Two weekends ago I began work on one of the larger projects for the book. It’s a sampler and features bands of the embroidery, from different locations and in different styles. It’s great fun to stitch, as the patterns change regularly and if you discover there’s one you don’t particularly like stitching, pretty soon you’ll be done with that band and can move onto another one. (I like variety!)
I’ve been working with my embroidery in my embroidery hoop and stand again. I don’t do Hardanger in a hoop, but in hand, so I didn’t use my hoop and stand at all for my previous book, Early-Style Hardanger. For this book it’s lovely to have the hoop out again as it is so pleasurable to use.
It brings the work up closer to my eyes, without me having to hold it. I’ve been experimenting with a bit of two-handed embroidery, with one hand on top and one hand below. As I’m left-handed, I have the left hand on top, and the right hand below. I’m not sure that it makes it quicker, but it is training my right hand to be more dextrous. And anything like that has to be good for the brain, I reckon!
Sometimes I need to hold my pattern close by, so then I can hold it with one hand, and stitch with the other. That’s part of the beauty of having a hoop and stand which holds the embroidery for you!
I like to have my embroidery drum-tight in the hoop, as then I know that things are not going to get skew-iff. Because the hoop has a screw driver slot in the head of the screw, it means that I can get it really tight. I make my fabric nice and straight, then tighten the screw, stretch the fabric a bit more, tighten again, and stretch and straighten, until it is all just so. The hoops are deep, with gives good stability, even when your fabric is stretched tight. Because the hoop flips up, I can easily access the back to finish off threads.
I’ve been sitting on the lounge to do this stitching (then I can remain part of the family rather than squirrelled away in another room), and the stand works well on the lounge. I do use it on dining room chairs too, and it works well on all of them. The stand goes between my legs, and my legs on it stabilise the whole system. I do know that some people prefer to insert it under their legs from the side. Whatever works for you!
There are 22 different bands on the sampler, so I figure that if I can get one done every few days (and some are even quicker) that in time I will have it done. I have five bands complete so far, and another two underway. It’s great seeing it grow.
If you’re interested in the hoop and stand that I am using, I have the full range of sizes available for sale on my website. The hoop sizes are 6 inch (15cm), 7 inch (17.5cm, which is what I am using), 8 inch (20cm), 10 inch (25cm), 11 inch (27.5cm), and 12 inch (30cm). The hoops are interchangeable in the one stand, so you can have a range of hoop sizes that all work with the one stand. The hoops and stands can be purchased separately so that you can choose exactly the bits you need.
Do you use a hoop and stand? If you do, do you stitch with your dominant hand only, or do you use your other hand as well? Do you have dominant hand on top or below? Do you have questions about working with a hoop and stand? Ask away!
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
I work with a Z-frame and a square frame. I work with dominant (right) hand above and the other hand below – it vastly improves my speed, if I can work front and back and pass the needle between the two sides without moving my hands around the frame.
That’s great to hear, Michael. I think it will take time for me to get practiced enough to “vastly improve my speed”, but I know that in time, I will get quicker!
a friend of mine was a docent in a Chinese Silk Embroidery exhibit years ago at a Dallas museum – she said for the really big projects, they actually had one person on the back of the panel and one on the front, passing the needle from one to the other. Wish I’d seen that!
Yeah, I have heard of that too! 🙂
I use one of these too, and I like it.
When I need a pattern close by I use a needle minder magnet to “attach” it to the fabric, folding it as needed and covering as little as possible. That way I still have two hands free to stitch with.
Oh, which hand is on top varies. It’s usually my dominant hand, but occasionally the other way around
That’s a great idea! I have a lovely needle minder and could use it this way. Thanks Irene!
I like the idea of these hoops and stands but how well do they work in conjunction with a magnifying lamp?
I have a magnifying lens which attaches to it. (Not lamp, though). The lens is on a gooseneck that attaches to the hoop stick. It works well, though I don’t actually use it very often, not needing magnification much yet.
As for a separate magnifying lamp, I think you’d need to sit at a table with it, assuming that the lamp is a table lamp. If it is, then I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Though you’d have to move it out of the way each time you wanted to access the back of the work. I try to turn over as little as possible, so it probably would work ok for me.
A floor lamp would be similar, but you could sit anywhere, as long as the lamp is right next to you.
I’ve found that sometimes I stitch with my non-dominant hand when the embroidery is in a frame. It depends on where the light is and how much I need it!
That’s interesting Rachel! I wonder if I should give that a go just for the sake of giving it a go? 🙂 I use my laptop trackpad with my non-dominant hand, so it isn’t as useless as some.
I always use a hoop and stand. I cannot work without it. My fingers hurt if I hold for a long time the hoop in my hand. I am very surprised that you keep your dominant hand above. My dominant hand is below as it can work very precisely without the help of the eyes. I keep the other on the top to work with the help of my eyes.
Hi Anne, I’m not used to working with two hands, so I was just experimenting with the hands. I’ll try the other way round now that people have suggested it. It does make sense!