What to consider about embroidery stands
Most embroidery is done in a hoop or on a frame. But when you are stitching, should you hold the hoop in your hand or use a stand? And if you want a stand, what kind should you use? That’s what this post is about.
See it All
Below you will find:
- video tutorial
- benefits for using an embroidery stand
- disadvantages of using a stand
- types of stands
- the best stand
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Details
In most types of embroidery, people use hoops or frames to hold the fabric taut as they are stitching because it helps the stitches be more even and smooth and not bunch up the fabric.
But you can also get stands that are used to hold your hoop when you are stitching. What is the benefit of that and should you get one?
Benefits of using an embroidery stand
Both hands stay free
The main benefit of a stand is that you have both hands free.
This means that you can have one hand on top of your stitching and one hand on the bottom, making it much faster to pull the needle through the fabric.
It also makes it easier if you are using a laying tool to place your stitches carefully. You have one hand for the needle and one for the laying tool.
Anytime you are working with multiple threads like in couching, have both hands free is an advantage.
Stand holds the weight of the embroidery
Stands are also helpful if you are working on a large embroidery piece which could get heavy as you are stitching.
This is especially helpful if you have back or shoulder pain. There is no extra stress from holding the hoop.
Help with posture
Many stands can be adjusted to and height or angle that you want. This can help you maintain good posture as you are stitching. If you are holding the hoop, you will naturally lower your arms over time and this can cause you to hunch over.
Help with fatigue
Using a stand can allow you to stitch for longer periods of time without tiring. You are not bearing the weight of the hoop, and you can also take quick stretches without having to put the embroidery down and pick it back up.
Disadvantages of stands
Difficult to change the angle of the hoop
The main disadvantage of using an embroidery stand is that if you are stitching using a “sewing” technique, it is much easier to stitch from right to left (or left to right if you are left handed).
For example, with running stitch, back stitch, stem stitch, herringbone, etc, you can stitch by stabbing the fabric up and down or take little stitches through the fabric where you only pull it up to the top. In this case, when you hold the hoop, you can easily turn it as you stitch so that it is a comfortable angle.
Small embroidery pieces
Another disadvantage is if you are working on a very small piece of embroidery, the clamp on the stand could be too large.
So an embroidery stand is not a requirement, but it can sometimes be helpful.
Types of stands
There are many different types of stands. They come in all different sizes and price points. Do some research before investing in a stand and decide what features are most important to you.
If you have a stitching store that you can visit in person, you can get personalized advice. They might even have some that you can sit with to see how they feel.
But also feel free to think out of the box when looking for an embroidery stand. All you really need is something with a clamp that can hold onto a hoop or frame. So you can look for options at a hardware store or an office supply store.
Every stand is unique, but here are the most common types:
Simple clamp on table
Using a clamp to hold your embroidery is probably the most cost effective option. Clamps of all different sizes are easily available and usually not too expensive. You can get c-clamps or spring clamps, whatever you can find.
Clamps are easy to use and don’t require any fancy hardware. All you need is a table or other something sturdy to clamp your embroidery onto.
Clamps are super portable and can easily be moved around. If you travel around with your embroidery, they are easy to bring with you.
The disadvantages of clamps are that they might not be as sturdy, especially for large embroidery hoops and they are less adjustable. If you embroidery is clamped to a table, you can’t easily change the height.
Also, with clamps, it is more difficult to get the back of your stitching. You might end up having to constantly unclamp and reclaim your piece. So be sure to get a clamp that you can easily open and close. If it is too tight for your hand, it will just be frustrating.
So clamps are great for a temporary stand or if you’re just getting started with embroidery, but if you are getting into hand stitching more seriously, you might want something a bit bigger.
Frame stand
An embroidery frame is an option to a hoop. It is really nice for large pieces because you don’t have to worry about moving your hoop around all the time and getting hoop marks. Scroll frames help you keep your embroidery surface manageable as you can stitch along a piece.
Some frames have legs that attach right to the frame so that it can sit on the floor. If you are working on a very large piece, you could even use a quilting frame.
When you factor in the price of the frame, these stands are usually not too expensive.
The main issues with these frames is that they are not very versatile and they are not very adjustable.
If you are stitching a small piece, then the frame stand is a bit of overkill. You need to have a pretty big piece of fabric to put in the frame.
Frame stands often have only one height. You can usually find a chair to fit the frame stand, but if you are very tall or very short that might be an issue. You want to be able to stitch comfortably with your feet flat on the floor and your knees at 90°.
It can also be difficult to move around. So if you do all your stitching in one place then it will be fine, but even if you want to move to a different room in your house, it can be awkward to move.
Table stand
The next type of stand is a table stand. Just as it sounds, a table stand is something that sits on your table and holds your hoop.
This stand has two clamps, but they are adjustable to hold different sizes of hoops. Many stands have only one clamp. Usually the clamps can be easily rotated so that you can access the back of your stitching.
Table stands are usually portable and adjustable. You can easily move them to a different place and change the angle that you want to stitch at. If you are an embroidery YouTuber, a table stand is really helpful for recording stitching.
If you have a standing desk or table that you can raise, this is probably the easiest version to use for stitching while standing. This can be healthy for all the reasons that people use standing desks.
The main disadvantage of a table stand is that you need to have a table. If you want to take embroidery into the rec room to stitch while watching tv, you might not be able to use it.
Lap stand
A lap stand is similar to a table stand, but it can be used without a table. Some stands can be both table and lap stands.
Often they have a section that you sit on and an arm that comes up beside you or in front of you to hold the embroidery hoop. Sitting on it gives the weight to keep it stable.
This type of stand is portable and great if you want to move different places or sit in different spots. Lap stands are usually fairly lightweight and easy to adjust.
Sometimes, however, they are uncomfortable to sit on and it is more difficult to take a little break from stitching. You are almost attached to your stitching, so if you need to get up and stretch, it is a bit more effort.
Floor stand
Floor stands are the pinnacle of embroidery stands. These are stand alone units that sit on the floor and have different types of attachments for holding embroidery hoops or frames. These are usually the most expensive options, but they have many benefits.
Just a little side note about floor stands – not all are created equally. Some stands are beautifully crafted out of special wood and are very well made. Others work just as well, but they aren’t as aesthetically pleasing. Others are really cheaply made and will be frustrating to work with. So if you see a stand online and it looks like a bargain because it’s only $20, just remember that often you get what you pay for. A floor stand is a big investment, but a good stand will last your whole life and beyond.
A good floor stand is very sturdy. It won’t easily fall over, and it doesn’t move around as you are stitching. Most floor stands have a lot of adjustable pieces so that you can get the exact height you need.
Many floor stands can accommodate other attachments such as lights, magnifiers and even pattern or thread holders so that it becomes a whole embroidery station. This can make it comfortable to stitch for long periods of time or leave your embroidery and come back and pick up right where you left off.
In my opinion, the most beautiful floor stands are made of wood, but you can also find stands made of metal or plastic. If you like building things, you can also try making your own.
The main disadvantage of floor stands is that they are less portable. They can be even more awkward to move than frame stands. So if being able to move your stand around is important to you, keep that in mind when making a choice.
The best embroidery stand
So what is the best stand? The best stand is the one that is easy for you to use, fits your budget and meets all your requirements.
These questions will help you decide what is best for you.
What do you stitch?
Do you always stitch 6” hoops? Then you won’t need as much flexibility as if you stitch all different sizes of things.
Do you always do large cross stitch pieces? Then a frame stand might be your best choice.
Do you like to switch back and forth between multiple projects? Then you want a stand that you can easily adjust.
Do you travel?
This can mean both big travel like stitching in the car on a road trip, taking something in an RV, going through airplane security with your embroidery or small travel like taking stitching to a guild or workshop or even moving between rooms in your house. If you usually stitch in your living room but sometimes go to your den to watch a movie with your kids then you still need a certain level of portability. Even within a room, sometimes you might want to sit in different spots.
Thinking about the different places you stitch will help you decide what you need.
What is comfortable for you?
Just because your friend swears that her stand is the best in the world, doesn’t mean you are obligated to also use it. Feel free to do what works for you.
And remember that if you see an embroidery designer on social media that is raving about the perfect stand, he is probably getting commission on sales. It doesn’t mean it’s not a good stand, but there is no one size fits all solution.
Consider your height, what type of chair you want to sit on and what hoop angle is best for you and look for a stand that will accommodate that.
And here’s the final secret – people that do a lot of embroidery and have done hand stitching for many years probably have more than one stand. There’s nothing wrong with having different stands for different applications.