SaraSewing

ahh, now I understand. I put my quilt frame in the living room! I know it looks weird, but that way I can be with my husband, can watch TV with him, etc., close to the kitchen, etc. There is enough room to walk around mine. And most friends who stop by love seeing my latest project. I use it for a few weeks, then put it in the garage for a few months.

As for quilting in strange directions, I just manage. Or start a new thread if it's a longer stretch that you have to go, so it's coming towards you. I don't do those beautiful fancy stitches, leaves, swirls, etc. that some of you ladies do, but my simple outline stitches work out fine.

SaraSewing

I use thimbles, yes. I don't have a leather one, but that's on my list. Right now I'm using a metal one that fits me perfectly. I also use a little rubber gripper to grab the needle sometimes.

HINT: a piece of tourniquet from a hospital, etc. cut into a 1X1" piece is perfect for gripping. Most nurses would have one to give you.

camillacamilla

When I hand quilt, I use my Grace EZ3 floor frame. If you are doing a full size to queen size quilt, it is going to take up some major space. I have an unusually large bedroom, so I set it up in there. Great thing about the Grace frame, it folds down so it can be leaned against the wall when not in use. You don't even have to take your quilt off it to fold it up to get it out of the way. It is AWESOME to not have to baste the quilt sandwich. A floor frame gives you smooth, wrinkle free backs.

As far as the stitching- I am probably going to be looked down on how I stitch in a floor frame. I use stab-stitch quilting needles, such as these:

http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Twin-P...VVviewprod.htm

If you use them correctly, according to directions, you can quilt in ANY direction, and very quickly with super small stitches. No hand fatigue, no thimble. The key is following the directions, otherwise your quilt back will be a mess of crooked stitches. I like them. They make for fast hand quilting.If you can't master quilting in other directions in any other way, try them. If you hate them, then you are out just a few dollars. Just my 2 cents. I worked as a pet groomer for years, and have ruined my hand/wrist joints (along with shoulders, hips, and knees.)

SaraSewing

I have never heard of stab stitch needles! One more toy to try. Any pointers to give us?

camillacamilla

Well, the flaw in them is the weak spot in them- where the eye of the needle is- the middle. So when you use them, you don't put pressure on the middle, but it tells you that on the package. The trick to them is making sure they enter the fabric at exactly a 90 degree angle. If they go in crooked, your back stitches will look bad. Again, it tells you that on the package. I can't imagine they can be used for anything but a hoop or frame. It is less hand and wrist strain and your thread really doesn't tangle. It is just straight down in and straight back up. One hand under the quilt, one hand of top of it. You get a rhythm going and it just flies by. Once you get used to handling the needle and learn how to make sure the needle goes in straight, you will be the master of the tiniest quilting stitches. :D Direction doesn't matter with these- you can move however you need to. I have used quite a few types of needles, but for a floor frame, I prefer these. Super, super easy.

Piedmont Quilter

I too use the Grace EZ3 floor frame and LOVE it. The only place I really have room for it when I am quilting is in the dining room. I have good light coming in the glass door and in the winter I have the fire place for added warmth! When we have company, DH and I just move into our bedroom. As for quilting away from myself - like another said, if it is a long stretch I just start a new thread and quilt toward myself. In the case of short areas I have a thimble especially for the thumb that has a groove the end of the needle fits into. It's a little uncomfortable, but I can tolerate till I get to the point where I can quilt normal (pushing the needle with my thimble on my middle finger). I think I got the thumb thimble at WalMart or Ben Franklins.

PQ