Sometime back I was going to hand quilt the small flannel hexie quilt using my hoop – but I didn’t stick with it. I just no longer like to sit with the hoop and quilt draped all over me – and really there is no need as I have the big floor standing 3 roller. I have the hoop and another that is a square hoop on a stand put away for sometime down the road if for some reason I can no longer use my big one.
As the quilt was already basted for hand quilting in the hoop one goes about putting it on the frame differently – I use two of the rollers instead of three as the middle was already quilted – you can’t stretch it quite the same.
The quilt had been pin basted so I took all of the pins out so they wouldn’t be in my way and instead after I smooth the top out on to it’s batting and backing I used my T pins so secure to the top and bottom so nothing would be flapping about while getting it to the frame.
I do this every 4 inches or so pinning all three layers together
I then center and pin the backing/batting to the second roller
It then gets rolled up – I leave those T pins in at the top of the flannel to hold it place while I roll and they will come out later. You can see in this photo where the quilt was already quilted.
I roll it almost all the way up and then centering it to the front rod it gets pinned there on the backing/batting
Then I roll it down back and forth once or twice to make sure it is all even and no wrinkles in the backing. and here it is ready for me to work on.
On Thursday night I got busy!
A close up – quilting around each hexie with number 12 Aurifil dark blue thread.
Thank you for this! I too have a project I started quilting in a hoop but then realized it would be easier to tackle using a frame. I thought I’d have to unpick the little bit of stitching I had already done on it as well as all the (hand) basting which I dreaded. It never even occurred to me to just load it as is. Duh! ! Good tip to take extra care in making sure I load and stretch it evenly so there are no puckers later.
This is so beautiful! And your hand quilting is just amazing. You’ll have this done in no time!
This is one of my faves……love hexies and really like the color choices. As much as I did like hand-quilting with a hoop, I’m sure that if I had the larger frame set-up I would have like it much more. The “draping” part got way too cumbersome!
I bet the dark blue thread is pretty against the hexie colors! Glad you have a way to get that onto the frame even when some parts have been quilted. That’s not going to take long to finish!
this is such a happy piece & you are SO fast Karen!!! ZiP-Loved your flannel quilt-we are going to have such a cold winter this year it truly will be cozy!
Love those flannel hexies, Karen. Interesting that you prefer the frame to the hoop, even once all the basting has been completed for the hoop! My deep and abiding hatred of all basting methods is what propelled me into the longarm purchase, but I really loved the portability of my square Grace lap hoop on its little lap stand. As I grapple with the learning curve of that longarm machine, I find myself tempted to just use it to baste quilts and stitch in the ditch, then either pop them into the hoop for hand quilting or even sew out some of those fancy feather quilting designs with the embroidery module on my domestic machine… Both of which are tantamount to giving up on the longarm, though. It would be an awfully expensive “basting machine!!”
Fascinating! I predict you’ll be making short work of this.
I’ve always admired this flannel hexie piece and I’m sure you will have it quilted in no time at all. It’s going to be a table runner, I seem to remember?
Thanks soooo much for this info Karen! I am glad to see you making so much progress too!!!
This REALLY makes me want to put my quilt in the frame next that has been marinating too long now!
Kathi
I love that quilt, such a simple pattern, but stunning. I’m just the opposite when quilting, I love relaxing in a comfy chair with my quilt draped in my lap. I’ve tried quilting at a frame, I’m just not comfortable sitting in a straight chair.