AboutPatricia Fountain Expertise I can answer questions about sewing machine for quilting, supplies, equipment, fabrics, and methods of piecing including applique, foundation piecing, machine quilting and hand quilting.
Experience 40 years of sewing expertise over 10 years quilting. I have experience making quilts for beds, garments, table items (placemats, runners, etc.) wall hangings, etc. I teach quilting and sewing at my home studio.
Organizations American Quilting Society
Education/Credentials NYS Certified Home Economics Teacher (FACS)
Home Serwing Association Trained Sewing Educator
Expert: Patricia Fountain Date: 8/26/2007 Subject: Hand Quilting Frame Recommendation
Question Hi, I am needing help in trying to figure out what kind of frame to purchase to quilt my daughters quilt. I thought I would machine it, but I have purchased wool batting and everyone tells me it will be a dream to quilt, so I am looking at trying to find a quilt frame for hand quilting... Any recommendations? I thought a three rail would be nice and then a friend said, a lap is nice because you can turn it... what do you think? Any and all help is much appreciated! Many thanks in advance for your help.
Meg
Answer Hi Meg,
Lucky daughter to have a Mom to make her a quilt! Now, handquilting, that's heirloom quality, too.
There are a lot of options so a lot of answers. If you usually machine quilt but this one time want to hand quilt, then perhaps you are looking for the least expensive option. If so, a relatively inexpensive option is the hoop or lap frame. One I have seen that is inexpensive and looks promising is the PVC pipe frame that will clamp a section of the quilt at a time. I see no reason you can't use this on your lap, a table or whatever. I don't know all the places to get them but I have seen them at Joann Fabrics.
Basically, for handquilting you have two types of frames.
The most common traditional ones are the ones that require you to make the "quilt sandwich" and baste it all together before quilting. That way it can be stretched on a full size frame or inserted in a "sectional frame" (stabilizes one section of the quilt at a time for stitching) like the frame I mentioned or a hoop.
The more modern ones, and more expensive, are the ones that allow you to put your pieced top, batting, and backing on separate rollers, so do not require the pre-basting. The Grace Company has a nice model of this type. They also make the machine quilting frames that have a similar set up but use the machine instead of quiting by hand.
The choice, of couse, is ultimately up to you and largely depends on how likely you are to choose to hand quilt in the future.
I'd love to know what you end up choosing and how you do. Drop me a line, won't you and keep me posted?
