Lap hoops for hand quilting
 

Hi all I was going to buy a Barnett lap hoop, but the postage to the UK is really bumping up the price and then I saw online one by thimblelady, which looks good and works out a lot cheaper so I'm not sure what to do now. I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on either thank you xx

Don't know about the frames but her thimble for hand quilting is the best tool for the job in my opinion, so I would think the frames must also be good.

I looked at her thimbles which one do you use bjchard? x

I agree with bj regarding her thimbles. I use the cone-shaped stainless steel one now but I started with the plastic one to make sure it was the correct size and I liked the movement. I found the sizing instructions very accurate when I ordered mine as well.

I just looked at her lap hoop. I wiggle around too much when I quilt to use any kind of hoop with a stand - lap or floor. I mostly use just a plain hoop that I hold in my lap. Sometimes I use no hoop at all. Mostly depends on how heavy the project is.

I gave up on hoops years ago...too cumbersome. I just quilt in my lap....

I also use the thimblelady thimble and her modified quilting stitch. I have the plastic one.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the person who once described how she places a chair with the back facing to prop her quilt hoop on while quilting on the couch. I wouldn't have thought of this myself, but it works wonderfully!

That's a cool idea!

Google Jean Brown for demos on using a hoop. She is the lady who developed the metal Aunt Becky quilting aid. Jean Brown and Georgia Bonesteel did sell hoops for lap quilting. That does not help you with shipping charges, but I wonder if you could connect two dime store hoops and make your own.

i've been quilting for years, back to the 70's. i never knew you were supposed to use a hoop, so i did it without.

I use the stainless with the dimples on the side. I took a hand quilting class at one of the AQS shows at Lancaster (last year, I think) and the instructor was selling the thimbles. I was able to try the sizes to determine the correct one. It was expensive but it is worth it.

Thank you everyone and great tip to try a chair Joe's mom. Think I'll go for the thimblelady one and treat myself to a thimble as well. I like using a hoop, but never tried a lap one so think it better so see if I get on with using one before splashing out on a Barnett one.

Elnan I came across Jeans YouTube videos yesterday and googling found I can get an Aunt Becky here so going to order one and see if I can do it with some practice :) xx

I kinda knew about hoops but I was in a hurry to make a quilt, so I just started. Hoopless in Phoenix!!

[QUOTE=twinkle;7795694]Hi all I was going to buy a Barnett lap hoop, but the postage to the UK is really bumping up the price and then I saw online one by thimblelady, which looks good and works out a lot cheaper so I'm not sure what to do now. I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on either thank you xx[/QUOT

I also looked at the Barnettt hoop but the shipping is too prohibitive. I wish I could find something similar here. There is a missed opportunity for a UK manufacturer. It is also difficult to find a hoop that is more the 3/4" deep so I could ask my son to make me a stand. I purchased an Aunt Becky from The Cotton Patch, but still trying to get used to it.

I am very low income on disability, so buying a fancy hoop was not in my budget, so I improvised. I bought a large 18" wooden hoop at a secondhand store, parked a dining room chair in front, but off to the side of me on the couch (so I could watch movies). That way I could lean the top of the hoop on the chair back, the bottom in my lap, and hand quilt. Still works for me.

I used a q-snap frame/hoop when i quilted a queen quilt. It's light weight and disassembles, so shipping should be economical. Try googling it, you should be able to find it and they are cheap to buy as well. Here's the link http://www.qsnap.com. Looks like they are part of Yarn tree now, and the link is provided. I had a 17" frame for my lap only.

I also bought an inexpensive wooden hoop the largest I could find like maybe 18 inches and use that to hand quilt. works great and not costly. I broke one and had to replace it but it was only maybe 10 or 12 dollars and the first one lasted a long time.

I have both hoops
 

I have both hoops and hope this information will help you. The Thimblelady hoop worked well with small quilt projects but it isn't made as sturdy as the Barnett hoop and I had a difficult time quilting a large quilt unless the bulk of the quilt was up on a table which defeated the reason I wanted a lap hoop. The Barnett hoop is well made and I have had no problems with the weight of the quilt pulling on the frame.

My lap frame (cheap version)
 

I purchased a really nice frame at a thrift store then cut a base out of plywood and attached with 1x1 wood pieces with glue and screwed them into the bottom. This works perfect for me and was very inexpensive as I had the scrap wood on hand. Have used it a lot for the past 5 years and it is holding up well.

Have you checked out the Morgan lap stands, I love mine and use nothing else even though I have a large variety.

I have one by Dritz (I think). It is plastic with a wing nut to tighten.

I have used a Tommy Lane thimble for years. Fits like a dream and I love it. She is a vendor at AQS shows, or at least used to be. Check out her unique way of picking the right size thimble. Mine has an opening for my fingernail.

I had a friend who used to spread her quilt on her dining room table and pull it forward into her lap and the edge of the table stabilized her quilt for her to quilt. I, too, have draped a quilt over the back of a chair to support the weight while I hand quilted.

Wingrider, well done!

Sorry a really late reply, but thank you everyone for your replies :) Some fab ideas, and yours is fab wingrider. I've been wanting one for ages and appreciate your experience of thimble lady's Lunus so I've gone for the Barnett hoop and thread caddy, I just need to patiently wait for it now as it takes a couple of months xx

I don't know what the shipping to the UK is, but I just got my Barnett hoop last week, and used it over the weekend. I really am glad that i got it. It will be great when i travel. I got the 16 inch square w/ a bean bag base.

I have a floor frame that i use in my office. I'm looking forward to being able to quilt this summer outside on the porch.\

I have floor stands and hoops. I prefer my small 12 or maybe 14 inch. That way you can work around it and not have to angle your arm way up as in a bigger one.