How to choose an embroidery hoop, stand, or frame for your stitching project

If you’re new to stitching and embroidery, one of the first decisions you will make is how you will “hoop up” your stitching project. You have several options and I’ll walk you through a basic beechwood embroidery hoop, QSnaps, and graduating to a stand or frame. There are several factors to consider such as where you’ll stitch, when you’ll stitch and what you’ll stitch but with a little explanation, you’ll be able to make an informed decision. Because choosing a hoop is an individual decision, I do not include an embroidery hoop with my cross stitch kits but you can find them on the Fabrics and Notions page. My embroidery hoop kits do come with a hoop because the hoop is how you display your embroidery after you have finished it.

Basic Embroidery Hoop

For beginners, I recommend a basic 6” embroidery hoop, such as the Avlea Beechwood 6” embroidery hoop. This hoop is inexpensive, lightweight, and suitable for most fabrics. While there are lesser-quality bamboo versions of this kind of embroidery hoop, I think it is well worth a few extra dollars to get a hardwood/beechwood one as it will last much longer and be more durable. The 6" embroidery hoop is excellent for surface embroidery ( like Thessaly Floral, below) because you can move the hoop around in whatever way makes it easiest to work the stitches (for the record, I have never been able to work a surface embroidery design with a frame or stand, and so I always grab my 6" embroidery hoop for these designs). For example, when I’m working stem stitch or backstitch, I like to move the hoop around slightly as I work each curved section to get the most comfortable angle to make the stitches. If you're new to stitching, definitely experiment with moving your hoop around as you work so you can discover what angles you like to work from.

The basic 6” embroidery hoop is also my preferred hoop for taking my stitching on my travels as it is only takes a minute to hoop up my project when I’m on the go and I can be stitching on planes, trains, and automobiles in no time! The basic embroidery hoop is two rings, an inner ring and an outer ring. The inner ring is smooth and goes under your project and then the outer ring (the one with the brass set screw) goes on top of your project, “sandwiching” your project between the two rings. Your fabric will be a bit loose when you first put it in, but then you gently pull on it a section at a time all around the hoop to get it as taut as you like, tightening the set screw as you go. For years I only used a 6” embroidery hoop and I still think it’s a terrific place to begin when choosing your stitching tools. A tip: make sure to take your work out of the hoop every time you finish stitching so you do not have hoop creases around your work.

I’ve heard of hoops, but what’s a Q-Snap?

When you want to hoop up a larger section, or your a dedicated cross stitcher, or you would like to stitch with both hands, my recommendation is the Q-Snap, a type of plastic hoop or frame that is made up of tubes that lock together (kind of like Legos) and then have tight-fitting covers that “snap” on each section of plastic tube and hold your stitching in place. The advantage of Q-Snaps is that you can hoop up a larger section of embroidery and it holds your embroidery tauter than an embroidery hoop. Q-Snaps come in sets of varying lengths that can be mixed and matched; for example, you can combine a pack of 8” Q-Snaps with a pack of 12” Q-Snaps to make an 8x12” frame. They also work very well when used with a frame or stand such as a Lowery Workstand (see below), and allow you to stitch with both hands. Q-Snaps are a good choice for stitchers who stitch an hour or more per day, and who have a dedicated stitching area where they can leave a stand set up. While you can use a Q-Snap like an embroidery hoop without a frame to hold it, I do not find it particularly comfortable, so I recommend using them with a frame or stand. I do not take my work out between stitching sessions and I have not had any issues with the Q-Snap leaving creases on my fabric. Two tips: First, I recommend purchasing brand-name Q-Snaps as they are much higher quality than copycat products. Second, as you can see in the photo above and below, I use a scrap of fabric on each side to get an even tighter grip on the fabric and to prevent the Q-Snap from damaging my fabric.

Frames and Stands

My very first embroidery stand was one my dad built me that clamped onto the side of a table. I loved how sturdy it was, but I didn’t like that I had to be sitting at a table to use it and I couldn't adjust the angle. I then tried several variations of lap stands, but I found them too flimsy, too uncomfortable to sit on, not able to hold the size of hoop I wanted, or not adjustable enough. Then I found my all-time favorite stand in the Lowery Workstand and it was like I heard the angels singing! The Lowery Workstand is what I now use for my daily stitching sessions. These stands have a dedicated following in the stitching community and it’s easy to see why: they are exceptionally well-made (my machinist dad would have approved), they have a very solid base that easily slides under a chair or couch, and they are very easy to rotate and adjust to get your stitching at the exact angle you want. The overall concept is simple—there’s a vertical bar that is adjusted up and down with a metal peg to get your embroidery at the best height for your chair, and then there is a horizontal arm that rotates completely around to get your project tilted exactly where you want it (and, it works very smoothly, which makes turning your work over to end a length of floss a breeze). The horizontal arm has a very sturdy bracket that you place your Q-Snap into and then tighten down. Did I mention it was sturdy? I own two Lowery workstands--one for home and one for the studio--and I couldn’t be more pleased with the quality or functionality. I like how clean and simple the design is, and that I can have my stitching in place within 30 seconds of sitting down. While these are not the least expensive option, they are a very well-built tool designed to give years of use, so over the long-term, if you plan to stitch a lot, I highly recommend the Lowery Workstand. And, they come in a lot of fun colors so your stitching space can be faaannncy. There are also some add-ons like a longer bracket  which works great if you have a big chair arm, and an accessory bracket which can hold a light or a phone stand.

Stitching in the Hand

If you’re a stitcher who prefers to stitch “in the hand” (without a hoop), that’s also a fine way to stitch. If you’re new to stitching, then I recommend trying different options until you find the one that works best for you. There’s no “one right answer” when it comes to embroidery hoops and stands so consider trying out new tools as part of your stitching journey and you’ll be sure to find the one that is right for you!