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As Im getting tired and thus frustrated with my stitching (sticking a winnie the pooh (free cross stitcher magazine kit) on green aida, I thought I would pop on here quickly as I would very interested to have your input....

I am using a hoop for my stitching - one of those small (cheap) wooden embroidery ones. I probably have all the different sizes - they are quite cheap after all

but it always takes me ages to get the *tension* just right I.e. 9 times out of 10, the material seems to sit too loose in the hoop and I am forever taking it out of the hoop and trying again!

Thus I wondered if there was anything better out there?

Siesta Frames Limited seem to have a large selection on their website but I have no idea what one would be best. I want a frame that I can use for really small kits, i.e. the pooh bear design is about 5 inches square but the material is about 12 inches in length and about 8 in height thus too fidley to hold just as it is.

I also want something that I can use for my bigger kits - I am not sure about those square / rectangular frames? Ive never attempted anything that big.... but think perhaps for one of my big pooh kits or country companion kits, a rectangular frame would be best that I could then hopefully be attached to the floor stand I bought many moon ago and never used!

I love the R&R Craft frames, also known as Q-Snaps in the US. They are fab and really hold the fabric tightly. I think Sew & So sell them, and Black Sheep also sell them. They are basically white plastic frames which come in loads of sizes and snap the fabric onto the frame.

I do use hoops too, but I know what you mean about tension, and I always seem to be tightening them to get the "perfect" tension.

I just ordered an 11 x 11 inch q snap frame for my HAED that I will do eventually. They have q snaps as little as 6x6 or 8x8 inches I think. And from what I could find out you could mix them to make a 6x11 inch frame or any combination (I saw 17" sizes too).

I know how you feel about the wooden frames. I have tons of them and have used them for years. I've found that your tension has a lot to do with the construction of the hoop. If the loop pieces for your screws are put too close together you can't get your screw to tighten down as much as you'd like. Also if there is any warping or spliting in the wood it will effect the ability to get a good tension. I have a couple of wooden hoops of the same size but they give different tension when I use them. If you want to keep to a round frame try out some plasic ones. I've found they come in lots of sizes and they seem to hold the tension well for me (even though I don't use the ones with the lip quite like the instruction tell me too).

q snap..i'll sing their praises! I would NEVER use anything else. I've used the hoops u talk about and the scroll frame and NOTHING keeps tension like it. and with a simple twist of the cuffs (for lack of better word) u can tighten them right back up.
i have 11x11 and 8x8 but hope to find more sizes cheaper than what i've found as of late..lol..
i love them..

I also will extoll the benefits of Q-snaps. I think they are the best thing to happen to cross stitch since fabric was first made. They make everything so much easier.

I've recently started using a spring-tension hoop and it's fantastic for keeping a good even tension on the fabric. Took a little getting used to at first with actually getting the fabric in the hoop without smacking myself on the hand with the metal "spring" bit, but once I got the knack of that I love it!

For bigger projects I often use a wooden frame, and I've never had a problem with the tension on that - but, as the q-snap fans will point out, it only maintains tension at the top and bottom of your working area, not at the sides; that's just never been a problem for me.

How very helpful. Thank you so much

You have totally sold me and I will be making my purchase later today.

I am thinking of buying the small 6" by 6" frame - but wondered what other ones would be invaluable?

I have so many cross stitch designs, im not sure how to work out what frames I need?

Does it depend on the size of the design I am working rather than the actual size of the material I am stitching on?

These are the frames available - what ones would you recommend I buy?

6" x 6" Plastic Snap Frame (15cm x 15cm). NOTE: This frame does not pull apart and is not interchangeable with the other frames in the range. £ 6.36

9" x 9" Plastic Snap Frame (23cm x 23cm). £ 8.76

11" x 11" Plastic Snap Frame (28cm x 28cm). £ 10.72

14" x 14" Plastic Snap Frame (36cm x 36cm). £ 12.67

11" x 17" Plastic Snap Frame (28cm x 43cm). £ 12.67

17" x 17" Plastic Snap Frame (43cm x 43cm). £ 14.19

Plastic Snap Frame Multipack 1 each of 11" x 11" Frame and 17" x 17" Frame. £ 22.46

I bought mine (the 6" and the 9") from Tandem Cottage at a little less than the prices you quote, and their postage is only 95p.

I like them very much, although I find that on the 9" one the tension is not brilliant in the corners (it is on the 6" one) -- Q-sanps I think have longer snaps and therefore may not have that problem. Even with that problem I do like them for "square" designs which fit awkwardly into a round hoop. I do use some kitchen paper to protect stitched bits underneath the snaps.

For anything that is not big and square, though, I tend to use flexi-hoops. Unlike wooden hoops they give good tight tension, and compared to spring hoops (which are very good at tension) I find they mark the fabric a little less. They come in many sizes and are quite cheap, so I've got several 3, 4 and 5 inch ones, plus a 6 and 8 inch one (I think). You can find the here (scroll down). I wouldn't buy the woodgrain ones for working hoops (although they may work very well as frames to display your stitching in) because the rubber surround is less flexible and therefore more difficutl to put on.

Hope this helps!

edited:
I also find the snap frames relatively heavy, especially the 9" one (so presumable worse for even larger ones) -- the hoops are very light and I find them easier to hold. The snap frame I use for my Kingfisher, whis is a squarish design and will just fit inside the 9" frame so I don't have to move the frame around, and for the BoInk, because of the square nature of the design and because I like not having to move the frame around quite so often. The 6" one is perfect for holding my aida band when stitching the Silk Alphabet sampler, it obviously doesn't secure the sides but then neither would a roller frame.

Oh, also remember that a 6" frame will actually only give you about 4 1/2" stitching space, and the 9" has about 7" stitching space, as the measurements they give are outside measurements

thank you
that is very very helpful.

I think I might buy the 6 inch square snap frame to try before investing in them all ! Thank you also for pointing out that Tandem Cottage are cheaper

I noted on sewandso that they also sell a lap frame version but I cant justify the expense at present ! and I dont want to spend lots of money only to find I cant get on with them.

Re the flexi hoops from tandem, are these the hoops you mean?

Lightweight, hard wearing plastic hoops with an easy tightening clamp. Supplied in various colours,

4 inch plastic embroidery hoop £0.95
5 inch plastic embroidery hoop £1.10
6 inch plastic embroidery hoop £1.20
7 inch plastic embroidery hoop £1.30
8 inch plastic embroidery hoop £1.40
9 inch plastic embroidery hoop £1.50

And do I need to buy some of the cotton tape they mention above ?

I also found these on sewandso. what do you think of these?
This popular embroidery hoop from the USA is made from Luxite® plastic and features a Super Grip Lip® which improves the frames gripping ability.
Product Desc Price
(Inc.VAT) Qty
Prod:4 4" Susan Bates Embroidery Hoop 4" (10cm) £ 1.76

Prod:5 5" Susan Bates Embroidery Hoop 5" (12.5cm) £ 1.76

Prod:6 6" Susan Bates Embroidery Hoop 6" (15cm) £ 1.96

Prod:8 8" Susan Bates Embroider

I have the 9 by 9 plastic snap frame and it's perfect. I think if it was any bigger it would get too tiring to hold, and any smaller it wouldn't fit enough of the design in it. I'm using it for my HAED which is huge and it doesn't seem to cause any damage to the stitches at all when you put the clamp part over the top (i put another piece of fabric in between just to be safe).

So really i think you only need to get one, as it will work for all sizes of design.

Glad it was helpful! The hoops I mean are further down the page, the heading is "Coloured Flexihoops" (above them are the woodgrain ones which I don't recommend). If you do small projects for cards and so on, the 4" is probably going to come in useful, especially if you use it back to front so it's easier to finish off (you can see what i mean by that here -- easier to show than to explain!)
I don't know the Susan bates ones at all, so can't help there, sorry.

I have the 6 the 8 and the 11 inch frames and I have an extender for 14 inch. The extender works well with the 8 and the 6 to come up with many very different sizes. I mix and match all sorts of different frames to match what I need at any given time. Note all of these sizes are american.

The Q's are heavier then a regular hoop so I would get the 6 or 9 being the British version. And try them for how you personally like the effect that you get.

I have the 11" R&R (same as Qsnap) which I am using for my dogs, and I love it. I got that size because of the project size, but I would like to get other sizes in the future.
I'm also up for trying the lap frame, if I ever get to afford it!

I have the 9" R&R frame and I love it, but sometimes I feel I would like to prop its edge against a stand or something because it's a bit heavy. Not to fix it, as on a real stand, just to ease the weight. Is there anything suitable for this purpose?

benceagi wrote:I have the 9" R&R frame and I love it, but sometimes I feel I would like to prop its edge against a stand or something because it's a bit heavy. Not to fix it, as on a real stand, just to ease the weight. Is there anything suitable for this purpose?

Yes, the edge of the table

Seriously, when I want to work on the BoInk for a longer period, and I manage to find time during the day, I sit at the dining room table and lean the frame against the table edge, then stitch using two hands.

When I use the 14" frame on my tree skirt I use a throw pillow from my couch I tip it at an angle on my lap and lay the top of the frame at an angle to the pillow and then I stitch with two hands. I am working on putting together an idea to make a frame from some pvc tube so I can leave the pillow out of the way. It can get rather hot when the day warms up.

I just lean my frame against my chest if my hands get tired.