I'm posting a picture of my question. I want to handquilt my granddaughter's quilt.... only problem is...the king size quilt doesn't fit my frame. I folded in the borders and think I should be able to quilt the body first and do the borders after I take it off the frame. After all, I hear of lots of people hand quilting in a hoop or small plastic snap frame. This wouldn't be much different. I will make sure the area I'm quilting is smooth and readjust when I turn the quilt.

I ask this question without any pictures and got discouraged. People thought it wouldn't be a good idea. I do appreciate their comments. I had my son and DH help me roll it on the frame so there weren't any huge wrinkles and it's square on the rails. If this won't work... okay. I just can't afford having it quilted by hand from someone else.... don't know anyone that does handquilting anymore anyway.

So give me your honest opinion..... I don't want to ruin the whole thing..... but I need to get it done..... cheaply, if possible.

I forgot to mention.... the elastic straps on the side help keep it smooth in that direction. The second picture shows that.

I think it will work for you to quilt it like this. I have a Q-Snap floor frame and only part of my quilt is in my "work area" at any given time. I just start in the middle and work out to the outside. I think your frame will be fine.

I don't know why it wouldn't work. I handquilt without a hoop or frame; I drape it over my ironing board and "puddle" it on my lap. I've done 2 queen-sized this way and they turned out fine. It's all a matter of keeping the tension on the quilt even. I think you'll do fine. Try a small section and see how it goes; it's easier to remove handquilting than machine quilting.
Good luck--it's a beautiful quilt.

I personally haven't ever used a frame. I normally use a hoop on my lap and haven't had a problem.

I am a hand quilter and can tell you it WILL work!!! The system you have right now is perfect and then you can finish up the borders. Sometimes I don't even use a frame or hoop. Depends on where I am or what I'm in the mood to do.
Just think- you will hand quilt a beautiful heirloom!!!
Keep us posted, it's lovely!! :D

Thank you all...... I really want this to work out and you've given me the confidence to go for it. When in doubt.... ask a quilter...... That's my stand, and I'm sticking to it.

Just wanted to encourage you. I feel confident that this will work fine as long as you are careful when repositioning.

I do very little hand quilting and I have never done a big quilt like that but I always use a hoop. After I saw this man do very large Hawaiian quilts on hoops I was sold. The hoop I have has two hoops, one on the top and one on the bottom. It lifts the quilt a little so you can work under it.

It'll work just fine...and your granddaughter's a lucky girl, that quilt is gorgeous!

looks good to me

Thank you, thank you...... just waiting for the templates I ordered now..... feathered circle for the plain blocks and feathered triangle for the big triangles on the sides. I could start with the smaller diamond shapes. I'm just going to echo quilt those..... I'm in for a lot of work, I think!! 1st King sized quilt..... probably the last.

As long as you can get good tension it should work for you :D:D:D

I do a lot of hand quilting, and the way you have yours set up should be just fine. I usually use a hoop. Have quilted king size with my hoop, and as long as the tension is good you'll be fine.

Looks like you have it under control. I saw your first post and without the picture I imagined issues I don't see. I have a quilt I may try your method on. I have a short arm machine on a queen size frame. The quilt is a bit too big for the frame and I may have to do it by hand to get the effect I want. --- Where up north are you? I am headed up towards Traverse City tomorrow, weather permitting.

Hi Debbie...... thanks, I figured the picture would be worth a thousand words. I've just started working on the quilting and it's working well so far. It will take awhile to finish this one..... it's so BIG!!

We are in SE Mich in the winter...... Western UP in the summer. Traverse City is such a great place to go.... I imagine you are going to ski?? Golfing is out this time of year. Have a good trip.

Same here, we are s/e in the winter. We have a small farm and my son lives there. We will build our retirement home there soon I hope. No skiing.

I'm not a hand quilter, but I can't see why it wouldn't work. As long as it's being held as tight and straight as you need it, what could go wrong? My only worry would be if you didn't notice the border folded up on the back and you accidentally quilted the folded border to the back of your quilt...but I'm sure you'll be watching for that!