Hoop for hand quilting
 

What would you recommend?

I meet with a bunch of handquilters once a week. They tend to use oblong shaped ones. For me, I've tried every shape and size I could think of and found everyone to feel awkward. Then someone said.. "then don't use one". So far (knock wood) it's worked ok for me. I do pen the quilt well before I start.

I have a cheap round wood one from JoAnns. I've been quilting for 10+ years now and this is the second one I've had to buy (first broke) so for the $$ I think I'm ahead of the game. It's a bit larger than elbow to fingers across. I can have a 12" block loose in the hoop and quilt the whole block. I have no stand or anything as I like to lean back in my chair and quilt.

It's what works for me. If you're just starting out, try it. You may progress to something else down the road but at least you won't be out major $$ for something that might not be right for you.

I like the 14 inch round hoop. I've bought several older wood ones on line for just a few dollars. The older ones are made to last.

First started with an 18 incher & still use that size. Tried the oval one but perfer the 18. Whatever feels comfortable to you works!

The 14" No-Slip hoop from Joann's. Is about $20full price. Use in in all my hand quilting classes. Students love them. Made of plastic. Worth the money.

I also tried many in my hand quilting days, and found the 14" round to be the best fit for me.

I don't use a hoop. I hand baste or pin, then just quilt with it in my lap. I've purchased hoops and tools designed to avoid the constant pricking of my lower fingers, but I can't master the techniques

I tried quilting with a round hoop and quilting without a hoop. What works best for me is a lap hoop. The one I have swivels on a wooden ball and is very easily adjusted for tilt and angle. This hoop leaves both hands free to quilt, plus there is virtually no obstruction to the underneath hand. My hoop is no longer made, but the closest thing to it is probably the Grace lap hoop. You can check out reviews of it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Grace-PolyPro-...dp/B002XNSJGE/ . Mine is all wood; I'm not sure if the plastic version grips the quilt as well as wood. Grace also makes an all-wood version of this frame.

I tried quilting without a hoop, but found that my stitches were considerably less even -- especially underneath.

In any hoop, a common beginner's mistake is to hoop too tightly -- like a drum. You want to have about 4" inches of "give" in the center of the hoop. A good rule is to allow the middle to move a fist's width down or up. This "give" in the quilt allows you to manipulate not only the needle with each stitch, but also the quilt (so you are also moving the quilt onto the needle).

I have a round 14" one by Dritz. It's plastic, and has a wing nut for tightening. I've had it for years and it still looks and feels like brand new. I love it.

Mine I think is a little bigger than 14"-I think it is 18". It sits in my lap and I rotate the quilt. I have one on a stand but I'm not all that happy with it because I can't get it close enough to me and sit comfortably.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...p-t236783.html

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...p-t236507.html

Here are some recent discussions we had, which I found with the search function. Good luck in finding one.

i have a morgan hoop for hand quilting www.morgan hoops.com one side is 12 inc other side is 10 inch

14inch lap hoop! I love it, can be used anywhere!

I don't like to use a hoop. I find the round hoops distort the bias of the quilt. I use a Q-Snap floor frame. I really like it. The grandkids play under it and use my quilts as a playhouse. My quilts are being enjoyed even before they are done.

http://www.hinterberg.com/cat-Floor_Hoops-20.aspx

i recently bought this frame at a LQS at a great price and love it. It tilts in all directions. Made a sleeve for doing borders. Tutorial was on here.

I have tried hand quilting just using a hoop, but wasn't able to do it comfortably, so I bought a Grace floor frame and have been very happy with it.

Of all of the years that I've been quilting(25-30). I've always had a 14/16 round hoop. I've tryed a bigger round hoop, and a oval hoop. I'm sticking with my round hoop.

I have that Grace hoop that is shown in the link on Amazon. I've had it for 7 yrs and just love it. It also has an attachable weight so you can quilt up to the edges.

I use a small q-snap frame. I do not use the ones with stands. These are made from pvc pipe material. I originally bought it for cross stitching, but years later after trying various sizes and shapes (round and oval) of wooden hoops, I bought an extension kit to make it a bit bigger- it is now 14"X 20". I feel like I have good control of the quilt and my stitches look good.

FWIW, I was in the market for a better hand/lap hoop, too. I did a lot of research on it, believe me. What amazed me were the myriad different types of hoops and different methods of hand quilting that goes on out there!

In other words, you have to find what works for you. But as a newbie, this is what I've discovered for myself:

I like my work up close to my face so a raised one was essential. In that catagory, there are swivel ones and stationary ones on a platform (with rods that hold the hoop to the platform). In considering both, I wondered a bout the swivel, that the quilt would get twisted up alongside me trying to turn it, etc. For the platform, I wondered about the stiffness and lack of being able to angle it without proping my feet up or whatever to get it angled the way I wanted it to be, plus the height--would it be too close to my face or too far away? Hmmm....

I even measured from my lap to where I usually quilt at, etc.

I ended up with a used swivel "sit-upon" off of eBay for a great price...because price was also a consideration. They're just too flamin' expensive IMHO for a new one from Grace or whereever. EBay continually has some great deals on used ones if you're patient and just wait for a "like" to pop up. I got mine for $20 plus shipping, and its a *really* nice one from Quilters Woodwork out of Canada. (You can do a search and find them on the web.)

Its an older model but who cares? It works great...plus... I lucked out and got a 16" vs a 14" model. Its perfect IMHO. My arms are a bit long, and frankly the 14" isn't much space IMHO. The extra couple of inches is nice.

I've been using it and I have to say it is sooo much nicer than using just a plain hoop. I can use just a plain hoop, too, but I like the fact that I don't have to hold and quilt at the same time.

I also found that the swivel issue isn't much of an issue. You don't turn it *that* much that it gets too bound up around you, and you have to re-adjust the quilt eventually anyway while you're quilting so its really a non-issue.

Mine pivets on a ball, and it can be adjusted to any tightness you want. I have mine set to just tight enough to swivel but stay put while I quilt. Perfect.

The only issue I'd change on it is the platform under me. (Sit-upon). Its okay since it really sticks out in front of me somewhat, but the older model has a thicker platform and it rides against your buns, LOL. So it could be uncomfortable if you actually sit on the edge of it. On the newer ones, they've planed that end down so that its more like a wedge under you, so you probably don't even notice it. Not a big deal, and later I can blow a bit of money and replace the platform if I want to, or what for one to pop up on eBay.

Hope this helps! Kim

For years, I used an 18-inch wooden hoop, but recently in the last year, I purchased online from Walmart a plastic non-slip hoop in the 14-inch size (relatively inexpensive - less than $15) and I love it!. The only drawback I find is that I have to move it more often. I've tried standing frames with hoops, but they kill my back from leaning over to see what I'm doing. Remember when using a hoop, to leave slack to help get your stitches even and smaller. Also, they make little round discs of rubber for using to pull the needle through the quilt after you've put a few stitches on it. I could not hand quilt without one.