Crossette

← All articles

Hoop or frame: how to hold your fabric for cross stitch

Updated:

Taut fabric helps you lay even crosses: the squares don't shift and the stitches have the same tension. But you can also stitch in hand. Here are the options and how to pick what suits you.

Round hoops

Two rings: the fabric sits over the inner ring and the outer ring holds it, with a screw to adjust the tension.

  • Pros: cheap, easy to carry, quick to move around.
  • Cons: on a big piece you have to keep moving the hoop, and its edge can crush finished stitches and leave a mark on the fabric.
  • Tip: take the hoop off when you put the work away, so it doesn't leave a ring.

Clip frames and square frames

The fabric is fixed to the frame at its edges with clips or stretched over bars.

  • Pros: more even tension, finished stitches aren't crushed, you see a large area at once.
  • Cons: bigger and heavier, less handy for stitching on the go.

Scroll frames and frames on stands

The fabric is rolled onto two rollers, and the frame sits on a stand or is clamped to a table.

  • Pros: both hands free, good for big pieces and the parking method.
  • Cons: takes up space, costs more, needs a permanent spot.

No hoop at all

Many people stitch in hand, especially on stiff Aida. It's easier to carry the work around, but you have to hold the tension yourself, and on fine fabric stitches may lie unevenly.

How to choose

  • A small piece — a round hoop a little larger than the design, or in hand.
  • A medium piece — a square frame or a clip frame.
  • A big piece that takes months — a scroll frame or a stand; for big projects see "Your first big project".

How not to damage the fabric

  • Don't leave the fabric in a hoop for long.
  • Wrap the inner ring with a strip of fabric so it marks the fabric less.
  • If a mark is left anyway, washing and pressing usually remove it — see "How to wash and press a finished cross stitch".

About the author

This article was written by the Crossette team. We're building Crossette, a cross stitch tracker for iPhone and iPad. It's in development; to join the beta, email [email protected].