hand quilters who use a frame...please help
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: central California
Posts: 636
I have a chance to buy a large hand quilting frame for a very good price. I now use a hoop on a floor stand and a lap stand hoop. I like both of them very much...but...I can see some advantages with a floor frame. Quilting with a hoop in the summer is very hot and our summers here are hot and long, using a frame would mean it is not sitting on my lap making me sweat. The frame is a 3 pole frame so no basting is needed, another big plus. The negatives would be, the amount of room it takes up, though it is one of the narrowest made, I think, and, I have only once quilted on a frame, many years ago. Using the hoops that I have allows me to turn my quilt in any direction, so I don't really have to quilt away from me, how easy is that to learn? Any insight on all of this will help me alot. Thanks.
#2
I had the floor model of Q-snap, but it had to be set up in the living room, so that was not great when company came. I also found it hard to reach across the quilting area & so moved the quilt in the frame more often than needed. I'm not very good at quilting in different directions so had to keep moving my chair. I much prefer my little frame & I can sit in my recliner with feet up & quilt until my eyes give out... if you had the chance to work at a frame before you purchased one, it would be a good idea. Some church groups etc. have them set up.
#3
Originally Posted by roselady
Using the hoops that I have allows me to turn my quilt in any direction, so I don't really have to quilt away from me, how easy is that to learn? Any insight on all of this will help me alot. Thanks.
I use a tailor's thimble to quilt away from myself. It looks like a regular thimble with no top. I didn't think it was any harder to learn to quilt away from me than it was to learn to quilt towards myself. You might try practicing in your hoop.
Janet
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas (that's me!)
Posts: 3,771
Quilting frames get in my way, though I have a couple of larger hoops, one being an antique hoop and the other from JoAnns. I like the liberated feel of having the quilt rest on my lap and this way it's easier for me to make smaller stitches.
But everyone's different and discovers their own comfortable technique.
I enjoy hand quilting when the opportunity is available.
But everyone's different and discovers their own comfortable technique.
I enjoy hand quilting when the opportunity is available.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: central California
Posts: 636
Originally Posted by Hinterland
Originally Posted by roselady
Using the hoops that I have allows me to turn my quilt in any direction, so I don't really have to quilt away from me, how easy is that to learn? Any insight on all of this will help me alot. Thanks.
I use a tailor's thimble to quilt away from myself. It looks like a regular thimble with no top. I didn't think it was any harder to learn to quilt away from me than it was to learn to quilt towards myself. You might try practicing in your hoop.
Janet
#9
Originally Posted by roselady
How easy/difficult is it to load the quilt onto the frame? Is it a one person job?
Not everyone likes quilting in a frame. It does take up a lot of space -my frame is the size of a living room sofa. But it's nice to have the quilt ready to be worked on whenever I have the time, it keeps the quilt clean because it's not touching the floor, and I find I do my best stitching on it. I'm in between quilts right now, and it's sad to walk by the frame and not see a quilt in it.
Janet
#10
Originally Posted by sharoney
I have a Grace frame, with 3 bars, so no basting. I don't have it set up right now because it takes up so much room. That's my only issue with it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
craftybear
Main
17
06-29-2011 08:31 PM
djg
Main
7
02-21-2011 10:49 PM