I hand quilt all my special quilts. Baby quilts are usually machine quilted or tie tacked as are the charity quilts. I just cannot use all the time it takes for hand quilting on a baby quilt.

Anyway. I have quilted all the way up to a queen on my little lap frame. It's a 12" hoop, but it gives me almost 11" to work with at a time. Since I am a full time mom and I used to work full time, it would take me a considerable amount of time, only stitching in the evenings, to get them quilted. I used both spray and pin basting. I still don't completely trust spray basting to stay put. I spray first, then pin. I've never had a problem with my needles in it. Start in the center and work your way out.

I must say that when you are quilting that big of a project in your lap, you want to have the bulk or weight of the quilt anywhere but on the frame. It could damage the frame (don't ask me how I know). I quilted my dh's quilt right in front of him. He didn't know it was for him until he opened it. Anyway, I mark as I go. I painstakenly marked a huge quilt with a pretty purple pen once. By the time I was done, have the markings were already gone. I had no idea disappearing ink even existed! I started using a chalk pencil on my last project and loved it. I've now graduated to those resin mechanical pencils. Marking is a dream!

I have several large hoops that I enjoy using. As Don-isewman also mentioned I find the large oval is a bit awkward to work with, especially for heavier projects.

I thought it would make quilting larger areas easier, since I do not like repositioning the quilt in the hoop but found that the circles give me plenty of area to keep me busy a while and they are considerably easier to hold with one hand and are much easier to rotate for those of us who only quilt in one direction. I do not like the stands---at all.

But that is personal preference because it is how I learned. Other quilters in the family LOVE frames and can't imagine ever using a hoop. I love the portability of the hoop, it works for me. I own a frame and have never put a quilt on it.

Do what works for you and enjoy the process.

Wow, very pretty. Good job. Violet

Do you hand piece your quilts or are they pieced on machine? If they are machine pieced does that make a difference in hand quilting?

Yes you can. Hoops come in diffrent sizes too. Find what is comfortable for you and have fun.

I even have my hoop on a stand which is great. :)

For me yes. A machine made seam seems stronger to me because it is two-threaded. It is easier for me to quilt through a hand made seam - but that is just my personal opinion.

No hoop for me either. I thread baste. Just be careful not to pull your stitches too tight. I've done a lot of quilting in the car but you have to dodge the bumps.

Since I dont have a frame, I use my dining room table and fabric clips to keep my quilt nice and tidy and off the floor. I roll as I quilt and for me, I start in the far right corner and work my way back and forth or depending on the block pattern one block at a time. Ive done this with queen size quilt and twin size quilt.

i do baste my quilt good though before I start.