brewsa

Hi Everyone,
I have a question. I am trying to hand quilt a large quilt, and I am having so much trouble. It is just so hard to manage in a small hand held frame. I am considering buying a hand quilting frame, but which one is the best and is it worth it? I have been looking at the Grace EZ3 frame. Any advice would be so helpful. Thank you!

Borntohandquilt

Hi Brewsa,
unfortunately I can't help you regarding a hand quilting frame like the EZ3 you've mentioned. I can't use such a frame because I only quilt in one direction - towards my body - and I have to turn my work. For that reason I use a quilting hoop with 18" diameter on a stand (Jasmine) and I love it. I do all my quilts in it, small and big ones. The weight of the quilt lies on the hoop, not on my shoulders, and it is really relaxing to work that way.
Did you try the Search-function here on the board? I think there are many posts regarding hand quilting frames and maybe you find some good tips.

ckcowl

before investing in a large frame try to visit a shop (guild or sewing group) that has one in use, and see if you can sit at it and try it out. some people buy them, set them up, load a quilt, and an hour later are unloading their quilt and putting it back into a hoop...some people love them, it depends on your technique i think. also they take up alot of space, do you have space to have it set up with a large quilt on it for an extended length of time? remember, its not like a hooped quilt where you can fold it up and put it away when company is coming, with the frame it is going to be set up for a long time; takes a long time to quilt a large quilt framed, or hooped. i had mine set up for about 2 years, then took it apart and sold it...a whole quilt was never done on it, a practice one was set up and many people sat in front of it and tried quilting. the frame was used more as a hanging rack to drape stuff over than it was for quilting...and i really thought i had to have it.

clem55

I have a PVC frame, and it is pretty nice. I had a hard time using it , just because of the way I sew, and I really didn't give it a good chance. It was easy to set up and take down, and I'll give it a try when I'm ready again.

Hinterland

I have a floor frame and I love it. It's a 3 pole frame so I don't have to baste before I start. But there is a learning curve with it because you need to learn to quilt away from yourself as well as towards yourself, and it is as big as some living room couches.

So my advice would be to figure out how to make the hand held hoop work better for you. You might try propping it up on a table and letting the table support the quilt, or even using a pillow to help support the hoop. There are hoops that come on stands - the one that Andrea (Borntohandquilt) uses is pricey, but there are cheaper ones - Grace makes a hoop on a stand that can be bought for around $250, and others that start around $50 that sit on your lap.

If you decide that a floor frame is what you want, I have heard good things about the EZ3 frame. One of my friends has one, and she likes it because she could put it together by herself, and it was lightweight.

Good luck with your decision!

brewsa

Thank you ladies for all your good advice!

hsquiltingmom

I have one of the Grace handquilting frames and I love it. It takes up space lengthwise in a room, but it also folds up easily. I love handquilting. I am beginning to learn machine quilting, because it takes me forever to get a quilt hand quilted. I also have a quilt (crib size) that I am doing in a 12 or 14" hoop. This one is one that I can take with me when I have to plan on waiting.

karenfae

if you can try out several frames or hoops before you buy one. I have a large floor standing 3 roller and I love it - other people buy this kind and hate it and barely use it. I also have a grace square hoop that is on a stand. I like it also. I also have a 14 hoop that I use for smaller quilts and like it too. Look carefully before you buy - I have a friend who thought she wanted a large floor standing and bought one and barely used it before she put it away. You do have to learn to quilt in all directions to use it. If at all possible if you know of someone who has a large floor standing frame try to see if you can sit at it and try quilting before you buy one - so many people end up not liking them once they get them - it took me a little while to get comfortable with mine. Good luck to you.