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All of my projects are fairly huge and I just use and 8"x8" qsnap and it seems to work out perfectly for the size of one page. I don't think I could handle anything much bigger and I've never even tried stitching without one.

the 12 inch one I use does give me a bit of arm ache after a few hours, I have to admit, but I couldn't live without it. I was considering trying the q snaps but I wasn't willing to pay for them..so then I had a problem and decided to stick to my hoops.

I definately couldn't use one bigger than that, yet I have seen them in the craft shop. I figure some people must have REALLY long arms.

I have 2 8" q-snaps that I use for most of my projects. I also have a scroll frame that I am using for larger, long term projects. I've got 'legs' that I can put on it so it can sit over my lap while stitching without holding it. I've used hoops in the past, but prefer the q-snaps. DH prefers the plastic hoops, though. I do stitch in hand if it is a small project that won't fit in one of my frames.

I have an assortment of hoops... but I prefer my scroll frames. For tiny projects, I just hold them by hand. I don't like the creases/lines that the hoops leave, and they never seem to keep the right tension.

In my home town, the lady who owns the stitching shop stretches/mounts the fabric to its pre-made (by her) wooden frame and then uses these little vice clamps that are built in to her counter to hold it. she stitches between customers, and once done.... they're ready to be hung on the wall or put on display! I know that's probably not an option.... but I thought it was a neat idea.

I have 2 different sized plastic Q Snap frames. I have a 6 and 10" square. I mix the pieces to make squares or rectangles depending on whatever works best for the pattern I am working on. My projects are not large- a few Christmas stockings, the rest about the size of a piece of paper. I feel that a frame allows for more consistant stitches and keeps the fabric cleaner. When I start on the tablecloth project I have, or work on the tree skirt, I will look into buying a stand of some sort, but for now a handheld frame works best for me.

I use it backwards- so that when I move the frame around I am not damaging the front side of an area I have already stitched. I try to keep the tension the same throughout the project, and when I am done stitching for the day, I loosen the tension, or take it out.

A few years ago, I did a lot of basketweave stitching and I used a frame for those because it tends to warp a lot. However, now I'm back into cross stitching and I just hand hold. Frames just irritate me a bit and get in the way. My mother-in-law thinks I'm completely mad, she uses frames for everything.

I use hoop all the time, but can't work with floor stand.

I use Q-Snaps for everything now except small projects like cards or bookmarks that easily fit in hand. I would really like a floor or lap stand as holding the Q-Snaps for an extended period of time hurts my left hand, but it seems most of the stands are designed to work with scroll frames or hoops? There is a Q-Snap floor frame but it seems like it is more for quilters than a cross-stitcher, pity because I really like how it looks.

it's amazing how we are all so different in the way we like to work!

Ceitidh wrote:it's amazing how we are all so different in the way we like to work!

And the stitching shops love that- because then we are always buying different things for different type projects, or to figure out what works best for us.

I use a 6'' hoop with the leopard gaze and move it around, no squashing of stitches. I roll up the excess of fabric and hold it with those butterfly style hair clips. I used to have (very!) long hair and thus have various sizes. The clips are light and the biggest one hold lots of the fabric, I can even attach it to the hoop without it becoming too heavy.

I have ordered the smallest size of q snaps to try; like others have said it is good to try out alternatives to see what works for you.

Small projects, like the free kits you get with the cross stitch magazines, I do 'free hand'

I use an 11 inch square snap frame for my HAEDs. Some of my other projects that I stitch on evenweave I use a wooden frame hoop. If I'm stitching on Aida I don't bother with a frame.

I got an 11" square QSnap frame for the HAED I'm working on. While I love the tension and tautness of the fabric I'm finding it feels like I'm stitching so far away when I work in the top area of the frame. Maybe I'm just use to smaller hoops. I've thought about getting 8" pieces to have it 11 x 8 and see if that feels more comfortable. Hopefully I can still see a full page's area with those dimensions.

I generally only stitch large designs and I never use a frame. I find they slow you down far too much and I find stitching in hand far more comfortable.

Pengwenn wrote:I got an 11" square QSnap frame for the HAED I'm working on. While I love the tension and tautness of the fabric I'm finding it feels like I'm stitching so far away when I work in the top area of the frame. Maybe I'm just use to smaller hoops. I've thought about getting 8" pieces to have it 11 x 8 and see if that feels more comfortable. Hopefully I can still see a full page's area with those dimensions.

I use an 8"x8" qsnap for my HAED's and with the large format chart on 18ct aida, it fits a whole page and then some.