AboutConnie Hester Expertise Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/
BS,MS
See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
Question I can't afford to buy a quilting frame. Several years ago I started a star quilt. I found it again 2 years ago & finished it. I made it for my queen bed. Now that it's together it's too big to do on the floor. {When young I made a block quilt & did it on the floor.] My question is, Is there any way to make a homemade quilt frame? My husband is pretty good at fixing & making things. But we just can't figure this one out. Thankyou. Bev.
Answer Hi, Bev,
Absolutely. The easiest and most versatile, and even portable, is as follows.
Find or buy two 2"x2" pieces of wood (something hard, like oak, which won't warp under pressure) which are about 18" longer than the shorter side of your quilt. For queen size, if you have an 84" square, for example, use 102" pieces of wood. Fold a strip of muslin around the length of each of these 2 pieces of wood, and staple in place along the top surface of the wood, just to hold it in place. Allow about 6" of loose fabric on BOTH the top and the bottom of the muslin after it wraps around each piece of wood. For example, about an 18" wide strip by roughly 92" long, or so, centered and wrapped around the 102" pieces of wood.
After basting the quilt top, batting, and backing together (allowing a couple extra inches on EACH side of the quilt batting and backing), center opposite sides of the quilt onto the 102" pieces of wood, baste through the extra allowances of quilt batting and backing and attach these sides of the quilt through the 2 layers of extra 6" of muslin which was wrapped around the long wood pieces.
Roll both opposite 102" pieces of wood (onto which the basted quilt has now been attached to the muslin strips) towards the center of the quilt, on top of the quilt's top, leaving about 18" of the center of the quilt flat and exposed. (I prefer to do it this way, but you could also roll the long "poles" against the backing of the quilt sandwich instead, if you prefer.)
Lay a 1" x 2" (roughly) piece of wood which is about 18" to 24" long on top of the two exposed 102" wood strips on both ends of the rolled quilt, and clamp to hold in place, to hold the exposed 18" (roughly) area open, applying pressure to stretch it open and hold the exposed area of the quilt taut for quilting.
The quilt is now prepared for quilting. As this first exposed area is quilted, roll/unroll towards one attached side, about 18" at a time; then go back to the center and work to the opposite side of the quilt.
The great thing about this frame is that it can be stood on end while not in use. It can be balanced on 2 dining chairs, or on the arms of a couch, (or on saw horses) while you sit with it above your lap and quilt on it. It can also be transported with you if you have a stationwagon or a van! It has worked very well for me.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help further, or clarify anything which seems unclear.
Shopping list: two pieces wood 2" x 2" x 102", two strips muslin 18" x 92", 4 "C" clamps, 2 pieces wood 1" x 2" x 18"-24".
