Q-Snap Convert?
27 June 2006
Yesterday I had to run some stitching-related errands downtown and while I was in the quilting shop searching for some appropriate fabric for my exchanges, I happened upon a set of 11″ Q-snaps. They were an impulse purchase, and to be honest, stitching was a bit awkward today as I had to rearrange my entire stitching niche (and sitting positions) to accommodate them, but I after I get some new stitching routines established I think I will be glad I bought them.
This is not my first set of Q-snaps: You probably don’t remember, but last summer I bought a set of 6″ Q-snaps in the hopes of moving away from my hoops. Unfortunately, I was never very content with them because I felt that they were too bulky and heavy, so I put them away. However, even though I went back to my hoops, I kept thinking that perhaps I hadn’t given the Q-snaps a fair chance as I had never really given myself time to get used to them. Therefore about a month ago I started using the 6″ Q-snaps a little bit, read up on Q-snaps in general, and of course, asked some fellow stitchers for advice.
From the information I had read and the responses I got from others, I came to the conclusion that my problem with the Q-snaps was mainly due to size. The first thing I realized was that I was trying to use the Qs like a hoop in the sense that I was moving small snaps around on large pieces of fabric and though it sort of worked, it was really not the “proper” way to use them. Most suggestions were to get a larger set of Q-snaps that I could put my large pieces in so that I could stitch without having to move the Q-snaps all day. For small projects it was recommended that I stay with the hoop or stitch in hand.
I had been mulling all of this over to the point that I had put a pair of 11″ Q-snaps in my ONS shopping basket, but I had not yet placed the order. Compared to a hoop, I deemed the Q-snaps to be rather expensive and kept thinking that I would be mad at myself if I spent the money and was as disappointed with the large set as I was with the small set. However, when I saw them in the quilting shop yesterday and could actually see and touch them, the impulse shopper in me took over and I came home with them.
I was anxious to give them a try today and though it took a little trial and error to find a new stitching position that was comfortable I still managed to stitch for over three hours on “Catch the Wind” using my new 11″ Q-snaps and was pretty satisfied the experience… of course now I am seriously contemplating adding a lap or floor stand to my ever-expanding stitching accessory collection!
P.S. Please forgive tonight’s progress scan of Mary: She was so unhappy when I put her down for the evening that she decided to flip me the bird! How rude! Whatever happened to that polite Victorian girl that I knew? 
