Scroll Frames – advice | Quilting

Scroll Frames – advice

Question:

I have eight sets of scrolls and each one has a different project on it. These are of varying sizes. I only have one duplicate. This way I only have to remove the scroll from my floor stand and substitute another. Takes just minutes. I did not buy all these scrolls at once . When brother, mother, father, friends ask what I would like for my birthday or Christmas, I tell them a scroll. They are not too expensive for gifts. My family is so smart now that they only give me gift certificates to my favorite shop. I have them well trained. I really like having all these frames. It makes stitching life so much easier. Pamela R.

Response:

Hi Stitchbug (Di) If you are doing crewel I have been told that if you are not doing stitching for a while you should not leave the material taut on the scroll frame. Loosen it a little bit. If it is needlepoint, you can leave it on the scroll frame. Cross Stitch also can be left on the scroll. I have a lap frame from Tomorrows Treasures but I have not used it. I bought it several years ago. How do you like it? Is it awkward? Do you put it on your lap or on a table? I have several scroll frames but I seldom use them. I have a piece on a frame which I am working on now. I find working on a frame is slow. I am a needlepointer and I am using DMC floss on 18 to the inch canvas so I decided to put it in a frame. The piece is not big. Edith NYC

Response:

Thanks for the help on using the scroll bars. I used to use them when I did needlepoint, but always had my daughter mount my work. Guess I’ll have to try to figure out how to do it myself. I do think stitching some of my larger pieces will go faster on them. Now, for another dumb question–I looked at them at Michael’s. Do I buy the ones that say "scroll bars" or do I buy the ones that have all the knobs etc included? Di

Response:

Hi Di RE: Scroll Bars Get the bars with the knobs. They are better for your fingers when you are tightening the bar. Also get the bars with the ribbon on it. If you have a sewing machine, you can sew the canvas onto the ribbon with a wide stitch. That is what I do. I do not bind my canvas with tape, I use ribbon. I was fortunate to buy rolls of ribbon on sale when some Woolworth stores closed here in New York City. Also I have bought ribbon in discount stores very cheaply. I sew the ribbon on canvas with my sewing machine. Tape dries out. It does not stay on for a long time. Happy Stitching EdithNYC

Response:

*Now, for another dumb *question–I looked at them at Michael’s. Do I buy the ones that say *"scroll bars" or do I buy the ones that have all the knobs etc included? You need to buy at least one complete set with knobs to start with. Then you can add more bars in different lengths for various size projects. You can also buy extra knobs so you can leave those projects on the bars and switch to another project easily–then you can have lots of different projects going at one time, like most of us! –marina

Response:

I only stitch on scroll frames, of everything I have tried, I like them the best. I use Tomorrows Treasures (not affilitaed, just satisfied). I have 4 sets of side pieices, one small (6 inch), one medium (10 inches) – these are for my portable projects. I also have two sets of 14 inch side rods, one is drilled to fit into my small floor frame, the other is for when I want to take a larger project with me (usually when we go on a longer trip). I also have assorted lengths of the actual dowel rods with the nylon twill tape on them, five or six sets ranging from 6 to 18 inches. 18 inches is the max my smaller floor frame will handle. Larger than that, goes on the big floor frame/quilting frame. I have about 5-6 sets of knobs. I go through knobs pretty fast – either stripping them out or they come loose from the wood. You can use yellow wood glue to anchor the metal collor into the knob better. You can also get the screws with a wood screw on one end and a threaded rod on the other to replace any of the ones in the dowels that get bent. (Hint: take a knob along to make sure the new threaded rod is the right size). Again, use wood glue when you put the replacment rod into the dowel. I always have an extra knob or two tucked away in my travel bag, when they give out – they GIVE OUT <G. Good luck with your frames. Karla

Response:

Hello there, Even though I am new to this newsgroup, I’d like to put in my two cents. The best scroll frame that I have found was at my local Wal-Mart. It is made by F.A. Edmunds and is only $14.95 for the scroll frame and lap stand. I paid almost $40.00 on the a different frame and had trouble putting it together and with the knobs. This set has been, by far, the best that I have tried. -Sonja

Response:

I have had one of those for years (almost twenty) and like it. I have thought about seeing if I could get some different lengths of dowel rod to fit into it, as it is unwieldy sometimes, but it never bothered me enough to make me actually do it. Another thing would be to relace the wing nuts with something more finger friendly, but I’ve never done that either. Am I lazy, or what???!! The one modification I did make was to permanently attach strips of denim to the rods for basting on the material. I used brass furniture-type tacks that look vaguely like small railroad spikes, can’t remember the correct name for them(the quarter inch kind with the flat nail head, not bulletin board tacks) and hammered the heads flat to the curve of the dowels. I have never had a problem with marks on the finished piece, or stains. I also have various sizes of the Tom. Treas. frames and rods, and like them as well, but I can see how it would be easy to overtorque the handle and ruin them. Hasn’t happened to me yet! — Later, Robin

Response:

I do not bind my canvas with tape, I use ribbon. I was fortunate to buy rolls of ribbon on sale when some Woolworth stores closed here in New York City. Also I have bought ribbon in discount stores very cheaply. I sew the ribbon on canvas with my sewing machine. Tape dries out. It does not stay on for a long time. What a great idea! I still do the tape bit and wondered how to mount it on scroll bars with fabric on them.

If the fabric is large enough I usually machine zig-zag the edges on a tight stitch. For me it works better with scroll frames because you don’t have the bulk of a foreign object wrapping around the frame and causing a slack. — Lancaster PA "Childhood is the place where nobody dies, Nobody that matters, that is." -Edna St. Vincent Millay

Response:

What a great idea! I still do the tape bit and wondered how to mount it on scroll bars with fabric on them. Rosemary

Response:

I am about to undertake a rather large project. I was wondering how all of you who are or have worked on Flower Power & the like, you successfully stitched your project. Did you use a frame??? If so, what size??? Did you use a floor stand???? I currently work with a 27" frame with no problems & no stand, be it lap or floor. Thankyou in advance for any advice. — Ann Wembley, Western Australia (home of the fabulous sunset)

Response:

I’m using 17" q snaps for Flower Power kathy san antonio

Response:

I’m using a Tomorrow’s Treasure’s scroll frame to do a round robin project–it’s 36" long, and is actually a bit unwieldy, but still easier than trying to manage the great waves of fabric that would be attacking me without the frame to keep them under control. (No floor stand, just holding it in my hand.) It’s a bit difficult to get real tension with such long bars, but it does still keep me from pulling my stitches too tight (a bad habit I have–I think it’s because I’m a Scorpio). -Bertha Open mouth, insert foot, echo internationally.

Response:

Well, Gripit came through again! Mr & Mrs "Gripit" were at a craft/sewing fair in San Diego a while back. I took my fabric for flower power and the chart. I figured the only way I was going to be able to put it on a frame was to do it sideways, and that really didn’t appeal to me. My fabric was measured and I was assured that they could MAKE a frame to fit. I have a Gripit Legend floor stand. They also invented another piece so that the floor stand to accommodate such a large scroll. I have the scroll now…it is really BIG. However, my Flower Power fabric fits perfectly and it is really easier to stitch on than I thought it would be. They did not charge any extra for having to invent a way for me to stitch this piece. They just charged me as if they had these pieces in stock all the time. I bet they do now! Over e-mail I corresponded with Pam. She is their daughter, and runs the business at home while they are on the road at various craft and stitching shows. She was very delightful. http://www.gripitplus.com/ The web site mentions an 800 number which I used several times. Make sure you tell Pam that you want to do Flower Power. I bet she says "Oh no, not another one of you!!!"

Response:

Must admit that I’m a rebel. I’m using 8" Q-snaps on Flower Power and it is working out great. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am about to undertake a rather large project. I was wondering how all of you who are or have worked on Flower Power & the like, you successfully stitched your project. Did you use a frame??? If so, what size??? Did you use a floor stand???? I’m using a Tomorrow’s Treasure’s scroll frame to do a round robin project–it’s 36" long, and is actually a bit unwieldy, but still easier than trying to manage the great waves of fabric that would be attacking me without the frame to keep them under control. (No floor stand, just holding it in my hand.) It’s a bit difficult to get real tension with such long bars, but it does still keep me from pulling my stitches too tight (a bad habit I have–I think it’s because I’m a Scorpio). -Bertha Open mouth, insert foot, echo internationally.

– The Norse Hedgehog, Sandy _// _//

Response:

When you have several piece going in a rotation, do most of you leave them mounted on your stretcher bars? Do any of you have more than one frame where you can leave them on there? I’m trying to find the best method for doing that. It is mostly why I’ve resisted using scroll frames or stretcher bars so far. I have the Tomorrow’s Treasures lap frame, and am wondering if I would be wise to buy bars for all the projects I have going at one time. I’d love some opinions and hints here. Thanks, Di

Response:

Di, I own, 7 scroll frame rods, I usually will have all of them ready to go with something on them (some have been on for over a year now *guilty grin*). I do always cover them with something to prevent the dust from collection on them *L* dusting is usually the last time on my mind. I like to have them ready to go. I also have several ziplock baggies with my UFO’s in them as well. I don’t think that it would be necessary to get more than 1, but for me because I am lazy and like to spend my money on stitching I do…also like to be able to switch projects if one seems to get the best of me. I have one lap stand and one floor stand, I prefer the lap stand and can easily rotate my scroll frames in and out. Mary

Response:

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