Lowery Stand

[Nicola Main]

I'm toying with the idea of buying a Lowery Stand for my Christmas. Who owns one and can tell me a bit more about them? Have watched a couple of videos on Youtube and it does look excellent and very useful

[kbaywolf]

I've got a Lowery. What do you want to know? Mine is one of the original silver ones, but the new colours look very snazzy!

[Nicola Main]

Well would it be suitable on hard wood flooring? I mean does the bottom have soft pads so it doesn't scratch? Also it seems to look quite strong would it hold a large frame like a Millennium frame?

[Mabel Figworthy]

I really like mine; it's on carpet so haven't worried about the metal bottom - you could cover it with sticky-back felt, that would protect the wooden floor.

In my experience the clamp holds hoops and frames very well, even the Millennium frame, although because that is quite wide and heavy it needs a prop at the other end - but any other frame/hoop I've used it with it's fine on its own.

If you use it with relatively small hoops (I'm using it with a 5" one at the moment because I want to stitch two-handed and some of the techniques simply need two hands) and your chair is relatively wide (mine's an old-fashioned wing armchair) it may be a bit too much of a stretch to get the hoop to sit right in front of you, buteven then it's close enough to "right in front" to be comfortable.

Hope that helps!

[kbaywolf]

The base is a smooth surface, and I wouldn't expect it to cause scratches on the floor, but you could always put your own sticky pads on the underside.
I use mine happily with smaller Millennium frames, but would recommend the Omanik Quantum frames as similar but a better match due to the square shape of the side bars.
Longer, heavy frames tend to dip towards the side away from the stand, due to the weight. If you could rest that side on the arm of a chair for example, it shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Some people find they need to put a weight of some kind on the base to keep it stable with a heavier frame.
I'd happily recommend the Lowery, and have been using mine very contentedly this morning, but it also isn't the only floor stand I have and use. The Omanik Monstrik stand is the best for larger frames in my view, but also takes up more space.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Here's my prop-for-wide-heavy-frames - but as I said, most frames really don't need them. I've never really had a problem with the clamp grabbing the cylindrical side of the Millennium either, it seems quite secure!

[Nicola Main]

Thanks guys really appreciate it! Also had a look at the Omanik Quantum frames you mention kbaywolf and they look very tempting too

[kbaywolf]

I agree that the Millennium frames works okay if you already have one. If it was a purchase still to be made though, I'd go with the Quantum having used both.

[rcperryls]

I have one and I love it. Holds hoops/q-snaps and any other frame I've tried. The only issue I have with it at all is that when Laverne is on my lap its more difficult to use and too often I give way and stitch without it. I have an area rug where I use it so it never is on the hard wood, but its so flat on the bottom I wouldn't think it would do any harm.

Carole

[Serinde]

I’m also thinking about asking Santa for a Lowery... found it here cheapest I’ve seen. Lowery site also good for extras...