I find my stitches look better with a hoop. But I agree it's faster and easier without.

Thanks for the info, I plan to start hand Qting, already have my hoops 12" & 14" and one that is 12"x 32". I have some resent small projects to work on, as soon as I get a clear head. I am stump on DP9 patch, made a mistake I need to correct before I can go on. Theresse

I use a hoop on a stand, 18" diameter and I quilt everything in it, also cushion covers. When the piece I have to quilt is too small for it I bast fabric around it or just a towel.

I hoop too :) even for those smaller projects.

No hoop -- could never get the hang of using one.... :D

I use a round hoop for all projects, large and small. My stitches come out much nicer with a hoop. I have a floor frame that my husband made for me that I really like but it bothers my back to set at it for very long at a time. It is made from plastic plumbers pipe. Works wonderful if my back would cooperate.

I have a frind whom is a hand quilting, she has an upstairs sewing room and her DH made her a full sized quilting frame on pullys so she can pull it up to the ceiling when she is not using it,as it takes up most of the room.

I am using a square hoop made of PVC pipe about 14 inches square and with four clip things that fit over each side of the square. It is easy to put the quilt into the hoop. When I quilt, I put a sofa pillow on my lap and let that raise the quilt to a more comfortable height. I quilt for an hour or so at a time and then do something different. I release the quilt each evening so that it does not get stretched permanently out of shape. It is so much easier to get the stitches even and straight with the fabric stretched taut and take about 3 stitches at a time and pull through.

no hoop

I hand quilt everything on a floor stand hoop.