Hi there,
My name is Carol and I like in Ontario, Canada. My mother has been quilting since before I was born and I took it up shortly after our son was born 6 years ago. I'm still very new to it and I love to talk quilting with my mother. I'm about to start a quilt for our 20 month old daughter (our third child) and am looking at buying a frame for hand quilting. I'm wondering if there's any advise anyone can give for quilting on one? My mother doesn't like them becuase she says she can't quilt away from her, but with all the little hands around I really need something that will keep the quilt off the floor for me and I love the idea of no basting!
Anyway, It's good to meet you all and look forward to talking shop with you.
Have a great day,
Carol

Welcome Carol. Where in Ontario are you? My grandfather was from Clandiboye and my grandmother was from Smith Falls. They did not meet until both families immigrated to northern Michigan.

DH and I enjoy watching curling on Channel 9 out of Winsdor. We are south of Detroit.

I have quilted on all kinds of quilting frames. Hoops are my least favorite, although they are the most portable. I just could not master having everything in my lap.

I learned to quilt on my grandmother's frame. I don't even know if this type of frame has a name. It was basically four pieces of lumber, 2"x4"s, held together with "C" clamps. Each side had muslin attached, nailed or stapled, to baste the quilt sandwich to keep it taut. My grandmother rested it on the backs of four dining room chairs, one placed strategically at each corner. The worst part was stretching to do the center, since the full quilt was exposed. Thank goodness no one made queen- or king-sized quilts in those days! LOL

My favorite frame is one where the two long poles are only about two feet apart. The quilt sandwich is prepared elsewhere and is feed onto one pole and then the other and stretched taut. It is advanced by a rachet system. These usually are made so the quilter stitches from a sitting rather than standing position. They take much less floor space, and nothing is hanging down loose for little fingers.

On all three types it is strongly recommended to baste the sandwich in order to avoid puckers and unwanted pleats and tucks on the back.

I don't have much experience with long-arms, but I think even they have some minimal basting involved. Maybe some of the other ladies with experience can answer that question better.

There are several on here who have table-top frames used for machine quilting, but if you want to hand quilt that wouldn't be of much help.

Not sure if I answered your question, but hope this information gives you some useful insights.

Thank you very much, I appreciate your insight.
We live in Burlington, just over the bridge from Hamilton, north of Niagra Falls. We're native to the States though.
Carol

Hi, Carol! Welcome from a transplanted gal from St. Catharines!!! I grew up in St. Kitts and Jordan Station, and went to high school in Beamsville! Howdy, neighbour!!

so where in the US are you from? How long have you been in Canada? I now live (since 1977) in the Edmonton, Alberta area. Love it here! I miss my family, the orchards and vineyards, and the fall colours, but I wouldn't trade it.

It's good to have you here! There is a company in BC that make and sell gorgeous floor frames, not too big, and no basting required. You can even do borders without adding anything to hold it. Let me get their addy for you http://www.heartlandquiltworks.com/
If I ever have the spare cash, that's the one I want - I have seen it demonstrated a couple of times at the Creative Stitches and Crafting Alive shows here in Edmonton. Check it out, at least for info.

Again, WELCOME!!!

Gerda

to BC, Carol!

I have only been on the forum since January and I feel like I have made friends for a lifetime here. Everyone is very friendly and helpful.

I was the first quilter that I know of in my family and I made my first quilts for my babies over 20 years ago, when I really did not know what I was doing. They were applique flannel ones the appliques frayed a bit, but they were soft and cuddly and my kids loved them to pieces.

I started quilting "for real" about three years ago and call myself and "experienced beginner" and will do so for a very long time. There is so much to learn. BC is a great place to find new ideas.

Happy Quilting! Pat

Hi and welcome from South Africa, Carol, nice to have you with us!

Mary

Hi Carol and welcome to BC! We hope you enjoy it here and stay a long time. Please feel free to join in and have fun. We love to chat, we love to swap blocks and just about anything to do with fabric! We also like to suppose each other during the tough times of our lives!

I live in Central Louisiana in a small rural area close to the twin cities of Alexandria/Pineville! We are a growing family, married 44 years to hubby John, we have 3 children, 11 grandchildren and 2 greats! Like I say we keep growing! lol

Anyway, there are great folks here so stay and get to know us! We like to tease each other but it's all in fun!

So welcome, welcome, welcome!

Betty

I really appreciate all the wonderful hellos and all from everyone. I'm getting ready to make a baby quilt for our nearly 2 year old daughter (I've been so lazy, this will be her first quilt I've made her!), and I'm doing a Peter Rabbit one, I think I'm going to do 30's fabric with it, but I'm at a loss as to how to put it all together. I'm upgrading to EQ6 soon, so maybe I'll try and figure it out with that. I can't wait to get going on it! I'm also going to be making a space quilt for our 6 year old son and some sort of animal quilt (thinking polar bears) for our middle daughter who's nearly 4. I just wish I had a much bigger fabric budget!
Oh, has anyone quilted with wool before or any of that Tuscany collection of Hobbs, the silk or anything?
Where would I ask that if not on this spot?
Thanks for everything,
Carol

Welcome, Carol -- from Carole

I'm in California...you'll find all sorts of great things & wonderful people here!