Cross stitch frame: how to use?

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:47

Embroidery as a kind of decorative art has been known to mankind since ancient times. This art originated in the Eastern region. And it developed, widely used, from an even earlier time than it became known in Ancient Rome and Greece.

Actually, embroidery is a handicraft that involves decorating fabrics and other materials (canvas, leather, batiste, linen, gauze, tulle, and so on) with a variety of patterns.

The main tools for this type of creativity are special threads, needles, scissors and other devices.

About hoop

This is an embroidery tool with a round, oval or rectangular shape. It comes from the word "to stare" - to stretch, pull. It consists of two frames, slightly different in size from each other. A fabric is stretched between them.

When the masterjust beginning to master this art, he often uses the hoop. Firstly, the relatively small size allows you to embroider on a sofa (chair), transfer work to any distance. Secondly, with the hoop it is possible to sit comfortably (unlike the machine) to eliminate pain in the back and arms.

But there are also negative points in use: busy hands, difficulties when embroidering a large canvas (stitches sandwiched between ring frames are bent). That is why many craftsmen are switching to machines and frames.

Universal embroidery machines

They come in the following types: floor, table and sofa.

Floor, as a rule, consist of a support, legs and a frame with clips for the canvas.

Sofa and desktop machines consist of side supports (in the form of rigid triangles or other forms of structures) and a frame on which the fabric is fixed. Thanks to this device, you can embroider canvases of large and huge sizes (from towels to carpets). In addition, the hands of the master remain free.

But there is also a negative point: the back gets tired quickly. This is due to the fact that the machine is located at a certain distance from the embroiderer. This creates some inconvenience (and even causes some to switch back to the hoop).

But progress does not stand still, and special frames for embroidery have already begun to appear in Europe. And some compatriots make them with their own hands.

Cross stitch frame

Due to the fact that most craftswomen prefer well-stretched fabric (canvas), tapestry frames are popular devices for this type of creativity, in addition to the hoop.

Key features:

1. Have a rectangular shape.
2. Sizes can be adjusted or fixed.
3. Due to the fact that the field for embroidery is large enough, the work can be done both sequentially and randomly.
4. Most of the embroidery is visible, which is also a positive.
5. The design allows you to evenly stretch the canvas and subsequently avoid distortions of the finished picture.

Frame Criteria

According to these criteria, you should choose this device for embroidery:

• Ease of use;
• Lightweight;
• Functionality;
• Feel good material;
• Adequate value.

Due to the fact that there are not so many frames for embroidery with beads and a cross around the world, and not everyone likes what is already there (as usual, you won’t please everyone!), the masters came up with the so-called "set of criteria for an ideal frame":

• high-quality and environmentally friendly materials of the components (exclusion of the negative impact on the he alth of the master, as well as damage to the canvas);
• when moving the embroidered work so that the finished sections are not deformed;
• convenient fastening of canvas to construction elements;
• possibility of excellent tension on 4 sides (it is desirable that this be possibleadjust);
• minimum dimensions and weight;
• good external data (pleasant feeling of touching the frame, color, finesse, and so on);
• fair price.

Fastening fabric

How to use a cross stitch frame? It is very important to stretch the fabric and secure along the horizontal and vertical (if necessary) components of the structure. This is done using sewing, Velcro, clips, special fasteners with clips, in grooves, and so on.

In order for the embroidery process to be of high quality and pleasant, it is really important that the canvas horizontally and vertically be evenly, evenly and smoothly stretched, without waves and distortions. Each straight sewing line should be even and straight.

A few recommendations on this issue:

1. The fabric must be fastened with either the front or wrong side out (to protect it from external influences when working on a large canvas).
2. Choose a place to start work from.
3. Wrap the top and bottom sections of the fabric on the horizontal strips. Thus, the necessary "working" fragment will be on the frame.
4. Firmly tighten the fasteners on the horizontal bars of the frame.
5. Tighten and adjust the fabric so that the surface looks like a drum.

How to sew fabric to frame tape:

• find the center of the fabric along the top edge;
• combine it with the middle of the horizontal top bar;
• fixthis place pin;
• evenly stretch the canvas and fix the entire attached edge with pins on the braid;
• with a needle and thread with large stitches, sew a seam obliquely along the fixed line (sew the canvas to the braid);
• do the same on the other side.

Do it yourself

About making a frame for embroidery with your own hands (a master class for those who wish!) tells a craftswoman from Russia and her husband. Having systematized the information that is available on the Internet on this issue, having made a drawing on their own, they calculated the materials and produced.

So, as the sequence of work (the size of the finished product is 45x30 centimeters):

1. From a planed wooden lath (pine), with a section of 20x30 millimeters, it is necessary to make the sides of the product for embroidery. Each is 30 cm long. 3 holes are made on wooden blanks.



2. Cylindrical horizontal components of the frame are made from a round wooden blank (each 45 centimeters long). On both sides of the cylinders, it is necessary to screw in the screws-screws with a thread 6-8 centimeters long.



3. Next, covers are sewn from dense fabric, to which the canvas for embroidery will be attached. Fasten each cover with a stapler along the horizontal components (as if to “flash”).
4. Assemble the frame. Then you can attach it to the machine and create with pleasure.

Ready fixtures

Those who do not want to mess around or do not have the opportunity to make their own, can order a ready-made frame for embroidery "Millennium".

Such a device is very convenient to use and of high quality in terms of its materials and components. Unfortunately, they are not produced in Russia, and therefore they are ordered exclusively from abroad. Country of origin - United Kingdom.

What is the beauty of this embroidery attachment:

1. Quality material (durable and reliable beech wood).
2. Each frame for embroidery is very pleasant to the touch.
3. No plastic or metal parts included.
4. Easy to fasten the fabric.
5. Good vertical stretch of the canvas (does not bend even under the weight of a kilogram iron).

There are no shortcomings as such, except that when ordering via the Internet, you must wait about 2 months. And quite a high price.

But, according to the feedback of the craftswomen who have already tried the Millennium frame, it's worth it!

The components of this handicraft device are as follows:

• 2 horizontal strips of round (or rectangular) section with grooves into which thin sticks are inserted - to secure the fabric;
• 2 woodenvertical spacers with holes;
• threaded wood pins and large wooden nuts to adjust frame height.

How to use the Millennium frame?

Before you start to embroider, you need to stretch the canvas.

There are some features for the frame of this brand:

1. First, side braces are attached to the lower horizontal bar of round section.
2. Next, the lower edge of the canvas is placed on the plank and fixed with a thin stick (knitting needle). After that, the fabric is wound around the bar several times (4-5). Fits well.
3. Then the top edge of the embroidery fabric is attached to the top horizontal bar. And it is also fixed with a knitting needle.
4. Next you need to align the tops of the side braces with the holes on the top bar.
5. And when the entire frame is assembled (together with the canvas), you need to make a good tension. To do this, simultaneously rotate the wooden nuts that are on the threaded pins - until full tension.

Other manufacturers

The Elbesee embroidery frame is also of very high quality. It consists of two horizontal planochek (circular section) and two vertical (rectangular section). Between themselves, all components are fixed with special bolts.

Made from high quality wood.

By the way, there is fabric on the horizontal bars, towhich the canvas is attached (as on the slats of the frame, which is made by hand). The tension is carried out due to the “fixators” (the fabric for embroidery can be sewn with a thread, fastened with buttons, and so on). This art tool is also from the UK.

Dimensional specifications

For embroidery with beads and cross stitch, tapestry frames of different sizes are used depending on the area of the canvas:

1. The optimal frame height (according to the standard) is 30 centimeters (approximate distance from the elbow to the wrist of a person), which is quite convenient and comfortable for the hand. If the height of the work exceeds this indicator, the “extra” extreme (top and bottom) centimeters of the canvas can be wound on the slats.
2. There are frames with a height of less than 30 centimeters - for narrower and fully embroidered works.
3. The maximum height can reach more than 30 centimeters. Such square devices are used in cases where all work in height should be on the "working" surface - due to its volume or other features.

Which frame to choose (model, size, and so on) - it's up to the master!