. When I move the frame I move it up (showing a small amount of what is already quilted) and quilt to the edge. After reaching the edge, I go back to center and move down. Now the quilt has a quilted stripe down the center. I move back to center and move right to edge. Then back to center and quilt left to edge. Now quilt show a quilted "+" dividing the quilt into quarters. Still starting at center I quilt quarter to right then quarter to left on bottom half then top left quarter and finally top right. Been doing this 30 years and done numerous quilts. It's the only way I know how to quilt. I dont own a frame. Just a recliner and a 12 inch frame LOL

Maybe you can find the book at the library?

Thanks for the advice. I need to go to Lowe's and find the clamps. My space for laying out the quilt to sandwich is small (2 tables pushed together) so it sounds like this would be a good way for me to sandwich my quilts. I've tried taping the backing to the tables but the tape doesn't seem to hold the material tightly enough. So, this is what I'll do when my quilt top is finished (probably early spring). Thanks again!!!!

Me Too. Getting old sure is not fun. LOL

You're welcome! Here's a link to the clamps I have. I use all of them sometimes on one quilt. They are assorted sizes but it's the most for the money...lol!
http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?...llow&cId=PDIO1

I'm not familiar with that book, but Suzanne Marshall hand quilted many award winning quilts without a frame. She says the trick is to heavily baste the quilt. You can see some of her quilts at ...

http://www.suzannequilts.com/suzanne...t/Welcome.html

If you can see the AQS blog, Sharon Shamber just did a two part piece on basting that was very good. Super secure and no crawling on the floor, masking tape, etc.

After I posted this, I saw that she just won Best Hand Workmanship Award at the 2011 AQS Quilt Show & Contest- Des Moines:
http://www.americanquilter.com/shows...lt_winners.php

I don't think I would waste my money on a book telling me how to handquilt without a frame - just go for it not hard have done several king size no problems also a good way to keep warm!!!

I hand quilt and hand embroider without a frame and find it much easier. My work looks neat and even. I have not seen the book - just wanted to assure you that it is possible to get good results without a frame. I have met a few other who don't use frames and their work was OK as well.

The AQS facebook page had a video clip of Suzanne showing her method of hand quilting. It was very interesting. Maybe if you google her you'll be able to find it.

Janet

These quilt basting videos are freely available on Youtube. Just go to http://www.youtube.com and search for "Sharon Schamber basting" (without the quotes) and they will show up :-).

Thanks, I'm going to check it out. I didn't realize how many hand quilters don't use a frame or hook! I feel like I'm in good company!!!

I've handquilted in my lap, no frame or hoop. I've only done up to lap size this way, however.
There were women at QBL years ago handquilting bed size.

I would guess a magazine article would tell you all you'd need to know. I wouldn't spend the money for a book.

If I did Facebook, I'd be there in a flash, as I find Suzanne's work amazing :-).

I've only hand quilted small baby quilts. I can't use a hoop. You do have to baste a lot more when hand quilting and I always start int he middle and work out to the edge. I think it is something you have to work out for yourself. I would check the lib. first before buying the book.