Table stands

I like the Artisan Design table stand

I agree with Fran. I've had one for about 10 years and use it for all my small/medium size projects. I use it as a lap stand. It's compact for traveling, great for classes. I've tried others but have never found one as versatile as the Elan.

Mavia

Depends how violent a stitcher you are. If you're gentle, then the one that sits on the table will work fine. If you tend to yank your floss with lots of muscle, the sitter may "walk" with each stitch while the clamp model will stay right where you put it.

As mentioned, the table sitter is also usable as a lap stand. I inherited one from a friend's wife. Drives me crazy. I'm used to the sit-on hoop, where the only impediment to movement is one dowel, which I generally position up around 10 o'clock where my bottom hand normally doesn't stray. Virginia's table/lap hoop has two legs and a "floor", and one or the other is constantly getting in my way.

So, if you have the opportunity, try before you buy.

If you are working on something in a frame, it can be clipped easily and firmly to the table with C Clamps, readily available and inexpensive in hardware places. I found stands that went on the table made the piece a bit high for me to work on.

Thanks very much for the input, Karen. I usually use a hoop or Q-snaps as a floor stand or sit on lap frame just wouldn't work with my stitching chair and how I like to sit during stitching (and the variety of pets in my lap at the time as well). But I'm thinking that the clamp variety would be useful to use for certain projects and I can clamp it to my computer desk where the lighting is better than in the kitchen.

Thanks again.

Cheers,

Karen C > Depends how violent a stitcher you are. If you're gentle, then the one

I'm thinking of having a clamp variety on my computer desk. I like having my stitching close up when I'm working on it. I'm terribly nearsighted and even with my glasses I feel more comfortable working on something that's about a foot from my nose. :-)

I started seriously going nearsighted in grade 5 and my vision deteriorated very rapidly in the course of that year. Over the past couple of years I find I will sometimes read without my glasses but the book has to be about 6 inches from my nose. I've had my glasses adjusted for a slight mid distance as I work with the computer a lot in my job and this helps seeing the screen clearly. I know it's time to get them changed when road signs are getting a bit iffy.

Cheers,

lucretia borgia wrote:

Thanks very much, Fran. I'll check it out.

Cheers,

At the recent EGA seminar, one of my teachers told us to bring something to weigh down or clamp the stretch bars to the table. The teacher and several students used various sizes of Irwin Quick-Grip Clamps. You can see 'em at and they're available at many hardware stores.

I'm having trouble visualizing how to clamp the hoop or frame to the table with a C-clamp as suggested above in another post. These Irwin Quick-Grip Clamps- is it the vise tool that I should be looking at?

I'll have to let someone more mechanically inclined than I am tell you whether a vise or a clamp would work. The people using the clamps were at the corner or the tables -- they sort of clamped on the right or left top edge/side so that most of the work extended in space allowing two handed stitching...

Someone help us out here!!!!!!!!!!

OH! That makes sense- the location of where you're actually clamping being key to the procedure! I think the vise set-up would allow mid-table placement.......maybe?

Good for you -- you got my less than clear description

If you can find something you think might work locally, buy it and keep the receipt in case you're not comfortable with the results.