I got home and I open the package and ... wow. What a disappointment.
First of all, one of the arms was visibly warped. Maybe once I had fitted it into the side pieces, the tension would have straightened it out, but that's not really the point, is it? It's only four pieces of wood, for crying out loud. For $10, I expect them to be straight.
Then we get into the slots in the dowels -- the ones I'm supposed to "slip fabric into" -- not likely! They've obviously not been sanded or smoothed in any way. It's just rough and horrible and waiting to snag the dickens out of my material! I got a splinter, y'all. I was going to take the pieces into my shop and sand them smooth, but then I thought, HEY. I paid ten bucks for this. I shouldn't have to do anything.
Look at it! Ugh. I was so mad, I wrote to the company and told them how disappointed I was. And I told them I would be telling you all, too -- so if you're ever in the craft store and you're looking at embroidery frames, steer clear of the ones that are packaged like this. They're sold by a company called Kahoots, and I got this one at Michael's Crafts. I'll be returning it tomorrow morning.
I've thought about picking up a scroll frame. Ugh I'll stick to my hoops.
ReplyDeleteI've never used a scroll frame, as I have a floor standing embroidery frame the uprights of which are large wooden tensioning screws (its like the floor stnading screw frame here http://www.jenny-wren-crafts.co.uk/floor_screw_frame.html), BUt I have to say it's really not worht skimping on. I bought mine when I was a skint student and it was worth saving up for because it's soemthing you're going to keep and use over and over again. (I did buy a second one for out toher house on ebay and got it for half the price second hand so maybe you could check that out). brick stitch doesn't really need to be done on a frame though, so try it without.
ReplyDeleteI was at the Vand A recently though and noticed that the brick stitched cope they have there has considerably smaller, denser stitches than those I generally see people using. Smaller takes longer, but needs tension far less
You know, I've always been happier just working out of hand instead of using hoops or frames, but I was taught that keeping the fabric square and taut in some way led to easier work and a better result. I'm certainly glad to hear that I can skip the devices on my brick stitch! Maybe later I'll try my hand at making my own frame, since I'm so picky.
ReplyDeleteI have two scroll frames from that company. I think their quality has gone downhill over the years, since the older one I use is great. The newer, smaller one I have isn't as great- it has the sames types of issues as yours. I like the convenience of the scroll frame for longer pieces, but I've also not yet tried to do a brick stitch without a frame. I agree, though. For $10, they could have at least made sure the dowels were straight!
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