That's one reason I hand quilt. I roll the quilt up on two 8' long poles that I encased with batting and muslin. Set it on a table and have it extend out to a rail chair and I'm on my way. Works better than a quilting frame as far as I'm concerned. Just roll it up when you're done for the day if you need the space.

PLUS - I just love, love, love the way hand-quilting looks!

Kryssa,
I find that I love hand stitching better than machine stritching. I find it very relaxing. And I love to sitd. If my stitches aren't exact, it's ok and also gives me alot of practice for when I do hand stitching where it is noticeable.

Wow, you made up your own frame. It sounds really good. I like to haul mine around and sit on my couch so, it would be rougher for me to get one done. But It sounds like a really good idea. We are hard core hand quilters. I also love hand quilting and how it looks. No machine can match that as far as I am concerned. They are good in their own way, but as far as heirlooms go, how can you beat handwork? :)

My hand stitching isn't perfect. But I like the hand made look to them. Perfection isn't what I am looking for. Its not important to me that it be exact. Seeing each stitch that was done by hand in its own way, makes me feel great. I love some of the old ones that show very little experience. But look how we inspect them and see the loving work that went into them.

Oh dear one, I'm going nuts trying to stitch in the ditch! I feel your frustration! I have a lovely, bright quilt top. Saw some pretty lime Minky (sp?) My trusted quilt shop person said I didn't need batting, just use Minky, stitch in the ditch to attach Minky to top. Sweet mother, I'm having a terrible time stitching straight. I use a walking foot, too. The lint/fuzz is for the birds! I'll bring it back to my quilt person for assistance. Stitch in the ditch isn't as easy as I thought.

I have a couple books that show you how to quilt in sections.
You make a section of the quilt and quilt it...then make another section and quilt that...by the time you have the top done, you have almost finished the whole thing.
I have fibromyalgia and wrestling a whole quilt all at once, for me is unthinkable!

Divide and Conquer

Marti Michell's Quilting In Sections

Sorry to hear this. Try to quilt until it seems like a burden then stop do something else and then start again. Just don't give up.

Sorry to hear this. Try to quilt until it seems like a burden then stop do something else and then start again. Just don't give up.

Sorry to hear this. Try to quilt until it seems like a burden then stop do something else and then start again. Just don't give up.

have you ever thought of just tying the larger quilts? most of my queen size quilts i have always tied. i don't want to spend the extra money or depersonalize my quilt by having someone else machine quilt it when i give it as a gift. my boyfriend has told me he likes the look of tied quilts and it makes him remember his childhood so it's a heartwarming memory for him to see and use a handmade quilt that has been tied with yarn.