I machine quilt but I know some people still hand quilt using frames or large hoops.

I just finished this little one last week- it measures about 12 x 13". There is a lot of wonder-under involved along with layers of fabric and there's no way I could have hand quilted it.

The few I've made were tied. did you know that we have a wonderful quilting forum on GW?

Here is a link that might be useful: Quilting Forum

My husband built me a big ole floor frame! I quilt all by hand and it is soooo relaxing to me. My frame is the joy of my life right now...hahahaha I just love it.
I bought the hardware from Hinterberg frames on line, bought the wood from Lowes and we made it in one weekend. Finished the wood and now it is in my bedroom in front of the windows so I can look out as I sit and sew. Mama taught me to quilt 25 years ago all by hand so that is how I do it. One day I might need to use the sewing machine if my hands get bad...I won't be shy about buying me one of those quilting machines either if the need arises. I just love putting all fabric together to make a pretty picture!

Deb

FlamingO, that is precious! You have really been bitten by the quilting bug. I just love wonder-under, and making pictures is sooo much fun.

I admire people who have the patience to hand-quilt. It just isn't for me. I'm strictly a machine-quilter.

All by machine for me. I have a wonderful long-arm quilting machine.

I have no patience for handwork at all, LOL. Where many find it relaxing, I find it tedious.

flamingo- how do you use the wonder-under when you quilt? Do you still have to fold the cut edge of your fabric underneath and stitch so that it doesn't unravel or does the wonder-under bond so well with the fabric that it doesn't unravel?

I baste and then quilt without hoops or quilting frames. I piece by machine but I prefer the look of hand quilting, since it follows and enhances the design of the quilt.

Here is a link that might be useful: Quilts I have made (scroll down)

I mostly tie my quilts. Sometimes I machine quilt. I love the look of hand quilting but don't have the patience for it.

Your Tropical Wall Hanging is darling, Flamingo!
(Haven't looked at the other links to quilts, but will do.)

I bought 2 sets of old frames several years ago. One I donated to a local senior center in need. I tied a quilt using the remaining frame a few years ago. Hadn't done anything with the frame since. I have a friend with a Gammill & Statler stitcher so have used her for several quilts & paid to have some done on machine before that. I've also used a hoop on lap & done a few smaller things on my regular sewing machine.

NOW..... I just finished piecing a Grandmother's Flower Garden (big: 90 x 110) that I've worked on for .... a looong time. It's all hand pieced, so I decided that the only way to go is to hand quilt. I wasn't sure how to put it on the frame & did a lot of googling. I set it up so I can watch tv, look out the window &/or listen to the radio as I quilt. I started quilting towards the end of Jan. and have a goal to fininsh it by mid-July when my Guild has their quilt show. I think hand quilting is really relaxing & don't find it a chore at all and I love the look. The only downside I see is that the old frames take up a lot of space, but I can deal with that.

I wouldn't have space for a frame in this little house, but I do admire the look and patience of hand-quilting. BeeOhio- I will look forward to seeing a photo of your flower garden. That's made with hexs, right? What a lot of work!

McMann- I use raw edge applique, it's been working fine for me, and especially on something like this that will be hung up and probably never thrown in the washing machine. Actually, though- I've seen lots of quilts with raw edge applique that are used and washed. I guess if you just stitch down really well and not TOO close to the raw edge, it would be OK.

If I was doing turn-under applique, I wouldn't bother with the wonder-under. Thanks for admiring my little quilt.

I've finished about 4 quilts in the past year or so. (don't get too excited, I had some of the tops done, just got around to putting them together and quilting)

Grandmother's Flower Garden--pieced by hand, button-quilted
A quilt of patchwork squares--pieced by machine, tied
Baby quilt--pieced and quilted by machine
a modified log cabin quilt--pieced by machine, hand quilted.

I really don't like machine quilting--that was my least favorite of the ones I did. With the rest, I didn't use a frame. I just lay the quilt out on the floor, baste it, then either quilt on the floor, or on a couple of large tables set up side by side.

Has anybody here tried freezer paper for turned-under applique? I've had really good luck with it. You put the shiny side against the fabric and press it on. Then press the edges over the edge of the paper. Leave it on till you have it sewn on, then turn over and cut away the extra fabric behind the applique. Makes a more finished-looking quilt and is easier to do the quilting on it without it looking "poofy" in places. After you've trimmed, then you can peel your paper off. I know people who can applique by turning under the edges with their needle as they stitch it down but I've never been able to get the hang of it.

Although not applique, I used freezer paper when I set together the flower garden quilt because some of the edges tend to stretch more. My friend's mother had sewn together the flowers but they needed to be set together with the cream color and the antique "ivy green". It was a huge job since it all had to be hand pieced. It's just as much work to piece a flower garden by machine though. And I wanted to stay in keeping with what her mother had planned. You also have to lay it out carefully so you don't have two colors that are similar right next to each other. It took me a l-o-n-g time to get it finished.

For very large quilts, I use a large stand frame we made ourselves. Other wise I use a large oval hoop. If I tie, I do it on the floor

Ilene in neok - I also quilt without a hoop or a frame - hand-quilt mostly. I found the hoops so frustrating to use, took one off of my quilting project one day, and haven't used one since. Even large bed-sized quilts - you just have to baste real well.
I have also done some machine-quilting - mostly straight lines with my walking foot, mainly to just get some projects finished up. And - I know several longarm quilters who do excellent work, and they've quilted some of my quilts. As one of my friends said "I quilt by check".
Mostly, I enjoy the process of hand-quilting - that's what I prefer. Love the look of it too.
Flamingo, I love that little quilt! Is it a scene from one of your trips? I can just imagine sitting there sipping from that straw. I bet it was fun to put together.