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Using embroidery hoops can make stitching far more enjoyable and comfortable. Your project stays secure, and managing fabric tension becomes much easier.
If you’re a complete beginner, learn the basics first in our embroidery for beginners guide before choosing a hoop or frame.
You don’t need a hoop or frame to start embroidery or cross stitch, but they do make it easier. For small projects, especially on aida or plastic canvas, you can simply hold the fabric in your hand. For softer fabrics like linen, keeping the fabric taut in a hoop makes stitching much easier.
Many cross stitchers find their stitches stay neater and more even when using a hoop or frame.
Embroidery hoops consist of an inner and outer ring, which hold the fabric between them to give you a nice, taut surface to make your stitches through.
Embroidery frames stretch fabric between the top and bottom bars, often letting you roll or scroll for tension control.
With both hoops and tapestry frames, you hold the frame in one hand, leaving the other free to stitch.
The stands clamp onto your embroidery hoop or tapestry frame to hold it steady. This leaves both hands free to stitch. You can place one above and one below the hoop for the stab-and-stitch method. It feels much faster once you get into the rhythm.
Stitching with both hands free is more relaxing. You also avoid balancing the fabric as you work.
Not sure which stand to choose? Browse the options below to find one that suits your stitching style, your hoops or frames, and your usual project size.
Embroidery hoops come with an outer and an inner ring. By securing your fabric between the two layers, you can keep it taut, which makes it easier to stitch on.
Separate the two rings. With traditional wooden hoops, you’ll see a screw at the top, which you loosen to release the inner hoop.
Once you’ve got your inner hoop free, place your fabric over it with the area you want to stitch on to in the centre.
Make sure you have excess fabric left around the outside of the hoop, the whole outer boundary of the frame; otherwise, your tension won’t work.
If your fabric isn’t big enough to stretch over the hoop, you need a smaller hoop.
Now, carefully press the outer frame back on top.
Tug the fabric gently around each edge to tighten it, and tighten up the screw with a wooden frame.
When choosing a stand for your embroidery hoop, consider how you like to sit and the size of your projects.
This embroidery hoop stand from Hawthorne Handmade is ideal for stitching in a chair. Tuck the wooden lip under your legs and adjust the hoop’s height and angle to suit your position.
It works with small tapestry frames or Qsnap embroidery frames – the clamp opens up to 1 inch wide.
The stand also rotates 360°, letting you stitch at any angle and easily check the back of your work.
The embroidery hoop isn’t included – just clip in your own hoop or frame!
Buy from the Hawthorne Handmade Etsy store
Q Snaps embroidery frames may not be the most elegant, but crafters love them for their simplicity and lightweight design.
They come in many sizes and are very adaptable. You can add extra plastic lengths to make them bigger, or even add legs to turn them into a lap-table-style frame.
The plastic tubes have ribbed covers that hold your work securely yet gently. They’re easy to use, even for those with joint issues that make adjusting wooden frames difficult.
The Elbesee Easy Clip embroidery frame sits between Q Snaps and traditional wooden frames that require sewing your project in.
The frame is wooden, but the horizontal struts have a plastic grip that holds fabric without sewing.
As long as the frame is wide enough, you can adjust it up and down, clipping the fabric in or removing it easily.
They come in five sizes to suit different project scales and are especially popular for cross stitch.
Buy from Community Crafts UK Etsy store
Unlike the Elbesee Easy Clip frame, this mini embroidery frame is made from moulded plastic instead of wood. This makes it lighter and easier to adjust.
It’s perfect as a cross stitch frame for smaller projects. The levers adjust the distance between the horizontal bars to 4cm, 6cm, 10cm, or 14cm. Each bar is 20cm long and has easy clips to hold fabric securely.
This is an affordable frame with four size options that suit most cross stitch projects – just not the very large ones.
Buy from LoomingMadCrafts Etsy store
Embroidery rings are another name for embroidery hoops, but these hoops stand out because they’re made of bamboo.
Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable alternative to wood, and it makes the hoops much lighter to handle.
You can order hoops from 3 inches to 18 inches, or choose a set of different sizes to save on individual prices.
Buy online from CelloExpressBags Etsy store
Embroidery rings are another name for embroidery hoops, but these hoops stand out because they’re made of bamboo.
Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable alternative to wood, and it makes the hoops much lighter to handle.
You can order hoops from 3 inches to 18 inches, or choose a set of different sizes to save on individual prices.
Buy on the LoomingMadCrafts Etsy store
We love the versatility this floor stand offers for tapestry frames or embroidery hoops. You can stitch anywhere in your home.
The Posilock system keeps it stable, even with large or heavy projects, making it ideal for quilters as well as embroiderers.
It works with embroidery hoops of all sizes, giving you a comfortable two-handed stitching experience for any project.
The stand is shipped disassembled for easier delivery. It isn’t very portable once assembled, but it makes at-home stitching far more comfortable.
This tapestry frame is designed to be portable and is a popular choice for cross stitch.
The Lapman frame comes with a padded carry case to keep your project clean and safe. Fold it over while stitching to create a soft, cushioned surface on your lap. The frame is secured inside the case with an elastic strap for extra stability during use.
Fabric attaches easily with plastic clips, and the top and bottom scrolling bars let you adjust tension and keep your work in place.
Buy now, Amazon
We like the finish on this Guofa embroidery hoop stand, made from natural beech wood with smooth, freely moving adjustable joints.
The hoop is held between two small clamps mounted on a sliding channel, fitting hoops up to 11 inches in diameter.
It works with round, square, and oval hoops. The hoop is secure, though the narrow base is less stable than we’d like.
A great feature is that it can hold two hoops at once, perfect for working on two projects side by side.
Use this guide to ensure you are choosing the right frame for your work. There will be hoops and frames which are better for cross stitch, and some which are better for embroidery.
You also need to think about how much you will be doing the craft before you invest in the more expensive, free-standing mounts.
So you’ve got your comfortable stitching setup! Now it’s time to take on your next project. Check out these beautiful, easy embroidery ideas that you can start right now.
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