Sprite Stitch Board!

Hello everyone. I am hoping to begin working on a huge cross stitching project, and was wondering what people use to hold their giant canvases taut.

The largest side of one potential project of mine is just under 3'; the largest side of different potential project is just under 2'. Those measurements don't include the few inches' worth of waste canvas I like to leave around the edges. Is a scroll frame prudent for things of this size? Are there even scroll frames big enough for them to begin with? Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

i used to use a scroll frame paired with a floor stand (because scroll frames, especially large ones are too heavy). i found that i couldn't get it right where i wanted it, or where the light was best a lot of the time, so i began using an embroidery hoop and a few clothes pins =)

let me see if i can find an example^^



ok, so here i have one of my larger projects in a 10" embroidery hoop. i mask off the edges of my fabric because i pwn them while stitching as i remove and move the frame a lot. i fold up the edges of my fabric and clip them using clothes pegs so they're not in my way. all told this is much lighter to hold onto as these hoops are light plastic and not heavy wood =D

for my small projects i use a wooden scroll frame:



i can tell you that the smaller one in the scroll frame is heavier to hold onto than the larger one.

i hope this helps answer your question^^;

I use a 2 foot scroll frame, but I'm looking for something better. The problem I have with it is that it doesn't hold the cloth tightly enough. It started out fine but now that I've had it for about a year it won't hold anything tightly with out me also clipping it around the frame.

Stardrifter: You know, I hadn't considered the weight issue with a large frame. Thanks for the information and the pictures! After looking through people's projects here I've noticed that it's somewhat common to use an embroidery hoop for large projects. You have no problems with it? A book I'd once read had said that this technique was a bad idea, claiming that finished stitches would get ruined if they ended up wedged in the hoop rim when the piece was moved to focus on a different area. But I'd certainly trust your word over the book's if you told me you hadn't had that experience. Edit: P.S., your work is beautiful! And your finished "PEWPEWPEW" piece makes me laugh.

Purcell: Hmm. Thanks for the thoughts. I wouldn't want to invest in an expensive frame if I couldn't be sure it'd work properly in a year or so. What do you use to secure it to the dowels?

I have to have the cloth sticking out the top and bottom and have a binder clip pulling the cloth. It's a pain but, for me, it's easier then moving the hoop a ton of times. You also don't have to iron as much when you're finished.

the heaviness gets to you after a while too, after holding something that heavy it starts feeling like you have wicked carpal tunnel syndrome, i find i have to take breaks often. i'm thinking of changing to a hoop for smaller projects too, for the heaviness factor and so that i don't have to cut all my fabric so it'll fit in my teeny frame.

i've never had a problem with things being ruined by the hoop by warping, i'm not sure if it's the hoop i use that it doesn't do that. i've had stuff get dirty from a hoop: more info below

i've used this kind: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/Paceset9 ... idery_Hoop
and i find that sometimes trying to shove the fabric in there, it gets dirty somehow, like little smudges. i dunno if it's the rubber material they use, or what but even if i wash the stupid thing before i work on something it still happens sometimes. also they're a bit heavier because it's made of a heavier rubber material

i now use this kind: http://www.beverlys.com/susan-bates-hoo ... e=googleps
it's specifically designed with a 'lip' on it, to maintain even tension without warping or snagging your fabric, it's also very very light on it's own, and flexible, as it is made of plastic

you're always going to have hoop marks left on your fabric after removing or moving the hoop, but those are very easily ironed out =)

I recommend really getting either a lap/table stand or floor stand for bigger projects.
I have a lap/table stand. I totally love it. It allows me to stitch my huge projects without a hoop.
I can't use a hoop anymore because it hurts my wrist/thumb from twisting too much. I couldn't stitch for about 3 years because of the hoop.

Here is the lap/table stand I use! I use mine on my desk.
http://www.hearthsidecraftworks.com/ind ... 7&Itemid=6

agreed for ease of not having to hold onto a hoop all the time, as it can be hard on the wrists (which is why i go light)

for me, i have to snuggle into my couch while stitching to maintain a specific position for my back- so basically, i have more of a problem with my back than my wrists while stitching i guess^^; i could never get my floor stand in the right position that it was comfy enough for me (but i'm weird, so most people prolly don't have this problem lol) and a lap stand doesn't work for me because i sit cross legged on the couch and i don't have a table high enough to have it at eye level without bending down^^;

i did recently find a stand online that had swervy arms and all kinds of bendy parts so you could have it any which way
it was like $400 or some obscene amount tho, so i stick with my hoops (man, if i had an extra $400 i'd have a bendy arm holding errything for me though ;P)

DMLC is absolutely right though, if stitching with a hoop hurts your wrists you should look into alternative means for sure :o

Stardrifter and DMLC, thank you so much for the exellent feedback. I really needed it.

Stardrifter: I think I'm going to try out the hoop you recommended. It's hard to say no to $3! And it's possible that the book I read that warned against hoop work on large projects was giving advice at the level of competitors' standards, instead of just "normal person" standards. What you're saying about the technique sounds perfectly fine to me. :)

DMLC: That scroll frame is beautiful. I can't afford it at the moment, but I will log it away in my mind for future reference. And I'm glad that your hands eventually recovered from the hoop work, by the way.