Was I wrong about using a hoop for cross stitching?! 

Fabulous video. What you say in the video sums it up. I don't stitch in my hand just because it slows me down. I use a floor stand that holds a hoop I don't use a frame because it would give me a sore neck because it changes my posture. At the end of the day do what feels most comfortable for you and like you say you don't need equipment. I have lost count of how many videos I have watched that people have bought every floor stand and lap stand you could think off and why do they do it the only thing I come up with is comfort.

I love your videos! They are always fun and informative. I do not like to stitch in hand, but have yet to find a frame I love. They all require fiddling for me.

I really liked your video!! I do primitive stitchery and primitive cross stitch. I only use hoops and love them. I like my stitching taught and hoops works the best for me. I have a hoop like yours and I have several sizes of that shape and several other sizes in different shapes, love them all. They work great for me. 😊

I am the cross stitcher from nearly 20 years and I always stitching on hoops, large projects too. It is a little bit squashed, but all is going away in wash and ironing. Everyone has a different method...😊

Thank you for, as always, a thorough explanation of your experience. I’ve pretty much always stitched in hand. Didn’t like the dented fabric or squashing my stitches. Also I use the sewing method so hoops are not for me. However, I hate stitching in hand with soft wobbly linen. Maybe I should try a hoop for linen work…but my eyes don’t like working linen either, so there you have it. Your tutorials are the best! Dianne

Great overview. I used to use hoops which I didn’t like because I could never get the tension tight enough. I’ve tried it in a stand as well. Then I went to stitching without - which was fine unless it was a huge project. Then a couple of years ago I was introduced to a Qsnap frame - and I’ve loved using those but I find you have to give yourself enough extra fabric around the side otherwise I end up having to take the project out to do any stitching on the edges!! At the recent Stitch Festival I got myself a couple of Nurge frames - still getting used to them not being as bulky as the Qsnap. But at least you can stitch on more of your fabric and I’ve not found them to leave any marks on the fabric when you take it off.

For me I do all three! In hand , with nurges and also scroll frames, it really depends on the project and how keen I am to get started!

Great video. I always use a Nurge hoop. When I’ve stitched in hand the stitches do not look good, in a hoop beautiful.

Love your videos, always insightful. I stitch in hand. Tried hoops here and there but not my cup if tea so to speak. I never have tension problems so why bother changing. I think its an individual choice so up to personal preferences like you said. Looking forward to next video. 😊

Great video and I am interested in trying the new nudge hoop. I love my Morgan’s lap stand , best of both worlds and I like the q snap . Although I quilt and do hand stitching on pieces , I don’t think I would be able to scrunch up fabric for stitching in hand . I have rheumatoid arthritis and I’m just happy to be able to hold needle.

Depending on the size if my project , I use hoops . Recently bought a set of Nurge hoops & a Nurge lap stand . I love using them along with my other hoops . I find them very helpful while stitching linens . Thanks for your postings , look forward to each new one .

I stitch in a number of ways depending on the size, the fabric and the pattern. But I started with a wooden hoop and favour in hand when I can. But have a two projects on scroll frames due to size and some on qsnaps which I like because the are square and I won’t get a hoop mark. Never used the nudge hoop. Thanks for sharing Nat

Thanks for the video 😊 I started off stitching in hand, but it hurt my hands. So I got a Q-snap and loved it at first. It's still what I'm using, but I find the drawbacks are really getting on my nerves. The edges are so bulky that I lose so much stiching space on what is already a small area and it's heavy. I think I'll try out a Nurge hoop. Thanks for the review 😊 Edit: spelling

Thank you for your thoughtful review. I always stitch in hand, but wonder from time to time if I should try a hoop for working on linens which are more wobbly.

When I was taught cross stitching as a kid decades ago I used a hoop, thats what everyone did. I stopped stitching in the early 90s then starting stitching again in 2015 & started stitching in hand, it never occurred to me to use a hoop.. LOL I have used the small hoops that are easy to control but the bigger ones & Qsnaps are just too difficult to hold & stitch at the sametime. So 99.9% of the time I stitch in hand so I can do the sewing method & stitch faster. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Nurge 'hoop' Kat. I have heard good things about them so I have #4 coming to me very soon and I'll be able to give it a try and see if it's going to be a firm favourite, or not! I've always predominantly stitched in hand too but I'm still open to finding the hoop/frame of my dreams and have collected many over the years. I'm with you as well on never, ever putting anything over a stitched area. It's just too risky in my opinion. I can't imagine spending years, or in my case what will probably be decades, stitching a HAED only to find the hoop has left irreversible damage. 😨 I have had some in-hand stitching issues though with starting a large full coverage on aida due to the stiffness of the fabric. It is so unwieldy and washing it is not an option because of the grid lines. Anyway, I do now have a Lowery stand so onto a scroll frame it goes (sadly not a Milennium or Ominik) and 🤞🏻 that will help. I hope beading Rossa went smoothly for you over the Easter weekend. It makes a nice change from stitching i'm guessing. 🙂 Have a lovely stitchy week! ❤️🧵🪡

Hi Kat! Always informative flosstubes. I always use hoops. I just started using a nurge hoop for a new project. It takes getting used to, but you're right about the tension. The fabric stays put. Thanks for your take.

Thank you for your video, Cat. I always stitch in hand and use the sewing method (in and out of the fabric in one movement) so really don't like stitching in a hoop or frame (or even on a scroll frame - tried that for my first HAED and took it out before long and went back to in hand).

Thanks for sharing, that was really interesting. I taught myself to stitch and I stitched in hand as I didn't know any different! I can't get used to a hoop or frame, I feel it really slows me down and gives me less control over how neat my stitches are.

Very informative, thanks Kat. 👍 I only stitch in hand for very small, mini designs. Otherwise, I've used a plastic tubular clip-frame for years. I like it, it works for me, does take a bit of man-handling though, resting it on my thigh, holding it with one hand, flipping it over when I need to finish off a thread, or god forbid, unpick a knot. 🙄 Holding arm can get tired and sore after a long session, but that's just a reminder to take a break, come up for air, eat and drink something. I'm a very part-time amateur stitcher, so speed is NOT of the essence for me - I plod along. Double-handed stitching is not a goal for me! 😂 Cheers 🪡

Even though I’m new to cross stitching, I have found so far that I prefer stitching in hand. I’ve tried a hoop and a snap and honestly didn’t like it enough to even take 1 stitch to give it a proper try. Maybe I’ll try again at some point in the future, but I really like to stitch in hand so I probably won’t..lol 😂

I prefer to use a hoop (nurge) or a q-snap. I tried stitching in hand yesterday and just didn’t feel as in control. Plus I love to have my needle minder on my fabric, and it just weighs the fabric down if not in a hoop.

I have used qsnaps for a while but I love the nurge hoops! I have never tried stitching in hand but I think it would be too easy for me to miss count. It is hard to center and straighten the soft dyed fabrics on the qsnaps for sure!

I'm going to give stitching in hand a try. I've always used an embroidery hoop.

I use nurge and q snaps. I find stitching in hand hurts my hands too much sadly, though it does seem like a faster option. I'm lazy and have a hoop for every project and don't take them out until done. Keeps my wips in control lol i find after I frame them you don't notice the wrinkles really. But then again I mix different kinds of threads lol I figure only I would really notice anyways so I don't stress it much 😂

I may be in the minority here, but I tried stitching in hand and I could not get the hang out it. I LOVE my nurge hoops. It's all I use now. I got rid of my Q-snaps. I stitch with a table stand as well. Another minor thing I like about the nurge hoop is if I need a little bit more light on a section I can clamp on a mini book/reading light onto the corner of the hoop

Hi Kat, thank you for sharing you experience with the hoop. I haven't tried it yet..... I was looking for the pattern you showed. What was the name ?? it was not in the description. Thanks

I would rather not use a hoop as well!

Not sure how one gets tension by stitching in hand? Can you explain?

Not a fan of the Nurge hoops. First off they are plastic. Secondly, you get a heck of a fabric crease from these hoops. Thirdly, you really have to pull the fabric tightly to get it taut. And my fabric still starts to sag after awhile. I much prefer my wooden Hardwicke Manor hoops.

Hi Kat I stitch in hand and when I started my tension wasn’t brilliant So tried hoop,Q snap….oh my goodness no,no,no. Definitely not for me 😂