Julie, sit back and relax, you'll do just fine! I'm working on the last edge of a queen size and it really works better without the frame. Easier to manuver, you'll be fine!

Hugs,
Sharon

Hi Julie,
I have done some handquilting but have never used a frame. My thought is maybe if there are beads in the way of the frame maybe you could use another soft fabric or batting between the frame and the beads to get it to sit better in the frame and not slip. Hope it works out for you whatever you decide to do. Remember to post pictures when finished because i love pictures!!

Julie,
I attended a workshop taught by Suzanne Marshall. She does all of her quilting without a hoop. It really works! Her secret seems to be that she bastes, bastes, and bastes some more. Look for her books. She's amazing.
Joyce

I have handquilted quite a bit without a hoop or frame. I rely on the plastic basting pins that you use with a basting gun. Worth the money and much easier to use than safety pins! Follow the directions on use though, it works much easier!

I have put my hoop over pins a lot of times with no problems. If you don't put it too tight, maybe it will be okay.

I'm hoping Julie is finished with this quilt. Her question is two years old! :lol:

I have a little book I bought years ago that has the best info for quilting without a frame. The name of the book is Hand Quilt Without a Frame. by Barbara Shafield & Bev Vickery. :D

You may be able to find it at Ebay but if you do run across it buy it. It has the stunning Spinning Star pattern in it.

I hand quilt without a hoop-never used one. I pin baste ( a lot) and place my ironing board in front of me to support the weight of the quilt while I'm working on it. Good luck.

I always hand quilt. I never use a frame of any kind - I do pin baste it and work from the middle out - never have had a problem with wrinkling or anything - Just make sure I move the pins as I go and make the fabric on the top and backing flat as I go.

There was an interesting thread on this topic awhile back that you may want to search out. I was not very good at quilting without a hoop. I could get my top stitches to look good, but the back stitches were always crooked. A couple of posters in the other thread mentioned that stabilizing an edge makes it a lot easier to get even stitches. I think one method was to lay the quilt on a dining table and weight it down with books -- just so there is a little bit of tension on the portion of the quilt sandwich you are working on. I think someone else pinned an edge to a frame.