Comparison
Wooden vs plastic embroidery hoops: which holds fabric better?
For a first dog portrait, use a 6-inch wooden hoop with a brass screw. It holds linen drum-tight, especially with the inner ring bound in cotton tape, and it's the frame you hang it in. A plastic hoop with a gripping lip is a fine, inexpensive way to practice. Skip any hoop that can't keep the fabric taut.
The common hoops, compared
Embroidery hoops for hand embroidery
| Wooden, with a screw | Plastic, with a screw | Spring-tension | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holds tension | Very well, especially with the inner ring bound | Well; some have a lip on the inner ring that grips | Varies: one spring-action hoop Needle 'n Thread tested couldn't keep fabric taut |
| Gentle on fabric | Yes, once the inner ring is bound with cotton tape | Yes, if you unhoop between sessions | Depends on the hardware; metal parts shouldn't touch the fabric |
| Display in it | Yes: it's the classic frame for hoop art | Possible, but it looks less finished | No |
| Best for | Your portrait, start to finish | Practice pieces and first tries | Quick, small jobs, if it holds |
Where this comes from: we haven't run a test of brands. The table is built from the sources below and from stitching our own patterns in wooden hoops.
Why we use a wooden hoop
A wooden hoop with a brass screw holds linen firmly, and when you're done, it's already the frame. That's why the Stitch Your Dog supply list asks for a 6-inch wooden hoop, beech or bamboo, with the screw at the top.
- Bind the inner ring with cotton twill tape. It gives the linen something to grip, so it stays tight, and it's gentler on the fabric.
- Tighten in small rounds. Ease the edges a little all the way around, give the screw a small turn, and repeat until the fabric sounds like a drum when you tap it.
- Unhoop at the end of each session, or at least loosen it. It lets the fibers relax and helps you avoid a permanent ring.
Not sure about size? Here's what size hoop to use.
When a plastic hoop makes sense
Plastic hoops are inexpensive and easy to find, and the kind with a lip on the inner ring grips fabric well. Needle 'n Thread calls them useful hoops for beginners. They're a good choice for practice pieces, for testing a stitch, or if you're not sure yet whether you'll keep stitching.
For the portrait you'll hang, wood looks warmer and more finished next to oatmeal linen. You can always practice in plastic and move to wood for the real thing.
Displaying your embroidery in the hoop you stitched in
With a wooden hoop, you can. When the stitching is done and the sheet is rinsed away, press the piece, put it back in the hoop centered and tight, and turn the screw to the top. Trim the extra fabric, gather or glue it to the back, and cover it with a felt circle. It hangs from a small nail by the screw.
The five-minute version is in how to frame embroidery in a hoop.
- The fabric keeps slipping.
- Bind the inner ring with cotton twill tape, and re-tighten in small rounds as you work.
- A ring mark where the hoop sat.
- Unhoop when you stop for the day, and wash your hands before you handle the fabric. A rinse and a gentle press can help, but a mark left for weeks may not come out.
- The screw catches your thread.
- Turn the hoop so the screw sits at about 10 or 11 o'clock while you stitch (1 or 2 if you're left-handed), and back to the top for display.
Questions people ask
Which hoop keeps fabric tighter?
A good wooden hoop with a screw, with its inner ring bound in cotton twill tape. The tape gives the fabric something to grip. Plastic hoops with a gripping lip hold well too.
Can you display your embroidery in the hoop you stitched in?
Yes, with a wooden hoop. Re-hoop the finished, pressed piece centered and tight, trim and back it with felt, and hang it by the screw.
Are spring tension hoops good for hand embroidery?
Some aren't. Needle 'n Thread tested a spring-action hoop that couldn't keep fabric taut. If you try one, tap the fabric: it should sound like a drum and stay that way while you stitch.
What about flexi hoops?
Flexi hoops are plastic rings sold mainly for displaying finished work. For stitching a portrait, we use a wooden hoop with a screw.
Sources: Needle 'n Thread: Embroidery hoops and frames · Needle 'n Thread: Don't waste your money on this hoop · Needle 'n Thread: Hoop tips, getting the most out of your hoop · DMC: How to use an embroidery hoop