Every year, at both the Yokohama Quilt show and the Tokyo Dome show, one of the many shops is "House of Bess". One person in that shop is an elderly man who makes quilt hoop frames. For many years I stopped by to admire his frames and a few years ago, I decided the time had come to order one for myself. I had been using a hoop stand made in the States for number of years. I was never completely happy with it because it was entirely too high to use while sitting in my comfortable chair. Then, one day, one of the three legs cracked and broke along the grain. I could have glued it back together but I took that as a sign that time had come for a change (and I knew which change I wanted to make).
A great many years of my life have been lived sitting on the floor. I actually choose the floor over a chair on many occasions. This stand can be adjusted in height between a stool and a floor and in between. I can swing it over my chair or rotate it out of the way. If a part gets broken, the Ojisan will make me a new part.
The hoop I ordered is 20 inches. I have smaller hoops for my lap but I like this one for working on large areas.
I am still moving along on the Batik quilt for my #4 daughter. It has been several years since I began piecing the blocks and in June it will be a whole year since I basted it. All the small blocks are quilted and half the large ones. Sometimes, when I want a break, I put a small hoop on the edge and quilt a few border flowers.
If I have a chance to travel during the summer to see my kids, I would love to take this quilt ... all finished ... and deliver it. The X & + blocks now number 180, probably enough to arrange into some kind of order and sew together. And then, there is something brown and green and owl-like to be made for my #1 son and his bride.
Each time I sit at my computer I see new ideas that inspire. I often think of my twin, who was always bored, saying, "Mom, what can I do? I'm bored!" and she would suggest lots of great ideas only to have them all rejected for one reason or another, and all along I just couldn't figure out how ANYONE could be BORED! There are never enough hours in the day or days in the week, or weeks in a month or months in a year ... and I will have to live to at least 200 to do all the things I want to do and make all the quilts and use up all the scraps. Sooooo... time to get off the computer and back to the quilting!
Looks like a beautiful frame Julie and I completely agree with you about there not being enough hours in the day. I NEVER suffer from boredom!
ReplyDeleteps - forgot to say your batik quilt looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI am completely in love with your quilting hoop! I sure wish I could find one like that here in the states!
ReplyDeletewell... that gives ma a blog to read for the next 200 years because I NEVER have enough time !! I love your hoop... and obviously that is going to last 200 years as well xx lol
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to do all your visiting in the summer... remember to take us with you xx
What a great looking hoop! And you of all people deserve a good one! That batik quilt is so pretty - I can't wait to see it finished and I bet you can't either. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful frame and really nicely made.
ReplyDeleteI tried hooping a quilt, but I couldn't hold it the way I want, so just lay the quilt in my lap.
Debbie
I love your new hoop...I have one very similar and loved quilting on it. I wish you lived closer and I would have given it to you since I can't hand quilt big quilts any more. I know you're going to enjoy this one because the versatility of it will make a huge difference. blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteMy quilting group here has decided that we're all going to go to the same nursing home, store our stash under our beds, and have a high old time making all the projects we never got around to doing earlier! Susan
ReplyDeleteYour hoop and stand look very sturdy. I like the design as well. And of course, the different ways to use your hoop sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI said that only once to my Mom when I was around ten. I wasn't bored by the time I finished dishes, vacuuming, and dusting. Now, I never have enough time in a day to finish my planned projects, but I keep trying!
I am starting to think I might hand quilt my daughter's queen size quilt. That hoop looks like the perfect thing! I think I feel bored about once every five years or so, for a couple of minutes LOL. Love the batik quilt - so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a super stand and I so agree with you about boredom or the lack of it. We are lucky to have a quilting passion among other interests as it is so satisfying on so many levels. Mary
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful hoop and you will do the maker proud with the lovely work you are doing on it. Catching up with blogs and trying to decide where to start with blogging about my awesome trip to Japan! Pouring with rain here so I treasure the photos of the walk along the canal to Amy's exhibit with you and all the flora you identified for me.
ReplyDeleteNow that is a hoop!
ReplyDeleteSince retiring, my DH will ask me now and then if I'm bored. Me bored with all my quilting stuff around me ... never. Like you, I too will have to live a long time to accomplish everything that I want to do and make.
That looks like a great quilt frame. Have fun with it.
ReplyDeleteI have never used a quilt hoop stand though I have dreamed of having one just so that the quilt can get up off the floor or the chair when I'm not quilting it. I think a stand like that would be a good way to display an "in progress" quilt.
ReplyDeleteHope you get back to the States this year. It's nice to touchdown with family.
I don't get bored either! 200 years will not be enough!
Great looking quilt hoop stand. I have never seen that before.
ReplyDelete