Embroidery Hoop Stand Comparison and Review
If you’re in the market for an embroidery hoop stand and aren’t sure what your options are or what would be a good fit for you, look no further! I have 3 different stands I have personally used and tested out. I’ll be going over the basic features as well as the pros and cons of each.
I think investing in an embroidery stand is very beneficial for any embroiderer. It prevents hand fatigue, promotes good posture while you’re stitching, and it also allows you to embroider with both of your hands.
This post is one of several about hand embroidery supplies.
Disclaimer: This post has some affiliate links in it. I receive a small commission from purchases at no additional cost to the buyer. I only recommend products I would use and love and that are of good quality. All opinions are my own!
Adjustable Round Embroidery Hoop Stand Holder
I purchased this adjustable round embroidery hoop stand on Amazon. It was super easy to assemble and it took me about twenty minutes. It comes with a screw driver so you don’t need any extra hardware to assemble.
The stand comes with a narrow base and two arms with clamps.
There is a knob and screws that go in both of the clamps. When I first assembled the clamps, I didn’t use the screws because I didn’t think they were needed. Later on, I realized they are needed so that the clamp can provide adequate, even pressure to the embroidery hoop. Don’t throw them away!
The stand has sliding rods that make it adjustable for any size embroidery hoop, and the knobs to adjust the clamps are really nice and easy to use.
On initial inspection, the rods that hold the clamps can be a little finicky and they are also slightly wobbly. However, once I started embroidering with the stand, I realized I still use my other hand to stabilize the embroidery while I’m working on it so I didn’t really notice any wobble once I started working.
I really like how small this stand is, and I’ll be able to easily just keep it on my desk for whenever I need it.
Some down-sides to this frame were that the rods that hold the embroidery are on both sides of the embroidery hoop, making it something you have to get used to while stitching. They felt like they were in the way initially, but once I stitched with it for awhile it didn’t feel as inconvenient. The knobs that adjust the clamps unfortunately did get in the way of my working hand, so I ended up flipping the right one upside-down so that the knob was in the back. That seemed to do the trick and I didn’t notice anymore inconvenience.
Another way to alleviate this problem would be to only use one of the clamps. However, depending on the size of the embroidery hoop, it may not be as secure in the stand that way.
Pros:
- made of good quality materials
- knobs are easy to adjust
- easy to store
- more aesthetically pleasing
- able to use multiple hoop sizes
- easy to assemble
- able to flip the embroidery over to the back without taking it out of the hoop
Cons:
- Higher price point
- wobbles a little bit
- knobs can get in the way while embroidering
- have to use it on a desk
Michael’s Adjustable Craft Stand
The other embroidery stand I have is available at Michaels. I’ve had this stand for years, and it has served it’s purpose. The main difference with this stand is that it is highly adjustable, so you can maneuver the arm to where you can work with the stand from the floor while sitting in a chair or on a desk.
There are 5 different joints that you can adjust to get the right height and angle for your needs. It’s also nice to have the clamp holding the embroidery from above, so it’s not in the way when you’re embroidering.
Some down-sides to this stand are that the wood material doesn’t look as nice, and the knobs are mostly plastic or metal wing nuts so the entire stand feels a bit cheap. Metal wing nuts are also kind of hard to work with sometimes.
The stand has a slight wobble to it, but nothing that’s too distracting while you’re stitching. I also remember the assembly of this stand was frustrating, as it has a large quantity of pieces you have to put together compared to the desk stand stand I mentioned previously. Storing this stand is kind of a pain because it’s an awkward shape and it’s also larger than the other stand.
Pros:
- Highly adjustable
- Usable on a desk or sitting down
- Lower Price
- Clamp doesn’t get in the way while stitching
- Embroidery feels very secure in the clamp
Cons:
- Wobbles slightly
- Larger and harder to store
- Made of cheaper materials
- Harder to assemble
- Wing nuts can be hard to loosen and tighten
Nurge Adjustable Table Stand
The last stand I purchased about a year ago was the Nurge adjustable table stand. Nurge is a UK brand that makes high quality embroidery hoops and accessories. This stand is the one I reach for and have been using regularly.
The stand was very easy to assemble and comes in a natural wood color. The wood feels really nice, and the size of the stand itself is relatively small, making it perfect to keep out on a desk.
The arm is easy to adjust and the clamp holds the embroidery hoop securely. The clamp is small so it doesn’t get in the way while you’re stitching.
The one thing that I wish this stand had was the capability to flip the embroidery hoop around to the back without having to take it out of the clamp. It only takes a second to put it back in the stand, but I do find it to be a little bit of a time waster when I’m trying to secure a piece of thread.
Pros
- made of high quality materials
- easy to assemble
- easy to adjust
- clamp stays nice and tight and doesn’t get in the way while stitching
- small – stores nicely on a desk
Cons
- inability to flip the embroidery to the back while it’s in the clamp
I hope you enjoyed this review! I don’t think that I would recommend one of the products over the other because they are both quite different, and serve different purposes and needs. I will say that I will be continuing to use both of the stands, and that they both have benefits and downsides as any product does. 🙂
Watch the video for an in depth review and look at both!
Amanda is a hand embroidery teacher and artist. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing accessible tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.
