I do not use either. I just put my right hand underneath the area that I am quilting, pull it taunt and quilt with my left hand. Since I have RA, I can only do one stitch at a time and they are not real tiny stitches, but I am happy with them. I am currently working on a twin size quilt. I hand quilted 5 quilts last year and will be giving them as Christmas Gifts to my 5 grandchildren this year.

I use a frame which is mounted on four legs with clamps at the corners for all sizes of quilts. I have several different size boards, the biggest being two for 120 inch quilts.

I have a q-snap PVC frame but never use it. I used to use a hoop but taught my dog to jump through it because I never use it either. I just baste well and drag my quilt of any size around, quilting in my lap. I just have more control over the needle that way.

When I was in my own home I had a really nice 3 rail wooden frame - no room for it here (it was 9' long) Now DD & I use a qsnap floor frame for large quilts & hoops for smaller - One thing I learned with the qsanp _ I sew leaders to all sides of the quilt - makes it much easier to quilt right up to the edge

hugs
Shirley in Indiana

I've made queen size and double bed quilts using a large hoop but I too only quilt in winter.
I like it because when I'm not quilting it's easier to store. It's a bit clumsy but you get use
to it.

I do not. For years I thought it was a must and I just could not get the process to be smooth. Then I sat with an experienced quilter who has working on a queen sized quilt with not hoop. Her advise was skip the hoop if it doesn't work for you and stitch a way. I tried it and what a difference for ME. I haven't used a hoop since and my end product is much better. Try both ways and go with the one that give your the results and quilting pleasure your desire.

I just found these no slip hoops and I love them. I use them for small projects and my Grace frame for my large quilts. I bought my hoops at Hobby Lobby.

I rarely hand quilt anything large, so I just lap quilt. My mom hand quilts sizes up to queen and uses the same hoop her grandmother used. It makes my heart sing to see the hoop in use for future generations. :-)

I also use a frame which is mounted on four legs with clamps at the corners for all sizes of quilts. I have several different size boards, the biggest being two for 120 inch quilts, I put my quilt in and baste it, usually each block separate, and after it is all basted, I take it out of the frame and quilt in a 14' hoop in my lap. I do everything thing this way, most of my quilts are queen to king size. My back cannot handle bending over the frame for very long, that is why I use the frame to baste, and the way I baste, nothing is going to move anywhere. When I quilt, I remove the basting threads, one block at a time. It works for my, My mother always told me it could not be done that way, but as I say, it works for me.

I use a 14 inch hoop for smaller projects. I quilted a double quilt and used the Hinterberg hoop that sits on the floor.