Today's question comes from Ethel, who asks:
Having been a fabric artist for years, I’m still discovering embroidery and I’ve run into a snag. I can’t seem to buy any embroidery hoops here where I live. Michael’s said they don’t sell them any more, and 2 Walmart stores had none.
What do I have to do different to embroider without a hoop, as different from embroidering with a hoop?
As for myself, I have definitely had the hoop problem as well. My local craft stores stock very few wooden hoops, which are the ones I use most in crafts that I give away. I use the same plastic hoops for my larger projects over and over again. If I have to purchase a big batch of hoops, I usually go to Ebay, and snap up whatever vintage hoops I can find there.
Most of the hoops I used in the project below were scored on Ebay, and you can tell from the slightly different finishes:
Now, I'm opening it up to all of you, because I am curious - where do you find your hoops? What are your favorites? Do any of you stitch without hoops, and if so, what advice can you give? :)
Be sure to click over to our Facebook group post above, there are some good suggestions there, too!
