You can also smoosh a little bit of acid free glue into the last inch or so of your gold thread to keep it from ravelling, just make sure it isn't globby and is completely dried first.
You can also use a scroll frame or a square frame the size of your piece (made of sticks you buy at the local hobby store). Then there are no creases in your fabric when you are done stitching.
Agreed - although personally I have always found these to not maintain the tension as well as a hoop, so I always go for a smaller 5/6 inch hoop - but it’s definitely personal preference!
I've never had that trouble. I put mine on drum tight and it's always stayed drum tight. It's the way I and the others in my guild have done it, but it also could depend on the tension you stitch at. There are also frames that allow you to re-tighten the fabric. But since it's something we do to bring us joy, we should use the method that does that gor us.
