- The quilting hoop drum is a recreation of the handheld drums that have been built by Native Americans for centuries. The quilting hoop drum's Native American counterparts were generally used for rhythmic accompaniment during ceremonial dances. Today, the quilting hoop drum is chiefly known as a low-cost and easy-to-make instrument, and is popular in schools as a way to teach rhythm to young students.
- The quilting hoop drum is primarily a rhythmic instrument. The hoop drum is held in one hand while the other hand grasps a mallet to strike the drumhead. Depending on the type of drumhead material, the quilting hoop drum can be a loud or muted instrument when struck.
- Quilting drum hoops can come in a variety of sizes, since quilting hoops generally boast different sizes. A 14-inch hoop is the size most often used in construction of a new drum.
- A number of different materials comprise the quilting hoop drum. The two circular quilting hoops can be purchased from craft or sewing supply retailers. The drum's skin, or drumhead, is typically made of dacron fabric, which can be obtained from airplane supply stores or model airplane retailers. The mallet is constructed from a wooden dowel with a toy ball fitted on one end and covered in a piece of leather.
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Making a quilting hoop drum is simple. First, sand the quilting hoops smooth. Then apply glue to the opposing edges of the hoops (the outer edge of first one and the inside edge of the second one). Spread the dacron fabric---a 17-inch piece for a 14-inch quilting hoop---over the first hoop, with the sides hanging evenly off the edge of the hoop. Fit the outer hoop over the inner hoop to pull the fabric tight; loosen the nut on the outer hoop if need be. Use a household iron heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit to heat-shrink the fabric, after which you can use a craft knife to cut away the fringes of fabric still hanging from the hoop's edge. Clear urethane seals the fabric and wood.
To make the mallet, drill a small hole in a toy ball and glue it to one end of a dowel. Cut a small piece of leather and fit it tightly over the ball, tying it off with a piece of shoelace. -
Dacron fabric is generally the best type of fabric to use for a quilting hoop drum since it is the most resonant when struck with a mallet. However, other types of drumhead material are available, including light-weight heat-shrink fabric and rip-stop fabric.
The drumhead often features a hand-painted design. Acrylic paint, permanent markers, or paint pens may all be used to decorate the drumhead.
