Is hand quilting without a hoop possible?
I understand that an embroidery hoop will not work
for hand-quilting (although I'm not sure exactly why).
The reason I'm asking is b/c I want to hand-quilt
some things, but do not have a hoop.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Sherri

I've done it at times, just be sure you baste well or use lots of pins and of course start in the middle and work out. There are no right or wrong ways, just what works for you :D

Sherri,
I use my embroidery hoop for small areas, it all depends on the depth of batting, to me. I most always use a low loft cotton or wool so it really only matters the type of quilting you are doing.

The last quilt police was fired! You are allowed to try, to do, or work any way with any thing you please! Honest, no one will ever tell you it's wrong around here. We be the nice 'uns.

Sherri, I always use a hoop if I'm not using a quilt frame, but my daughter never uses a hoop. I think it just depends on what works for you.

Sherri,

The embroidery hoop is about 1/2" or so thick. The quilting hoop is about 1-1/2" thick. The extra thickness allows for all of the bulk related to quilting while the embroidery is just one thickness. Obviously, the quilting hoop is much stronger.

Suzanne

I have quilted several full sized quilts by hand without a hoop. It is not hard if you baste 6" or so apart. I enjoy the freedom of not having a big something to reach around, and find I can make smaller stitches without one. I have done rather busy patterns this way, including Hawaiian quilting, but that was not full sized. Let us know how it works for you.

I'm in the process of hand quilting queen without a hoop. I used the basting spray and am careful not to pull the stitches too tight, it's looking pretty good. I find it a lot easier without, when it was in the frame I could only get 1 or 2 stitches at a time on the needle and since I'm doing every piece there are a lot of angles and that was very hard when it was in the frame. I tried a hoop too but just found it much easier without either.

I prefer to hand quilt using a hoop, and I'm pretty sure mine is an embroidery hoop--or maybe just a reeeeaaaallly cheap quilt hoop. LOL Mine isn't that thick, and it's been holding up for me just fine. I've tried lap quilting but I've never gotten comfortable with it. That's my sis's preferred method however, so whatever works best for you, I'd say.

I have used a really cheep hoop also and it worked fine. remember to save at JoAnn's with your coupon. I did a large quilt without a frame I layed it folded on a table and I prefered that better than a frame it worked just fine and It did not stretch. Donna

One other thing!! I find that the hoops with a thumbscrew give you more of an adjustment allowing for the thickness of the quilt layers, opposed to the one that are spring controlled.

Suzanne

This message is for Donna: Who is that posing with you in the picture? Looks like a "Tom Cruise" lookalike to me. Really is a good looking lad. You must be proud.

Where is Portersville? I live in central Pa.

Suzanne

Suzanne, What town do you live in? I live in Bloomsburg, which is northeastern central PA.

Minda, I live in Port Royal, Juniata County, a little village on the Juniata River. West of Harrisburg while enroute to Penn State.

A friend's granddaughter is at school at Bloomsburg U. She is starting her second year there. Helen's dil also lives there with her children. Helen is also a quilter. Perhaps one day when she comes for a day, we can get together. Or perhaps meeting at Selinsgrove. We come to Mifflinburg to Verna's and Hoover's. Are you familiar with these shops?

Suzanne

Suzanne, It is Tom Cruise, I met him in London at Madame Tussaud's!

Portersville is a small town north of Pittsburgh I do consider myself a pittsburgher even though I live in Butler County. I live right near Lake Auther-Moraine State Park and McConnells Mills. Slippery Rock University is near also.

Suzanne, I bought my Berninas at Hoover's and I've bought lots of fabric from Verna's. Does Helen's dil quilt? She might be a member of our quilt guild. It would be nice to get together sometime.

Donna,

My one son went to school at Allegheny College in Meadville, north of you and my daughter went to Duquesne in Pittsburgh. John and I have moved about a bit, but the Steelers (and the Redskins) are our teams!!! We had lived in Ebensburg, where number two son presently lives. Ebensburg is between Johnstown and Altoona. Small world.


Too bad "the Tom" couldn't have looked at the cameraman when the photo was taken. Perhaps he was looking for a couch!

Suz

Suzanne, I'm lucky I got that close to Tommy , the place was packed .
We are 40 miles north of Pgh.
Alleghany is way north My Daughter's friend goes to Alleghany 3yr.
My son goes to Pitt but took some clases at Duquesne. 3child goes to Chatham in Shadyside. No matter where you live your heart belongs to Steeler Country. Donna

I hand quilt without a hoop. While in Colorado, took a quilting class at Harriet Hargraves shop. The instructor showed us quilting without a hoop, and I found that I could control my stitches better that way. Also it made my quilting more portable. Now I can quilt anywhere I have to sit and wait for something. It really is up to what is comfortable for you. We have already decided that we are more critical of our own work than any quilt police, so who needs em? LOL

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BUT I QUILT ON A TABLE TOP. THE ROCKING MOTION OF THE NEEDLE IN YOUR RIGHT HAND IS THE SAME, ONLY YOU SET THE NEEDLE TIP IN THE TABLE SURFACE AND NOT YOUR LEFT FINGER. BOTH HANDS STAY ON TOP..RIGHT HAND CONTROLS THE NEEDLE AND THE LEFT HAND STEADYS THE QUILT SURFACE. THEN RIGHT HAND PUSHES NEEDLE FORWARD AFTER LAST STITCH IS MADE; LEFT HAND CATCHES NEEDLE AND HANDS IT BACK TO RIGHT HAND WHICH PULLS THREAD THRU. BOTH HANDS GO BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION AND RIGHT HAND STARTS A NEW RUN OF STITCHES.

WITH THIS METHOD, STITCHES ARE SMALLER UNDERNEATH AND A LITTLE LARGER ON THE TOP, BUT WITH PRACTICE, CAN BE VERY SMALL, NEAT AND EVEN..ALSO SEEMS PRETTY FAST. AND NO HOOPS, FRAMES, JUST A STURDY LITTLE TABLE.