Whether you're ready to tackle that large embroidery project or just want to do hands-free stitching, frames can be a welcome and liberating addition to your embroidery arsenal.
Frames are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and styles from lap stands to table stands to full standing frames and hoop frames and holders.
Benefits of Frames
- Frames are the obvious choice when you want to view your full (or most of your full) design.
- Choose the frame over the hoop if you have arthritis or get cramping in your hands or arms.
- Lap frames are especially helpful for those confined to a bed or wheelchair and make a great gift for those confined.
- Frames keep an even tension on a larger portion of your work and can provide a more polished look.
- A frame can help expedite your efforts by allowing you to work a larger surface without having to relocate a hoop on the fabric and by freeing up both hands.
- A tilted, sturdy and self-supporting work surface is a welcome option for the serious embroiderer.
The standing frame was once a treasured piece of furniture that took its proper place in the home. Beautiful handcrafted maple, mahogany and cherry stands are still available in the traditional Victorian and Northeastern U.S., favorites such as the Vermonter and Rhode Islander Embroidery Scrolls. If you want your frame to be part of your decorum, you'll enjoy the frames at Needlepoint Frames.
Scroll frames are usually designed with two pieces of round wood held together by two square pieces of wood to form a square or rectangular. Your fabric is rolled between the round wood and secured by clamps that are part of the structure or by stitching or tacking the fabric in place. Scroll frames are frequently sold in sets so you always have the right size.
Stretcher bars are wooden frames with teeth-like slats in the bars so they can be slotted together to form the frame. Again you have the advantage of having different length bars to make the perfect sized frame for a variety of projects.
You either thumb tack the fabric to the wood bars or use staples from a craft gun while pulling the fabric for a tight fit. Stretcher bars are convenient for larger project where you lay out the canvas once and work the design to completion. Be sure that your fabric is one that can be stretched for some period and that you have the time to work the project consistently.
The F.A. Edmunds Oval Hoop is a large standing hoop frame. This is a very popular frame because it combines the tilted stand with the convenience of a hoop application. The hoop is the perfect size for all your large projects.
Lap stands commonly have a wooden slide that you put under your legs to keep it stationary and sturdy while you stitch.
They are portable, are open on one side and adjustable in height. They combine the convenience of lap work with the benefits of a frame.
The JENNOOP® is new twist on the hoop/frame. It a lightweight, angled collapsible lap hoop made of polypropylene. This is a convenient alternative to the wood frame. It stores easily and takes up little room. It's a good option for the stitcher who can't manage a heavier or bulkier wooden frame.
- Regardless of the type of frame you chose make sure you have enough overlapping fabric to get a proper tight fit.
- You should have 3-4 inches of overhang on all four corners from either the fabric itself or a border that you stitch on temporarily.
- Likewise your design should be several inches from the edge of your frame so that you have sufficient room to execute your stitch.
Who doesn't like free! You can get lots of embroidery designs for free on the internet. Download or click and save and print; they are yours for the searching. Here are a few sites that offer free embroidery transfer patterns:
