No frame/no hoop ??????
 

I'm fairly new to hand quilting and I can't seem to get the hang of using a round hoop or any kind of frame. When I sandwich the quilt, I pin, pin, pin making sure everything is tight and smooth. Then I basically use a small frame to keep the quilt from falling on the floor and keeping it directly off my lap and quilt in my lap. Any one else do that and is it easier for you than quilting on a frame?

Absolutely IS easier for me..my hoop is about 18-20"--round...and I hoop the center first. I love to sit in a recliner or rocking chair with armrests--one side of the hoop rests on an armrest (right for me) and my left hand is under the hoop guiding my needle. It is soooo easy for me that I would never choose any other way--and I prefer my round hoop to my oval, even tho it has a stand. I just toss the quilt onto the bed, take the hoop off and move it to the next area. I hand baste my layers loosely and the sandwich stays together well enough to smoothe into the hoop at each change. It is just whatever you can get accustomed to that works best for you.

Oh, and I meant to add that I have done Q & K size quilts this way, and that I love having the quilt hanging down over my legs in the winter....keeps me cozy warm, and I'm about to start another right after the holidays! It's wintertime here.

With a red face I am admitting I don't use a frame or hoop usually with my small quilts. I get 8 or 9 stitches to an inch so it works for me.

I quilt without any hoop or frame at all. Although I've never done a king size quilt I have done up to Queen with excellent results. I just baste well, pins or thread, and smooth as I go beginning in the center of the quilt. I use a sharp needle and a running stitch. I average about 8 stitchs an inch which is OK with me. As Mermaid said it is nice in the winter time to have that quilt draped over my body as I work!! :)

PS: I don't have any problem keeping the quilt square if it is squared before I begin.

I'm so relieved to read this! I have a hoop, but try as I might I just can't get on with it, and so everything that I have done so far has been quilted without. I do rather OTT with basting it all together, but then I'm a 'belt and braces' kind of girl.

I bought this book years ago and it's the only way I hand quilt now. I have to baste the quilt much more but it's worth it. And the quilt pattern Star Spin is included in the book.

[h=3]Hand Quilt without a Frame by Barbara Schaffeld[/h]

I have never used a hoop or frame and have hand quilted king size - never had any problems I like having it all wrapped around me especially this time of year

I've never used a frame. This is actually the first time I've used a hoop. I quilt with it all bunched on my lap on the couch. I found that working with a hoop is faster for me and made it easier to keep the quilt smooth but there was no difference in the number of stitches done. (about 7 an inch) My stitches will never be small and even and certainly not beautiful like the women do on here but I'm okay with that.

I use a PVC frame ...I can't pin that well, and stretch and smooth as I go

I've only hand quilted in strips then sewed them together as in lap quilting. Didn't use hoop.

I don't use a hoop and have done king size quilts this way. I just start in the middle and am careful to smooth it out every time I move to a new area. Much easier to get smaller, more uniform stitches.

I'm a lefty and just can't or refuse to use a hoop when hand quilting.......it's just more fun that way for me!

I douse a lap hoop (Grace lap hoop about 18", kinda squarish with rounded corners), but my quilt is not taut in the hoop, it is very loose. I took a class with Luxine Newman (the Thimblelady) and that is how she teaches it. You can go to her website to see a short video. I use my underneath (left) hand to push it up and my dominant (right hand) with the thimble and needle to rock and make the my stitches.

Tried using a hoop and it was soooo awkward. Most of the women in my handquilting group do use hoops. So, I just pin it really well and quilt away. Amazingly, it feels right that way!

**I too am left handed, don't know if that makes a difference.

I have tried hoops and my arms and hands get too tired to hold them up after a while. I also like wrapping up in the quilt to work, it keeps me warm. If it gets too hard to hold up, I would drape it over the back of the couch and work that way, at least the weight would be supported by the couch and not your muscles. I guess fibro makes you adapt to what you can do instead of looking out for the quilt police........

Have been hand quilting forever. Tried using hoops and frames. Too aggravating and too tough on the lower back. I baste the daylights out of the quilt top, start in the middle and work out. Have even done as big as queen size.

I couldn't get used to using a hoop which has to be held, so I got a Hinterberg lap hoop and love it. It rotates and tips and is supported by a lap stand, so both hands are free. I keep the quilt sandwich very loose in the hoop, so I can manipulate the quilt just as easily as if there were no hoop. The advantage of using the hoop is that it keeps the layers smooth and lifts the quilt sandwich up for you.

I have only had quilted a small lap quilt. Used a hoop but wasn't comfortable with it. Will try the no hoop method next time

I have only handquilted on a frame or a large quilting hoop. My question is: has anyone ever used those little plastic things (like the ones that hold tags on clothes), only the ones for holding layers together are not as long......they are applied with a little "gun". That is what I use to hold the sandwich before quilting....here is a hint on applying....I bought one of those lite panels for drop ceilings..the one that is a small grid....and place the quilt on top and then shoot thru the holes........enought height so needle goes straight thru without marking whatever table you are working on. Before that I would hand baste the layers down....But I must confess, I have not h/q for several years....now l/a, but I am thinking this winter after the holiday I will re-assemble my pvc frame and do one of my many tops......just for the practice and I loved the relaxation of the handquilting process....I can set up right in front of the tv in family room and w/ott light be a happy camper.

I have a marvelous wooden frame and several hoops ... all money wasted because I learned I need the freedom of hand quilting with no frame or hoop. During the cold time of year, I do what others do and sit under the quilt while I stitch, so I save the small and awkward to-be-quilted areas for the winter. The large straight lines (grids, mostly) I do during the rest of the year while the quilt sits on one end of my large cutting table; the table not only supports the weight of the quilt, but is a good height for me.

My 84 year old mother hand quilts with her grandmother's hoop (true!!!) and sits in her recliner to quilt with the arms as support for the quilting similar to one of the first posts on this thread.

I don't use a hoop of any kind or a frame. I have hand quilted a queen and king quilt with no problems. I baste well and keep it smoothed out as I go. It is just easier for me to not use a hoop. As far as stitches per inch I just do the best I can and it looks nice especially after it is washed. Just saying!

OK, I'll admit it, I hand quilt because I don't know how to machine quilt. I purchased a hoop but like many, just can't get used to it. I saw a video about hoopless quilting and that was it for me. I was given permission to do what I prefer and I love it. If I needed perfect stitches, I would not use batting. I make my quilts to be used, never will they be considered show pieces!!

Once again I just have to say how much I love this board. Everyone is so laid back. We all give each other (and ourselves) permission to do what we love the way that works for us!

I have not done a whole lot of hand quilting, but I do enjoy handwork and hope to try more in the future. I have tried with and without a hoop and still haven't decided which I like best. I bought a quilting hoop that fits in a universal stand that I bought years ago for cross stitch and hand embroidery. I sort of think my stitches look better in the hoop than out of it. I tried various hoops just in my lap and found it awkward to keep the hoop positioned while stitching. I've tried just the basted quilt without any hoop at all and that was more comfortable but then my stitches were very irregular. I think I need to just keep practicing and trying different methods till I find what works.

Two things I have decided for sure: 1) I have to use a thimble even though I don't normally use one for hand-sewing, and 2) I prefer to thread-baste the layers for hand quilting rather than use pins. My thread always wants to catch on the safety pins as I'm quilting.

From a very experienced hand quilter: My favorite way to hand quilt is with my large floor frame. (I posted pictures of it on here awhile back.) And I have tried hoops and no hoops. With a hoop (a I do use one if I want to travel with a quilt), I like to sit where I can prop the edge of the hoop resting on a table or something so I'm not having to hold up the whole weight of the quilt. One advantage of a hoop is you can turn it so you can quilt loops and circles easily by rotating the hoop. Make sure your quilt is not stretched too tightly in a hoop. It should not be saggy, but loose enough to easily stitch. I find no hoop at all to be extremely difficult for more than just taking a few stitches that I discover I've missed after I get a quilt out of the frame. But my high school Home Ec. teacher and her mom and sisters did all their quilting on their laps, no hoops, and didn't care for any other way. My conclusion...whatever works well for you is the correct way! In S. Alabama, there are very few months in the year I want a hot quilt wrapped around me! The advantage of my floor frame is no basting is needed! And it's very inexpensive and easy to make one.

Several of you have amazed me. I love hand quilting and have several frames (floor to different shapes of hoops). I personally cannot imagine hand quilting without a frame or hoop and I know I would make a mess of it. I have a friend who does not use a hoop and she does beautiful quilting. Isn't it interesting how everyone has their own talents and techniques, but we all manage to create masterpieces. I think we all need to try different techniques until we find what works best for us.

I do envy those who can hand quilt without any apparatus.

Aileen

I have one of the little gun things and do not like it. The little tag things are about 5/8" long and they tend to shift. They don't hold the top and the back close together or tight enough and I always had wrinkles in my quilts. I tried it on, maybe 3 quilts and it went into the forever buried box in my quilt room! It just didn't work for me.

Have any of you hand quilters used the Elmer school glue method for basting?

I have a friend that hand quilted a quilt that was put together with school glue and she said it was horrible. I didn't see the quilt but I am guessing too much glue was used and it made it too difficult to push the needle through.

Ladibug

I think I have every kind and size of hoop, frame, gadget available for handquilting. I've earnestly tried to use them and I just can't get comfortable using ANY of them. I find my stitches are smaller and more even without. I use a size 11 between and a good thimble and get 10 consistant sts per inch. I took a handquilting class when I wanted to begin handquilting and my teacher tried to get me to get comfortable with some kind (ANY kind) of hoop or frame but I just couldn't get the hang of it. All it was doing was frustrating me and making me not want to handquilt. I showed her some of my work recently and she says it's show worthy. Moral of the story: There is NO rule that says you have to do ANYTHING one way. Do whatever makes you comfortable and happy and enjoy the ride!

this lap quilt frame looks interesting. http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/...&fr=aaplw&tt=b

Thank you...I'm am tired of being looked at because I don't use a frame or hoop and is the reason I quilt solo.

I've tried them all, big quilt sized wooden ones, smaller one made out of an old card table, hoop on a stand, lap hoops, etc. etc. Now after many years I don't use any hoop at all and it's much more relaxing to do the quilting. I either thread baste or more recently glue baste and quilt away. Works fine for me. Use whatever works for you.

In my previous house, I had a living room that we never used, so I set up my large floor frame and started a whole cloth queen sized quilt (another UFO which i forgot), which is what I prefer. I am hand quilting a farmer's wife throw, and have tried, my large hoop, just couldn't get comfortable, went to a 6" hoop, didn't like that. I am trying to get used to hand quilting without a hoop, it seems to be working. But nothing seem comfortable - I think it is the chair I am using. I will go back to using the dining room table and chair once the holidays are over. A good supportive chair does help too.

I hand quilt without a frame of any kind...just too restraining for me.

A lot of people on the board use the elmers glue...I personally hand quilt everything, but have to use my frame. I have my teen daughters pin my sandwich for me, since I can't get on the floor to do this anymore...Even standing to pin or baste at a table some days is hard....So. the frame really helps me keep and adjut everything for even tension..The only thing I can't use is the floor frame...I would need to be a contortionist to use that!! Maybe in my next life I should come back as Gumby

I use a small round hoop now; it seems to keep the layers together better. I also have a q-snap frame that I can set up for several people to quilt at. The hoop does not take up any room and it hangs in my closet when not in use.

I have made only one quilt and I used 505 and it was wonderful for machine quilting.

My question for you wonderful ladies is this:
Have any of you used basting spray such as 505 to hold your quilt together for hand quilting?
If so, how did it work compared to thread or pin basting?

I have a hoop to try hand quilting but I haven't had the courage yet to go for it...but I will, and if that doesn't work, I'll give the,"nothing but my lap" style of hand quilting a try. :-)

Thank you for all the great information you share.