Quilting Without a Hoop

It astounds me that so many people quilt with frames and hoops. I gave that all up as too constrictive within the first 3 months of learning to quilt. It was difficult to make stitches, let alone even, small stitches. I think I was resorting to a lot of stab stitching and I hated every moment.

But I was determined to finish the bed quilt I'd started. (This was many, many years ago.) So I tossed aside the hoop and tried quilting without it. I discovered that it was far more relaxing and my quilting was superior in every way. That's how I've done it ever since. I've read of one quilter and met another who quilt in this same manner and swear by it. But that's it. Why does everyone else use hoops?

I thought I ought to mention how I quilt, because that might be why I can get away with sewing on borders the way I do, without measuring. I read in Gwen M's applique book about how she does her borders and she was saying how much stress her quilt top is under because she quilts in a frame. Made me realize that my tops are never under stress, because they are never stretched. When I baste (always with lots of safety pins these days - so much faster than thread basting) I just layer the backing, batting and top together and pin. No stretching.

I suppose the one drawback to quilting like this is that markings tend to get rubbed off, at least when I do them. So I never mark my quilting designs in advance, always just do a bitty bit as needed. Or, as in this case, I quilt without marking anything at all.

I coerced my husband into taking some photos of me quilting. He hates having people in his photos. Pictures should be of landscapes, monuments, architecture, whatever, with no people in sight whatsoever. Looking at our photos from the Nile cruise it practically looks like he went all by himself.

I'm wearing the Hand-Eze gloves which work fabulously for me. No more problems with numb wrists and fingers (I know, Bonnie, I know. Numb is bad.).

This is one of Habibi's favorite spots. There's a huge dip in the sofa cushion, he's spent so much time there.

I'm afraid my massage therapist is going to yell at me for posture or something.

Gotta take a break to give lovings to the kitty. Pokey often jumps up into my lap with a mrah-mrow for attention.