Jackie R

It makes no difference whatsoever - it is a personal preference according to what I've learned.

lynmccoy

I don't use a lap hoop.I have a q-snap quilt frame. It only weighs about 3 or 4 pounds and about 35" x 40" in size. I slide my chair right up to it and watch tv while I quilt at night.

mshawii

I quilted a king size(120x120) on a 36" hoop and the big secret is to start in the middle of it and work your way out in a circle, doing the corners last. It is very doable! Jan

dollym54

Hi Everyone, I'm new to the room and I do love to quilt but I cheat as far as either basting or pinning my quilts for hand quilting in a lap frame. I use my sewing machine and stitch in the ditch around each block and then do my hand quialting inside each of the blocks. Has worked like a charm for for me so far and no pins to stick myself with. Dolly

Happy Treadler

Whenever I try to stitch in the ditch, I never seem to know if I should pull my seams apart a bit, or which side to sew on. My stitches tend to 'meander' back and forth. Love love the lap frame, and the more I use it, the more I'm looking forward to trying out a larger quilt.

Trina

honeybee_2000

when I stitch in the ditch I stitch directly in the seam. My aunt goes a little to the outside of the seam. Not sure which is the correct way though.

dves

I hand quilt big quilts every winter in the hoop while watching TV. I usually do 3 but I moved in Sept & still have boxes to unpack so I will do good to finish 1 this winter. It's very relaxing to me.
Happy stitching.

Borntohandquilt

When you press your seems to one side you stitch on the side of the seam that only has top, batting and backing, not on the seam allowances. The quilting line is almost invisible, there is almost no space between the seam and the quilting. It gives structure to the quilt but the quilting does not really attract attention.

janedee

I have never used a hoop and I always hand quilt I just pin and if its a big quilt thread baste it as well - apparently you have to be careful with the tension on a hoop as it can pull your material which could cause problems with the shape of quilt when finished

Celeste

I'd love to know how you do that!! I learned to hand quilt on little projects like a pillow or other small things. Can't seem to translate that to bigger projects. I had my left hand fingers close to the quilting on the top and bottom. (scrunched it in my hand, does that make sense?) I'm not having much fun with a hoop. Though I suppose I just need to practice more. . .