I can't seem to find a quilting frame besides an oversized cross switch frame. Any suggestions on where and what kind I can get to help hand quilt easier?
Thanks an advance, Courtney Brennan Plainsboro, NJ
Well, you didn't mention if you were on a budget, but the best Christmas present I ever got (1997) was my Hinterburg (sp?) frames. They are not cheap (I think we spent around $600), but they are INCREDIBLE! I have them in my sunroom/playroom. My children can play while I quilt and everyone is happy.
They are like another piece of furniture - obviously they stay out all the time as they are very large..... actually they are adjustable - from about 6 feet long to big enough to fit a king size quilt. I always make sure I have another quilt pieced and ready to go in before I finish the one that is about to be taken out so that they are never "empty." You wouldn't believe what a great conversation piece they are whenever people come over - especially first time visitors.
I absolutely LOVE THEM!!! And no, I don't work for that company : )
Martha
Courtney Brennan <cabren...@home.com> wrote in message
> I can't seem to find a quilting frame besides an oversized cross switch > frame. Any suggestions on where and what kind I can get to help hand quilt > easier?
> Thanks an advance, > Courtney Brennan > Plainsboro, NJ
Courtney, are you looking for a full-size floor frame or something you can hold in your lap (makes your quilting project portable)? I use an oval hoop -- it's like an over-sized embroidery hoop -- that I've had for about 15 years, and I find it works great for me because I do my best quilting when I'm quilting toward myself (something you can't always do on a full-size frame). You can just turn the hoop any direction you want so you're most comfortable quilting. I got mine at a quilt shop, but I think some of the fabric shops carry them as well. Good luck!
Louise (in sunny Iowa where today the correct answer to "Is this heaven?" is a resounding "YES"!)
Courtney Brennan <cabren...@home.com> wrote in message
> I can't seem to find a quilting frame besides an oversized cross switch > frame. Any suggestions on where and what kind I can get to help hand quilt > easier?
> Thanks an advance, > Courtney Brennan > Plainsboro, NJ
1. Go to the hardware store and buy 4 3" C clamps.
2. Go to the lumber department and buy 3 8 foot 2x2's and ask them to cut one exactly in half.
3. Go to your unsuitable for quilting stash and pull out 2 yards of sturdy fabric, ( cotton duck, denim, etc. ) and cut it exactly into 4 pieces and lay two of them width-wise along the length of a 2x2 and center them. If your fabric is 45 inches it should not be too long.
4.Remove the fabric from the 2x2 and sew together, right side to right to make one large piece.
5. Hem the fabric resulting larger fabric piece across the width . If the two widths of fabric are too long for the 2x2's , then adjust the length first , before hemming. (they will not be if your fabric is 45" wide)
6. Staple the fabrics raw edge to the 2x2 and wrap it around until there is approximately a 6 " extension left .
7.Repeat steps 4 through 6 for last two fabric pieces and the other 2x2.
You have now completed your homemade quilting frame !
to use : pin , baste , or tack your quilt sandwich to the frame extensions .and roll it tightly and evenly to the middle. ( this is a big job, try to enlist 3 friends if possible. If not 2, can do it )then unroll slowly to width you can manage to reach. ( narrow if working alone in tight quarters, wider if working from both sides is desired, or group effort.)
Place on the short 2x2's and clamp with C-clamps at corners (be sure you put the long 2x2's on the top of the short ones so you can adjust the quilt as needed ) !
Place assembled frame on chairs, sawhorses or TV trays to support while working at frame.
QUILT
PS: there are many refinements you can make,but this is the basic frame set-up. Perhaps you can get DH to make a stand for the frame, or you can hang it from the ceiling as I did with hooks and chains. You can paint or stain the frame before you install the fabric extension, or use different lengths for different sizes .
My biggest problem is keeping DH from borrowing the C-Clamps !
A frame is usually a larger item, often standing on the floor. A hoop is a tool to hold in your hands and/or lap, and gives great flexibility to quilt and turn and quilt and turn.... Good luck. Ragmop
Courtney Brennan wrote in message ... >I can't seem to find a quilting frame besides an oversized cross switch >frame. Any suggestions on where and what kind I can get to help hand quilt >easier?
>Thanks an advance, >Courtney Brennan >Plainsboro, NJ
I don't know what a cross switch frame is, over-sized or not. Is that a generic name for a Q-snap? I used one of those, the floor size, for several quilts until I bought a stand-mounted 24'' hoop, brand name forgotten but it starts with H and is always advertised in the magazines. (Heritage? Homestead?) It is WONDERFUL. You can adjust for height from the floor, and it tilts to any angle, and rotates clear around so you can quilt towards yourself, or from right to left or left to right on the design. It cost about $135 at my LQS. A fellow group member thought she would get a better deal by waiting to buy the same thing at a show, and ended up paying about $8 more. I can't imagine how any other device could be more convenient or comfortable. It's the best investment I ever made. Virginia in Paradise
Courtney Brennan wrote in message ... >I can't seem to find a quilting frame besides an oversized cross switch >frame. Any suggestions on where and what kind I can get to help hand quilt >easier?
Courtney, It took me a few minutes to figgure you were talking about a hoop. <G>
I purchased a used Pleasant Mountain 3-rail frame several years ago. It is wonderful. Has drafting lamps on both ends, rail lengths for craft and queen size with extenders to go to King size (like I'm ever going to hand quilt a King!). If you can't find them on the 'net, let me know and I'll dig up their number. I found all frame (Grace, Hinterberg, Jasmine, Pleasant Mountain) companies willing to send sales brochures and price lists. All I had to do was call.
It is wonderful to not have to baste. It is a little tricky since you can't rotate your work for optimum stitch direction, but there are ways to get around that.
I do like the look of the new Grace hoop - the square rascal with the light. Except the light is on the right side - only good if you're a southpaw. Not sure if that issue is resolvable, but if I didn't already have my frame, I might be looking hard at the Grace square hoop.
Q-Snap is a brand name. Walmart has the same thing, different brand, but I don't know about the quality. My q-snap is 17" square, and is just like miniature PCV pipe. There are 1/2 pipes that fit over the frame to hold your quilt in place. This size is great if space is limited. Q-snap also has a floor frame that lets you quilt approx. six square feet at a time. You should be able to see one of these at LQS. Janice
A Q-snap frame is made of PVC pipe with semi-circular clamps that clamp the quilt to the pipes, which are set in a rectangle by right-angled sockets. When set up, the frame is about a yard long and a yard off the floor, and about 24 inches wide. They also make small embroidery-size frames which can be used to quilt small wall-hanging sized projects. It is easy to take apart and assemble, but it isn't perfect for reaching across the quilt to work on areas in the center. For those you have to be able to move the frame around on the floor at angles to your chair/body. Mine cost about $70. The maker's address is Lamb Art Press, Rte1, Box156A, Parsons, TN 38363. Or at least that's the address on the box of mine, which is about 10 years old. They are still sold in catalogs, but I can't recall which ones. Keepsake?
Karlee: I got a small rectangular Q Snap frame one at TSWLTH (aka JoAnn) at sale price. It is real handy on borders. See Janice's post for details on style. I've known people to make their own larger ones with garden irrigation pipes & fittings. Pat in VA
