World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of May 18, 1998:
Our question this week comes from Gwen
After several years of lap quilting I'm ready to invest in a good fullsize
quilting frame. I would prefer a nonbasting type. Any suggestions?
Karen McComas :
Gwen - As quilting frames are an expensive investment ofr most of us, we want to make sure that we are getting one that will really suit our purposes for a long time to come. I have a Grace frame that I really love. I am able to install the quilt on the frame entirely by myself, and if I need to I can collapse the frame and store it behind a door (with the quilt still on the frame). This was a very handy feature last year at Christmas time when I didn't have room for both Christmas decorations and the quilt frame. It also has several options that you can get to go with it - a third roller for the batting, and a cutting board that fits over the top of the quilt that is being quilted (a space saver) so that you can cut more quillt pieces for future quilts - hehehe. ( I don't know about the rest of you, but I always have more than one or two at different points of progression.) The Grace company has also made a new frame they refer to as the 'Z' frame. I had the opportunity to see one on display last evening, and I believe that it takes up even less space than the one I have (36"). I do not know if it collapses like the original one or not, but it was a very nice looking frame. Good luck in your search for the frame that will best suit your purposes.
Sara :
Gwen:
I started quilting by hand and have discovered that I HATE to baste quilts. Last summer, I borrowed my grandmother's Q-Snap frame and found that as long as I was careful when I first placed the quilt in the frame, I didn't have to baste the quilt. The whole frame is collapsable and stores very easily. Since it's made of plastic tubes with pieces that "snap" over the tubing, it's very lightweight and easily taken other places!! I bought my own last month and can honestly say that I don't quite know how I ever got along without it!
Nancy Steele :
I really like the Q-Snap floor frame. I've tried several hoops, but it's the big Q-Snap one that works best for me.
Phyllis Fields :
I also have a Hinterberg Homestead stylequilting frame. (I used my income tax refund one year to purchase it.) It came with detail instruction to put together and my brother did it in one afternon. Their frames comes with queen-size rails and you can purchase a king-size extension. They also have a set of twin size rails that can be purchased.
Vickie :
A couple of years ago, I too wanted toinvest in a quilting frame. I ended up purchasing an Easy Build Quilting Frame Kit from Hinterberg Design, Inc. out of West Bend, WI. The kit came with all hardware,very good and easy to understand plans and the key wooden parts to build an advanced three-pole tilting frame. You provide the lumber and buy the poles locally. My husband built it and I stained it the color I wanted. I now have a beautiful queen size frame for under $100.
umoza :
what I have done is started to use the new basting spray. It does not make needling any more difficult and I really enjoy not having to baste. I have found that my traditional frame works just fine.
Alice :
I really would like to know the answer to this, because I am in the same place as Gwen.
Lin Humphrey :
I recently purchased the Hinterberg Classic.rg Classic comes with a 20", 22" or 29" hoop, not all stores carry the 29" size. I love it. But as a warning: make sure you can comfortably reach the center of the hoop. You will need to find the size that best fits your body frame. The Hinterberg comes in three different sizes, you can choose the 20", 22" or the 29" inch hoop. Before you take it home make sure you can comfortably reach to the back center of the quilt. This really has more to do with your body-frame size than how big a hoop you WANT. It tilts so I can use nearly any chair, and then place it almost flat against the wall when it's not in use. I put mine together in about 2 1/2 hours.
Jean Taft :
I have seen some with a third roller for
the batting. As much as I like my two
roller, I would invest in a third roller
if I could. Having tried every type of
frame, I like this type the best for someone
who wants to do all the setting up by themself.
Janet :
I have the Hinterberg Classic, and I love it. It was expensive (I sold a quilt to get it), but it is very solid, and comfortable to sit at since it is very adjustable. It's non-basting, which is much easier on your back, and it tilts straight up, which is the reason I got it -- no more hammock for the cat!
Before that, I had their low-end frame, the QX2000. I liked it, too, and it was more portable, and you could baste the quilt into the frame.
Taria :
I have the Hinterberg DIY frame. If cost is a factor I think this is a good choice. It takes a lot of room though. I would choose one of the kind that sort of folds up when not in use. You might have more choices in placement in the more compact varieties. The no basting in the 3 rails is a real plus.
connie :
My husband built me a Hinterberg frame from the kit. It is wonderful but does take up alot of room. I am forfunate enough to have an empty living room. We just moved into this house and I wanted the quilt frame up before I got any furniture.My plan is to figure out what furniture I want after the quilt frame was up!This frame is really an attractive frame. It is a piece of furniture. But make sure you have room for it. The no basting is great!!
Louise M. :
I have seen the Hinterberg frames and it gets my vote. The largest round one they have which I am interested in I think is 22". I have also sent away for Jasmine brochures and they are very pricey..Right now though I still quilt in my lap as well..
Cheri Visser :
I have a frame by Hinterberg design which I like very much - it's made from a kit called Easy-Build (see ad in Quiltmaker magazine : March/April issue,page 7) In the same issue, check out the ads for Jasmine Heirlooms on pg.50 & Quilts and Other Comforts on pg.39. They look very similar. I'm lucky enough to have a husband who is a talented carpenter - working with a friend, (another talented carpenter) they put the frame together in 2 weekends. I think you should have such a person in your life to get the Easy-Build. If you don't have such a person I would suggest calling someone before purchasing their frame to find out whether their it is pre-constructed or not. Good Luck in your search
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