What's in the Box

So, if you were thinking I finally got around to buying a needlework stand, you'd be right.  I was comtemplating stands last year and couldn't decide so put it on the back burner.  My stitching mojo waned and the issue seemed moot.  But when my stitching itch came back recently, I craved band samplers and Chatelaines and the only good way to tackle some of them is with a stand and scroll frame.  Now, I am a die hard hoop girl and my fleeting experience with scroll frames turned me off them completely, so I have not been excited to revisit the experience. 

I received the Needlework System 4 with the frame clamp and medium scroll frame last week. 

Set up was quick and easy.  Basting the fabric on the rods was not too terribly bad.

It fits well between the coffee table and sofa with a little maneuvering.

Since last Wednesday after setting it up, I have already finished the first quarter of Jeannette Douglas' Heart Collector.  (I've converted the threads to DMC and one Caron).

I purchased the stand from Threadneedle Street in Washington State and received excellent service.  I like that I can easily get to the back of my work by rotating the scroll or hoop (in the frame clamp) without having to loosen knobs or such.  I am curious as to how much rotating (and I do a lot!) the frames will take before the bolts loosen, but it looks like if it is ever a problem, a little tighten with a wrench on the bolts will probably do the trick to fix it.  I am dealing with the scroll frame much better than I anticipated and am actually enjoying stitching on it!  I guess I'm not quite as set in my ways as I thought.  Two handed stitching, however, is agonizingly slow and my tension not as good, so I still tend to use just my right hand with my left in the back to feel for knots in the thread. 

In other news, I have a Christmas finish.

Ho Ho Ho in a Row
Lizzie Kate

And I finally tackled the last monster row on my Morticia shawl and started the monster bind off.  Maybe before the end of the year I will have that finished. 

Happy Stitching!
Tamara