Creativity,  Homeschool

2021-2022 Cross Stitch Enrichment Co-op #2 Frame, Hoop, or in-hand?

2. Frame, or how-to hold your fabric

The method of holding your fabric is entirely a personal choice and comfort factor. As a stitcher, I personally find that I prefer different methods for different projects from working in-hand, with no frame, to using a small hoop on little projects, to using q-snaps on most of my daily stitching projects, to even using tapestry scroll rod frames on my biggest projects. 

  • In-hand stitching: a method of holding and rolling or wadding your fabric to stitch without any additional tension aid to keep your fabric in place. One of the least expensive ways to stitch and easy to pack and go! 
  • Embroidery hoop (Hoop-La):  plastic, available in an array of colors with a special tightening screen for excellent tension to keep your fabric taught. Other brands and varieties are out there, however, the Susan Bates brand is the one I am most familiar with and can give testimony to the durability and ease of use. 
  • Embroidery hoop (wooden): many varieties and assortments exist from screwless to elaborate tightening mechanisms. The plastic and wood hoops come in all varieties of sizes from small to quite large and even shapes such as oval and hearts! Some people choose to use these to finish their projects for hanging.
  • Turkish plastic embroidery hoop: Square design makes it easy to stitch in corners. Available in a neutral color, to my own knowledge. 
  • Spring tension embroidery hoop: Super easy to use, spring tension hoops eliminate the need to tighten tiny screws! Lay your fabric over the outer hoop, give the inner hoop a squeeze and gently set it inside the inner hoop, or you may find it easier to put the fabric on the inner hoop and then press down and attach the outer hoop. 
  • Q-Snap: Unique method to hold the fabric taut while stitching. Four plastic C-shaped clamps hold the fabric onto the bars. Tension is easy to adjust. You have a smooth stitching surface around the entire frame without hoop wrinkles. The Q-snap frame comes apart in seconds to store or to carry in practically any tote. 
  • Wood quilt hoop: These wooden hoops have a wood block closure and a long 4.25″ tension bolt that holds your work tight and wrinkle-free. Hoops work perfectly for those larger projects in quilting, stitchery, or crafting!
  • Stretcher bars: used for needlepoint with tacks to keep fabric solidly in-place 
  • Split-rail scroll rod set: Perfect for Cross Stitch, Needlepoint, Crewel, and Embroidery, the split rail dowels allow easy insertion of your work. The advancing of your pattern “just keeps rolling along”, while the 4-way side tension bars keep your work area taut.
  • Tapestry scroll rod frame: This is one of the ways to work on much bigger projects as see the entire width within one frame segment and keep it manageable as you go. Personally, I use scroll rods that my Enginerd created for me in his woodshop. 

Today, Tuesday, September 21st, we will be experimenting with all sorts of different hoops and frames.

To my physical on-location class, I will be providing different size hoops, wood hoops, quilting hoop, plastic hoops, spring tension hoops, scroll frames, sized q-snaps, and stretcher bars to see, as well as exampling stitching in-hand.

Make sure to check out the Artist spotlight for today too!

tempting tangles

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The Creative Madness Mama also known as Margaret is a Christian Stay-at-home Mama, married to the Enginerd, quilter, cross stitcher, avid reader and book-a-holic. As book blogger for various publicists, she loves to share the latest and greatest about books coming out as well as her needle art and other crafty projects with some pictures of her fourteen-year-old AppleBlossom, twelve-year-old OrangeBlossom (the Princess), nine-year-old Almond Blossom (the Rascal boy!), six-year-old (red) Mermaid Warrior, the four-and-a-half-year-old Viking Dragon, and Huckleberry (due in June 2024!) in between. Homeschooling, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, babywearing, bone broth brewing, tea drinking, list making mama full of a little creative and a lot of madness.

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