This has come completely from left field, but I am contemplating purchasing a StitchMate Floor Stand. I am a die-hard hoop girl, but the last year or two, I do notice more strain on my left hand that holds my hoop. And I think sometimes it would be nice to have both hands free for certain speciality stitches rather than trying to balance the hoop on my knees to do them. I tried scroll rods many years ago and hated them, mainly because I could not get enough tension on my fabric and they, like Q-Snaps, are just too unwieldly for me. I would also like to have better posture when I'm stitching.
My concern is that I will spend all this money and it will sit gathering dust because I am not one to easily change my ways (and I am not planning on giving up stitching with my hoop, this will just enhance my abilities). So I would like to hear from the floor stand users on your likes/dislikes of stitching on a stand. I do know that I flip my work around a lot ("a lot" is actually a huge understatement) to end off threads with all the confetti in these HAED projects. That is one thing that has always discouraged me from using a floor stand as none seemed to allow you quick, easy access to the back of your work. The newer stands seem to have resolved this issue from what I have been reading. And it looks like the scroll rods on the StitchMate give good fabric tension without much fuss (no basting, etc).
Too bad you can't test drive one before buying, lol. And I did think about buying a cheaper one to see how much I might actually use it, but any of the others have to slide in front of you and that is not an option (I sit on the couch and there is a coffee table in front of me, so no room in front of me). Decisions, decisions.
Well, I'm off to see if I can finish off a sock. I look forward to hearing any of your thoughts on stitching with a floor stand (any stand, not just the StitchMate).
Happy Stitching!
I'm in the same boat as you are! I'm a hoop girl as well...and my left wrist starts burning after a few hours of stitchiing....so I opted to try a lap stand vs. a floor stand....and I LOVE it!!
ReplyDeleteAre you in the states or overseas? Joann's online offers a few choices, and if you time it right when they have a 50% off coupon you can get one pretty cheap...even if it's just one to test drive for now before you make the big plunge for a more expensive one like the one you linked!
Here's a link to a floor stand that is pretty inexpensive: http://www.joann.com/f-a-edmunds-adjustable-craft-floor-stand/prd43251/
and here's the lapstand I bought:
http://www.joann.com/z-lap-frame-with-clamp/prd36095/
If you use a half off coupon, their floor stand will only be 20 bucks! :)
I'm a Q-snaps fan. I have arthritis in my hands so I bought a floor stand so that I wouldn't have to hold a frame in my hands. I couldn't get away with it at all and it's now in the loft somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI hope this doesn't put you off. I know many others who love their floor stands.
I hope, you get along with the floor stand you buy for yourself, I used to be (and still am) a hoop girl but I bought a lap frame and I love it, there are 2 details that if I knew at the time would make me go for a different model, I would go for a floor stand instead, as it is a lap stand after a while my leg is tired of having the wood under it, so I have to change the position constantly, and I would go for one with the grip either on the middle or on both sides, because for bigger frames than it doesn't support the weight propperly. I would advise on a frame with a grip, because that way you can still use your hoop, and then you can change to scroll rods later on if you want to give them a try too ;).
ReplyDeleteAlso I would like to let you know that I awarded you with the Liebster award :) you can read more at my blog-
http://myxstitchcorner.blogspot.com
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ReplyDeleteI have a floor stand and a lap stand you can try out Tamara! We will talk soon! Hugs!
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