Hoop or Scroll Bar?

[Puzzley]

Hi There,

I'm new to these forums so please be patient with me. I've been unable to find much out there on Cross Stitching. Seems it may be a dying craft! =(

I love cross stitching though and have a question regarding hoops or scroll frames/bars.
A friend of mine, an avid cross stitcher, swears by scroll frames. Which totally makes sense. However, I bought a scroll frame today and did not like it. It was a basic one with butterfly nuts. They hurt my thumbs and overall, I found it quite large to use. It was the type where you fit the cloth through the scroll bars. My current pattern is
http://www.amazon.ca/Express-Record-Cou ... 975&sr=8-5" target="_blank
I found another one that uses velcro instead of the slit in the wood scroll bars. But Its a lot more pricey and I don't know if it would hold tension any better.

Then there's hoops. My hoop is not a large one at all. But I love using it because its compact. The downside is it leaves rings on my material and stretches it.

I'm so at a loss wether to keep using the hoop I have or invest heavily in a scroll frame. Are there any scroll frames you would suggest? (include links if you can!) or stick to the hoop?
Thanks!

Puzzley

[Rose]

I have never been able to use the scroll frames because they leave the sides loose. That just drives me crazy and I don't like the way it feels when I am stitching. I have found Q-snaps and they are the love of my stitching.

Not sure if you are in the States or over-seas but they can be shipped or you can find the english version at the Sew and So Site.

http://www.qsnap.com/" target="_blank

[Reta]

I have always used roller bars the ones where you sew on to a fabric strip and i tighten wing nuts with twizzler I have never had a problem with saggy sides
So your choice is what you are comfortable with

http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/The- ... -TWIZ.aspx" target="_blank

[rcperryls]

I use hoops on my afghan fabrics and recently discovered Qsnaps and use them on other projects using smaller fabrics. A scroll bar or frame wouldn't really fit in the space that I stitch in. If you do a search on any of these topics you will find lots and lots of discussions regarding all the different things that individuals use (or don't use) for stitching.

Carole

[Puzzley]

The Qsnaps definitely interest me!

I wonder, does Qsnaps keep your fabric taught? Do you recommend purchasing one that is the size of your project or using it similar to the hoop where you move it to different sections?

The scroll bars I could get the sides tight no problem, it was the middle I couldn't get taught enough. The fabric would keep slipping.

*PS: I'm in Canada*

[karen4bells]

I agree with the others about qsnaps!! I love them and use them almost exclusively. I am currently working on a Joan Elliott design that measure about 11 x 14 stitched and I'm working it on an 11 inch qsnap. I just move the qsnap as needed and have never had any issues at all with it leaving marks. If you do a search in the forum, for qsnaps, you should find lots of information about them. I have 3 sets of them, 6 inch 8 inch and 11 inch. The two larger sets actually come apart and can be swapped out so that they form an 8 x 11 inch frame.
123stitch.com usually carries them and I am sure that they ship quite reasonably to Canada

[Puzzley]

I ordered an 8x8 from 123stitch.com

Not sure how long shipping will take but the price was reasonable. Hopefully that will solve my woes!

[karen4bells]

I ordered an 8x8 from 123stitch.com

Not sure how long shipping will take but the price was reasonable. Hopefully that will solve my woes!

I hope you will enjoy stitching with it as much as I do! 123stitch.com is great--I have ordered through their site numerous times, and it never takes more than 3 days--pretty good as they are based out of Utah I believe and I live in Florida!

[Puzzley]

I hope shipping is just as great to Canada!! =)

[Mystonique]

Are you taking your stitching out of your hoop when you aren't stitching? You definitely should.

I use spring hoops for smaller projects and I use a frame with bars for bigger things and for my tapestries. Unfortunately there are LOTS of RUBBISH frames around that don't tighten, don't hold tension properly etc. Personally I found mine in a deceased estate and I think they are hand made. For other sizes there's a gentleman in Sydney who will make them for you and he does a good job and he makes twizzlers to tighten and untighten the wing nuts (it's only a few dollars and fabulous, makes it easy). If you want his details let me know, see how your Q Snaps go first (I've seen them but didn't like the tension, not tight enough for me).

[Rose]

I have always had very good luck with the tension and I prefer to have a tight pallet to stitch on.

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

I hope you get on with your Q snaps! Cross stitch is definitely not a dying art I can assure you - though it would be easy to think that if you look in any craft/hobby shop. The internet is the best place to be for a cross stitcher! You just need to look at the array of blogs that are out there with people showing off their beautiful works and all the suppliers with their gorgeous threads and fabrics to realise that cross stitch is very much alive and well!

I'm very much an advocate of scroll frames - I use these which clip the fabric onto the frame - you can get no sew roller frames where you tape the fabric to the scroll bars too. I prefer them as they will hold the entire fabric rather than moving a hoop or Q snaps around. It's all what works best for you though - you will find that with preferences there are as many answers as their are cross stitchers!

I hope you enjoy being a part of this great forum - I look forward to seeing pics of your work!

[Heather]

I have always been a hoop devotee and have never found it to ruin anything. As long as you don't go nuts and pull it SUPER tight, take it out when you are done stitching each day and pay attention I think it will be fine. I have a scroll frame but it's not as tight as I would like so I haven't actually used it.

Sometimes stitches get smushed a bit or a mark is left, but once every couple of weeks I will lay it flat (face down) on a table, place a dishcloth over the back of it, mist the dishcloth and iron it (I can't figure out how to fill the iron with water lol so I have to do this instead of spray it with the iron or steam it). You can see my current WIP here (http://crossstitchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14284" target="_blank) and it's done in a very tight hoop, but I iron it before each picture is taken to make myself feel better about the marks.

[rcperryls]

I am pretty good when using the Qsnaps to remove them every night, but I have to admit that I have kept a hoop in my afghans for (dare I say it? ) weeks at a time and never had a problem with it leaving a permanent mark. I know that is an absolute no no but over the years I guess I got lazy and since I've never had a problem I will probably keep at it until I do. The Qsnaps seem to leave more of a mark, but then I am using different fabric which is much less pliable than the afghan cloth so that may be why.

Carole

[stitchingmae]

I tried all three and for a while I was in a love/hate relationship with hoops. I loved the tension hated the fabric being everywhere.

Then a few months ago while looking for a floor stand (I never found one that I liked enough to pay the money for..) someone who made the stands by hand suggested that I tape the fabric to the bars instead of putting it through the slits. While having a stitchy date with DWITT (another member on here) we tried that and I loved the tension I got and just may be a scroll frame convert!

She also replaces the wing nut part with cheap drawer pulls from a hardware store so that they are more finger friendly.

Oh and welcome to the group!!
I am due 2 weeks after you are

[JA Fan]

First of all, I see you are close to having a new member of the family! Congratulations!

I use hoops for small projects and take off the hoop after every session. This "rests" the fabric and lessons the chance of damage.
I used 17X11 Q snaps for a larger project and loosened it after every session. I also put a small amount of scrap fabric between the fabric and the piece that snaps over it. (I can't remember the name) This helped a lot with the tension and I loved it.

The only problem I had was the 17X11 was a little difficult to hold all the time, so I invested in a Needlework System 4 with the Q Snap attachment. It worked perfectly. I will have to say, though, that this embroidery stand is expensive. I debated it for weeks before I took the plunge. I don't regret it.

[Angel]

I use a scroll frame...not ure how on earth I was meant to attach the fabric to it though, so I use carton sealing tape ^_^ Never had a problem with sagging sides, holds the tension perfectly and mine is cutomizable...the top and bottom are just wooden doweling you buy from most DIY stores, so you buy it in whatever size you need and thread it through the sides which i where the wing nutss are so I can have it as big or as little as I like. I love it to pieces, but tend to use hoops for small projects.

[Puzzley]

Oh goodness! So many suggestions!!

I'm going to wait on the Qsnaps and see how that goes. They have a 30 day return policy if I don't like it. I never thought of taping my material to the scroller frames. Not even sure what tape I would use.

And yes, I'm getting closer to having this little one every day. And the closer I get, the slower time goes!!!

[Angel]

Maybe you call it something else? The brown tape you use for taping up parcels? That's what I use, it keeps it nice and tight everywhere. I hope you find something to suit you, but it's all personal taste. All you can do really is try and see if something works for you or not.

[Lenne]

*hugs her Q-snaps* I love them. Love, love love. Plus I am super lazy and leave my work in my q-snap frame and they don't leave permanent marks or creases. I am currently doing a project too small for a hoop so stitching in-hand and I could cry I miss my q-snap frame so much!