Excellent, informative video. My mother (Monta Lea Kramer) invented the Q-Snap frame in 1985 after I gave her the idea for the clamps. She went on to write the patent application herself and was awarded the patent in 1987. The first frames were hand made from plumbing pipe, and we went on to improve the design and get frame parts and clamps custom molded. We had no idea it would be so popular! I bought the company from my mom in 1993, and changed the company name to the product name Q-Snap. I sold the business to Yarn Tree (Ames Iowa) in 2014. We were blessed to have such a loyal following and thank everyone who loves Q-Snap Frames!!
I'm a 'Stitching in the well' guy. 3 reasons: the clamps are rubbing the backside of your fabric, not the front...if you end your thread by running it under your stitches on the back, it's easier to do when/if you're stitching close to the frame...and I find I can hold the Q-Snap more comfortably when I can wrap my thumb up around it when it's on top. Another tip: when I get a new set, I use 320 grit sandpaper and round off and soften the inside ends of the clamps where the ridges end. From the factory they are kinda sharp and that's what snags your fabric. Hope this helps. Love your video style Michelle!👍👍
Thanks for the tip! I have been thinking about sanding them down a bit, more for the sake of my fingers than anything, so great to hear it works! I honestly can't decide whether I prefer "in the well" or whatever weird name the other way has, so currently alternating until I can make up my mind 😆
@@TheGiddyStitcher I so tried the in the well way and wow I think I like it for my new start couldn't be due am in top corner so hard to work with just now in a 11inch by 11inch q snap frame that I just got grime guard for 😁 so far just tucked fabric excess into the grime guard haha may need invest something though as I have a few larger designs I have to do.maybe try smaller q snap too
@@princessatmey1 Definitely going to give the sanding a go! Although it's been much less of an issue since I started pinging the clamps off by pulling the felt instead :D
Thank you so much! Im about to get back into cross stitch after decades off. I haven’t cross stitched since I was a teenager in the 80s, and I’m amazed at how much has changed! Thanks for these in depth tours of the equipment and terms. I really appreciate it!
I'm with you cornbreadOracle! I'm 64 and just getting back into cross stitching. My biggest problem is that the eyes are not the eyes of a teenager anymore!! Larger count fabric and a magnifier are my new best friends now! haha
I contacted the company and got the owner. If questioned him about the placement for the frame and told him I place the frame on top of the fabric and roll the fabric forward and then place the clamps on from the underside. That way any handling of the fabric is being touched on the back of the fabric and eliminating any possible soiling on the top of the fabric with hand contact. He acknowledged that that was the correct way but to show the public how the clamps work, they had to photograph it with the fabric going down instead of the fabric coming up and basically creating a ‘well’.
As far as extra fabric, I saw someone use waist band (1 inch wide) elastic. Measure the elastic to your size, looping it around the frame to create a circle and cut. Stitch by hand or machine the ends as you overlap the two by about an inch overlap. This creates a snug circle over the frame. Do this with more elastic for the opposite direction. By placing them in the up and down direction (vertical) and the other in the left and right (horizontal) direction, you can roll up the extra fabric and place the elastic bands over the fabric to hold it in place. Works beautifully to contain the extra fabric.
This is such a genius idea I've already passed it on to someone else who was struggling to contain all the fabric for a big project! Thanks for the great tip!
Wow! This is an awesome tutorial! Wonderful video! You did great! Thank you for the shout out too. Lol, my eyes bugged out and I laughed at myself, like that's me!!!! I use felt like you do, and love the ease of how it helps to remove the snaps. All of tips you had were great! So, I've tried the huggers and sent them back as I found them too small. They hold small amounts off fabric, but don't do much for the large amounts you may have for a large project. Happy Stitching! Steph
Thank you! That's such a shame about the spool huggers, they looked like they could be handy. Maybe I'll have to break out the 3d printer and invent something...
You're video is really helpful. I usually stitch without any hoop just in hand. But now I have a project on a darker fabric and Q Snap is so life saving. It is so much easier now. Thank you very much 😊
I loved this video so much I bought a set of 11x11 Qsnap. I tend to do larger pieces. I've been stitching for over 30 years and have never used a hoop or other device but Im always willing to try a different way.
I'm starting my first big project Star Spangled Sampler and I am using linen fabric. I purchased a variety pack of QSnaps and put the fabric in a large one to start, but was unsure about it, as I was concerned about the fabric stretching, so I pulled it and set it aside last night. Your information has given me the confidence to give it a go again and start with a smaller frame first since it will be tiny working stitches! Thanks!!
Happy to help! It genuinely is a bit nerve-wracking at first, but the piece that I used to demonstrate in this video has spent most of the last year and a half in its q-snap with (touch wood) no issues as of yet. Best of luck with the new project!
I'm currently using Q-Snaps for the first time & so far I like em! I've been worried about the clamps ruining my stitches but people keep reassuring me they don't have any issues. I've also been trying to think of what spare fabric I can get around the house to put under the clamps but then you said felt & I heard the angels sing from on high. Or something like that. I have felt! & it's something I can easily get to right now (craft room is currently closed due to hot water leak) cause it just happened to be in a box I'd grabbed to save. Woohoo! I'll have to try that tonight. Thanks for that tip! I actually have some of those fabric huggers on the way that I ordered from Etsy a couple days ago. Love this & all your videos! Have a fab weekend! 💜
Oh no I hope to l the rest of your craft stuff is ok! 😱 The felt bits are definitely a total gamechanger, but if you haven't seen it elsewhere in the comments people are suggesting lightly filing down the corners of the clamps too because they can be a bit sharp and prone to snagging. I've still not actually tried that because I'm lazy but will get round to testing it at some point and report back.
@@TheGiddyStitcher Me too! I won't really know till the room is completely done & I can get to the back of the room. Boo. You know, I've been meaning to actually file down those edges too & when I think about it I'm like eh I'll get it next time 😆
Came across this while looking for an answer to a problem I've given myself: an all-metallic thread project where I will have to move my q-snap at some point, as the project is a large-ish rectangle. I'm going to try the felt, as that's the best solution I've seen so far to avoid crushing my previous stitches!
All-metallic?! Oh wow, good luck with that, I'm sure it'll look stunning but I'm cringing just thinking about it! Felt definitely sounds like a good shout in this (completely insane) case, would be curious to hear an update if you come across any other tips to help protect it too 😊
The felt worked really well! I've been able to move my piece around without any stitches coming out or being damaged, thank you for the tip! My next option was to heat and relax the snaps, but I really didn't want to intentionally damage the snaps if I could avoid it. The project is a sugar-skull version of Grogu (baby Yoda) in silver metallic thread to mimic beskar, the imaginary wonder-metal in the Star Wars universe :D @@TheGiddyStitcher
I use off brand q-snaps when feel I need tension on a project. I have a floor stand so I tend to use 11x8 combination. Here's a tip tho, depending on the size of your project you can also use a qsnap like a scroll frame. You lose the side tension but you gain the ability to to roll your fabric. I think I saw it done on a UA-cam video 🤔. Another great one Michelle!
Thank you! Your floor stand setup sounds like my eventual goal. I keep wavering between "save up enough to buy one" and "figure out how to build one" so we'll see, but one day I shall join you in 11x8 + floor stand supremacy! hadn't seen people using these like scroll frames but honestly that makes a lot of sense, I guess it just comes down to whether your fabric can fit. Off to google that now, haha! 😄
I really love using Q snaps. I'm waiting for the extra ones I ordered to come and they are taking forever 😵 Hoops are nice, but it's not always convenient to stitch in a circle.
From a pure materials perspective, the heating trick should work... to a point. Over time, you will weaken the structure of the clamping pieces to the point where they could fail and snap when pressure is applied to spread them apart over the frame. This is not likely to be a major concern for most people unless you find yourself trying to "tighten" them very frequently, at which point I would say there was likely a manufacturing issue in the first place, as that loosening effect should be pretty slow based on how they are used.
So helpful! Just started cross stiching, got me an 8x8 to start off, and was confused because I didn't know how to get them off. They were so tight and I almost ruined my nails trying. Lol. Thanks :)
Mine was brand new when I filmed this and I can confirm they loosen up a lot. But the felt inserts were a gamechanger anyway because I have the strength of a wet kitten 😂
Thank you for this video! I've been stitching (under a rock😂) for 40 years and I've only started seeing these frames for a few months. I've been wanting to get one, but I've been hesitant to spend the money on it because I didn't know much about how to use them. Now I have to watch your grime guard tutorial to see if I can make one of those. 😂
Hello! Such a helpful video and perfect timing for me to find this video! I've migrated to higher count fabric, and while I typically stitch in hand, using the sewing method, I find that for these much higher counts (46+), I think using a frame of some sort would work better for me. Thank you!!
You're very welcome! I was actually in the same boat moving from my usual standard 14ct to 28 and that's what prompted me to try one in the first place. So I can confirm, makes a huge difference!
Using a floor frame or a Kay’s lap frame makes it possible to stitch ‘double handed or use both hands. I love to stitch two,handed. Makes it go a bit faster.
Great video.I really wanted to try a Q-Snap but the clamps were sooo tight I had a lot of trouble with them. To be fair, some of the problem was my hands. They just don't work like they once did. Thank you.
Didn't know how this "thing" was called but I now feel so smart I bought one some time ago haha! I did run anxiously to my "now fancily called Q-snap" to check if it had the inside ridges you talked about and... yes it did! I am now reassured it didn't hold my cross-stitch properly because of my inability to put it on correctly and not the Q-snap itself! 😅This video was very useful to me as I had obviously no idea what I was doing and now I will finally do things properly! 😂 Also, seeing my video/face at the beginning was very unexpected and I blushed so hard 🤭 (as a strong introvert, I have no idea what I'm doing on YT really 🤣), and of course my husband found that very funny, so thank you for bringing some joy to our day! 🤭🥰
That's the secret of small UA-cam channels....none of us know what we're doing and it's kind of hilarious 😂 Sorry for the mild shock, there! If you do try the Q-Snap again and it's still not working I'd love to hear what's going wrong with it, maybe we can figure it out together and it'll give me notes for the inevitable update to this video a year from now 😅
@@TheGiddyStitcher Haha alright, once I start a new cross-stitch project, I'll tell you if I still struggle 🤭 Right now I'm trying to learn crochet (a little bumblebee 😍) and that will take a loooot of time, I am still a one project at a time kind of crafter! 🤣
You're very welcome! Sometimes the seemingly "simple" questions go unanswered because everyone's too busy with the more complicated stuff, so I wanted to try and be as thorough as possible :)
Hi, just wanted to tell u I have learned so much from u,, I am legally blind in one eye but love cross stitching! But I do want to thank you for teaching me a thing or two and for making me laugh😍 😍 😎
I have a few off brand Q snaps and they do have some issues with holding the fabric. Mainly because of the construction, the corners are separate pieces so the sides can twist if the connection gets loose. I finally got some of the branded kind and they are better.
Ah that makes sense, also explains why you can't mix and match pieces from the official ones with the off-brand ones. Usually with these things my absurd frugality wins out and I go with off-brand to save the tiny amount of money, but it definitely sounds like it was the right decision going for the real thing this time!
Hi. I'm wondering if you had any advice on how to straighten out my Q Snap. It's a Q Snap brand not a cheeper alternative and the bars and claps has bowed with use. Many Thanks
Hi! Do you know how these would work with stiff felt? Like the kind used for beadwork? I've been searching for something that I can use for beading and so far this seems like the most likely option, but I'd love to hear from someone with experience.
I stared out with the spool huggers. However they don’t hold much of the fabric. I just use them to hold back the few centimeters of fabric when stitching close to the edge. Thanks a lot for this video. There were a few topics I wasn’t thinking about. When I do my German stitching dictionary I will reference this video and send people over if that’s ok with you.
Aww, that does seem to be the consensus about the spool huggers. Makes me a bit sad, they looked so colourful and fun! Definitely feel free to reference me to as many people as you want, haha! :D
Thanks for this video…fab as always! I’ve not tried one of these but am curious so this has answered all my questions. I like to hold the hoop in my hand but have small hands so have been wondering about comfort with this and if it would be too clunky.
I love my q snaps. I haven't tried stitching in the well. I usually use 8x8 or 11x11. I tried mixing the pieces to make 11x8 but didn't like that for some reason.
11x11 is definitely my next one, just for when I need that extra oomph. But 8x8 is so easy to hold, I love it. It's all just personal preference when we get right down to it, but hey at least you have the option of 8x11 if you ever need it!
I just got the 11x17 Q snap, but its not square. Its like a warped picture frame or something...when its put together it doesnt lay flat on a table, it twists out of square. It also wont even stay together. Did I get a bad one? Did I not put it together right?
I saw a tutorial that actually suggested using a car wheel cover from Dollar Tree as a grime protector to save money. Haven’t tried it yet, but it IS the same shape as the grime protectors.
I have several Q-snaps in different sizes. The pieces are all mixed up. I wish Q-snaps had a pamphlet that shows all the different configurations you can make with the pieces. I must be Q-snap challenged because I can never figure out new configurations. Some people say you can make so many configurations if you have all the pieces.
The specific ones I have are these smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0892K75ZB but a search for "magnetic cable tie" on your local Amazon or wherever should turn up a ton of very similar things. Hope that helps! 😊
Great Video very helpful as I am considering getting one for my eye of the sparrow sampler which I am purchasing my bit for the project and have never used a q snap and found this very helpful Thank you Venetia
Thanks for making this video …..fab as always! I don’t use these but have been both curious and concerned for many of the reasons you mention here. I like to stitch in hand but because I have small hands I wondered if this would be clunky to hold. I’d most likely start with an 8x8 inch. (My first comment vanished so apologies if it reappears as well as this one).
UA-cam is forever doing shenanigans with disappearing comments, I've given up trying to spot a pattern in them honestly! I think (hope?) this is one of those subjects where it feels almost silly asking certain questions because everyone else makes it look so simple. But I have no shame, so figured it would be good to share. Glad it was helpful! 😀 Re: your question, the 8x8 is VERY lightweight so that's not an issue, but the pieces are quite chunky so I'm not sure. A lot of people prefer to clamp them into some sort of stand and go hands-free for that exact reason. But as another commenter pointed out, the way you attach your fabric ("in the well" vs not) can make a big difference to how comfortable it is to hold, so if you do try one it'd be worth experimenting with both ways to figure out which feels best.
I'm guessing you might mean the "magnetic cable ties" that I'm using to hold excess fabric (and also as handy needle minders)? Popping that phrase into a search on amazon or similar should find lots of them :)
Hi, so the specific ones I have are these smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0892K75ZB but a search for "magnetic cable tie" on your local Amazon or wherever should turn up a ton of very similar things. Hope that helps! 😊
I like the felt idea. I will have to try that. I hate removing the clamps. Drives me nuts. The grime guards…make them a bit wider….that way you roll up your excess fabric and jam it into the back of the grime guard.
The felt is an absolute gamechanger for removing the snaps. It still looked a bit awkward to do in the video but that's because I was reaching around a tripod with a camera in my face, haha! Definitely recommend :D
Another thing I have seen people do….is lay ribbons under the clamp backside and frontside then you roll the excess fabric and tie the ribbons around the roll of excess fabric. It looked a bit finicky though. But also kinda cute…you can do matchy ribbons!
@@glennybarkedalot4572 Ooh that does sound cute! Definitely a bit of a faff if you're taking it out of the frame regularly though. Although I am far too lazy to do that 😅
Do you mean the excess fabric that I rolled up against the sides of the frame in my example? Personally I've not found that to be an annoyance (yet) but do worry about it getting dirty, I'm thinking maybe a grime guard is the answer to both of our issues! Now if only they didn't look quite so frumpy...
I have seen people lay the fabric over the q snap….then fold the extra fabric up towards the front of the piece before they put the q snap clamps on…so you have a double layer of fabric under the clamp. (Hope that makes sense)….the good thing is your right side of the excess fabric is protected this way.
I recently started using one, and the most terrifying part was trying to remove the clamps off my project... they were so tight on there that I had trouble removing them even from the bare frame! Love that felt idea, though!
It really is so nerve wracking doing that the first few times! Especially since all the videos I'd watched before getting one myself were using older clamps that were a lot looser, I definitely thought mine was broken at first. Happy to confirm though it gets a lot easier, and I do absolutely still recommend the felt :)
I think a stand of some sort is essential if you want to use a laying tool with any frame. Need both hands free. I used a laying tool for the first time when I was doing turkey work. I had my fabric in an off brand qsnap being held by my Lowery stand. Hope that helps.
Absolutely! I'm finding the Q-snap great for evenweave but still holding my Aida projects in hand, that seems to be working out well so far. Hoops are definitely a hindrance though, I'm with you there!
I really love using Q snaps. I'm waiting for the extra ones I ordered to come and they are taking forever 😵 Hoops are nice, but it's not always convenient to stitch in a circle.
Oh no, waiting for slow craft supplies is a pain, hope they turn up soon! I'm way too frugal to buy multiple but my birthday wishlist definitely has a few of them on there now :D
10 points to the first person who correctly figures out where my b-roll went wrong and left me horribly exposed!
I did think for a moment it was my computer/internet that had an issue so thank you for this comment haha! 🤭
@@marie-low-stresslife7374 Nope I am just a poop at editing 😉
You remind me Cristine from SimplyNailogical))) do you watch her?))
Excellent, informative video. My mother (Monta Lea Kramer) invented the Q-Snap frame in 1985 after I gave her the idea for the clamps. She went on to write the patent application herself and was awarded the patent in 1987. The first frames were hand made from plumbing pipe, and we went on to improve the design and get frame parts and clamps custom molded. We had no idea it would be so popular! I bought the company from my mom in 1993, and changed the company name to the product name Q-Snap. I sold the business to Yarn Tree (Ames Iowa) in 2014. We were blessed to have such a loyal following and thank everyone who loves Q-Snap Frames!!
That's so cool thank you for sharing! They've been an absolute gamechanger for me and for so many other people.
That’s awesome
All the kudos to your mom and you for the Q-snap! I really like them and feel my stitching is better with using them.
I loved to know your story. thank you so much.
I'm a 'Stitching in the well' guy. 3 reasons: the clamps are rubbing the backside of your fabric, not the front...if you end your thread by running it under your stitches on the back, it's easier to do when/if you're stitching close to the frame...and I find I can hold the Q-Snap more comfortably when I can wrap my thumb up around it when it's on top. Another tip: when I get a new set, I use 320 grit sandpaper and round off and soften the inside ends of the clamps where the ridges end. From the factory they are kinda sharp and that's what snags your fabric. Hope this helps. Love your video style Michelle!👍👍
Thanks for the tip! I have been thinking about sanding them down a bit, more for the sake of my fingers than anything, so great to hear it works! I honestly can't decide whether I prefer "in the well" or whatever weird name the other way has, so currently alternating until I can make up my mind 😆
I also sand ends of new one as there so rough you can see it
@@TheGiddyStitcher I so tried the in the well way and wow I think I like it for my new start couldn't be due am in top corner so hard to work with just now in a 11inch by 11inch q snap frame that I just got grime guard for 😁 so far just tucked fabric excess into the grime guard haha may need invest something though as I have a few larger designs I have to do.maybe try smaller q snap too
@@princessatmey1 Definitely going to give the sanding a go! Although it's been much less of an issue since I started pinging the clamps off by pulling the felt instead :D
@@TheGiddyStitcher yea I seen you used felt I may invest in some as I cant pull them off 🙈 like that.
Thank you so much! Im about to get back into cross stitch after decades off. I haven’t cross stitched since I was a teenager in the 80s, and I’m amazed at how much has changed! Thanks for these in depth tours of the equipment and terms. I really appreciate it!
I'm with you cornbreadOracle! I'm 64 and just getting back into cross stitching. My biggest problem is that the eyes are not the eyes of a teenager anymore!! Larger count fabric and a magnifier are my new best friends now! haha
Thank you, that's really explained the "pro s & cons" ordering one tomorrow, like you I d never heard of the " Snap Frame".
I contacted the company and got the owner. If questioned him about the placement for the frame and told him I place the frame on top of the fabric and roll the fabric forward and then place the clamps on from the underside. That way any handling of the fabric is being touched on the back of the fabric and eliminating any possible soiling on the top of the fabric with hand contact. He acknowledged that that was the correct way but to show the public how the clamps work, they had to photograph it with the fabric going down instead of the fabric coming up and basically creating a ‘well’.
As far as extra fabric, I saw someone use waist band (1 inch wide) elastic. Measure the elastic to your size, looping it around the frame to create a circle and cut. Stitch by hand or machine the ends as you overlap the two by about an inch overlap. This creates a snug circle over the frame. Do this with more elastic for the opposite direction. By placing them in the up and down direction (vertical) and the other in the left and right (horizontal) direction, you can roll up the extra fabric and place the elastic bands over the fabric to hold it in place. Works beautifully to contain the extra fabric.
This is such a genius idea I've already passed it on to someone else who was struggling to contain all the fabric for a big project! Thanks for the great tip!
Wow! This is an awesome tutorial! Wonderful video! You did great! Thank you for the shout out too. Lol, my eyes bugged out and I laughed at myself, like that's me!!!! I use felt like you do, and love the ease of how it helps to remove the snaps. All of tips you had were great! So, I've tried the huggers and sent them back as I found them too small. They hold small amounts off fabric, but don't do much for the large amounts you may have for a large project. Happy Stitching! Steph
Thank you! That's such a shame about the spool huggers, they looked like they could be handy. Maybe I'll have to break out the 3d printer and invent something...
You're video is really helpful. I usually stitch without any hoop just in hand. But now I have a project on a darker fabric and Q Snap is so life saving. It is so much easier now. Thank you very much 😊
I loved this video so much I bought a set of 11x11 Qsnap. I tend to do larger pieces. I've been stitching for over 30 years and have never used a hoop or other device but Im always willing to try a different way.
Wonderful video! Thank you very much for the hints about what to do with the excess fabric. And especially how to work the snaps.
Glad it was helpful! Some great tips in the comments too from people way more experienced than I was when I recorded this 😅
I'm starting my first big project Star Spangled Sampler and I am using linen fabric. I purchased a variety pack of QSnaps and put the fabric in a large one to start, but was unsure about it, as I was concerned about the fabric stretching, so I pulled it and set it aside last night.
Your information has given me the confidence to give it a go again and start with a smaller frame first since it will be tiny working stitches! Thanks!!
Happy to help! It genuinely is a bit nerve-wracking at first, but the piece that I used to demonstrate in this video has spent most of the last year and a half in its q-snap with (touch wood) no issues as of yet. Best of luck with the new project!
Thanks! I haven't crosstitched for years and was about to buy a traditionnal frame and now changed my mind and ordered a Q Snap!
I can attest to the validity of the dishwasher trick! I just stick them in with the silverware and have had no problems. 😊
Ooh this is excellent to hear, thank you for the confirmation! It's one of those things you read about on the internet and think.....hmm 🤔
I'm about to start my first big project and I only used a hoop. This video answered so many of my questions, thank you 🥰
I just bought one and had no idea how to unframe it, it was so tight! the with your video I used some tissue to help me to unframe. thank you!
It totally caught me out too! It's surprising how fast they loosen up though, it'll get easier in no time :D
I'm currently using Q-Snaps for the first time & so far I like em! I've been worried about the clamps ruining my stitches but people keep reassuring me they don't have any issues. I've also been trying to think of what spare fabric I can get around the house to put under the clamps but then you said felt & I heard the angels sing from on high. Or something like that. I have felt! & it's something I can easily get to right now (craft room is currently closed due to hot water leak) cause it just happened to be in a box I'd grabbed to save. Woohoo! I'll have to try that tonight. Thanks for that tip! I actually have some of those fabric huggers on the way that I ordered from Etsy a couple days ago. Love this & all your videos! Have a fab weekend! 💜
Oh no I hope to l the rest of your craft stuff is ok! 😱
The felt bits are definitely a total gamechanger, but if you haven't seen it elsewhere in the comments people are suggesting lightly filing down the corners of the clamps too because they can be a bit sharp and prone to snagging. I've still not actually tried that because I'm lazy but will get round to testing it at some point and report back.
@@TheGiddyStitcher Me too! I won't really know till the room is completely done & I can get to the back of the room. Boo. You know, I've been meaning to actually file down those edges too & when I think about it I'm like eh I'll get it next time 😆
Came across this while looking for an answer to a problem I've given myself: an all-metallic thread project where I will have to move my q-snap at some point, as the project is a large-ish rectangle. I'm going to try the felt, as that's the best solution I've seen so far to avoid crushing my previous stitches!
All-metallic?! Oh wow, good luck with that, I'm sure it'll look stunning but I'm cringing just thinking about it! Felt definitely sounds like a good shout in this (completely insane) case, would be curious to hear an update if you come across any other tips to help protect it too 😊
The felt worked really well! I've been able to move my piece around without any stitches coming out or being damaged, thank you for the tip! My next option was to heat and relax the snaps, but I really didn't want to intentionally damage the snaps if I could avoid it.
The project is a sugar-skull version of Grogu (baby Yoda) in silver metallic thread to mimic beskar, the imaginary wonder-metal in the Star Wars universe :D @@TheGiddyStitcher
I use off brand q-snaps when feel I need tension on a project. I have a floor stand so I tend to use 11x8 combination. Here's a tip tho, depending on the size of your project you can also use a qsnap like a scroll frame. You lose the side tension but you gain the ability to to roll your fabric. I think I saw it done on a UA-cam video 🤔.
Another great one Michelle!
Thank you! Your floor stand setup sounds like my eventual goal. I keep wavering between "save up enough to buy one" and "figure out how to build one" so we'll see, but one day I shall join you in 11x8 + floor stand supremacy! hadn't seen people using these like scroll frames but honestly that makes a lot of sense, I guess it just comes down to whether your fabric can fit. Off to google that now, haha! 😄
@@TheGiddyStitcher the funny thing is now that I have all the gear, I find myself lately stitching in hand more. Go figure. 😏
@@crossed_threads Haha, yep that sounds about right. But it's good to have all your options open, right? 😆
I really love using Q snaps. I'm waiting for the extra ones I ordered to come and they are taking forever 😵 Hoops are nice, but it's not always convenient to stitch in a circle.
Yes I am a definite convert. Gonna need one for every WIP so that's....eleventy million Q-Snaps 😳 Fingers crossed yours arrive soon!
Go to home depot plumber section
From a pure materials perspective, the heating trick should work... to a point. Over time, you will weaken the structure of the clamping pieces to the point where they could fail and snap when pressure is applied to spread them apart over the frame. This is not likely to be a major concern for most people unless you find yourself trying to "tighten" them very frequently, at which point I would say there was likely a manufacturing issue in the first place, as that loosening effect should be pretty slow based on how they are used.
So helpful! Just started cross stiching, got me an 8x8 to start off, and was confused because I didn't know how to get them off. They were so tight and I almost ruined my nails trying. Lol. Thanks :)
Mine was brand new when I filmed this and I can confirm they loosen up a lot. But the felt inserts were a gamechanger anyway because I have the strength of a wet kitten 😂
Thank you for this video! I've been stitching (under a rock😂) for 40 years and I've only started seeing these frames for a few months. I've been wanting to get one, but I've been hesitant to spend the money on it because I didn't know much about how to use them. Now I have to watch your grime guard tutorial to see if I can make one of those. 😂
Hello! Such a helpful video and perfect timing for me to find this video! I've migrated to higher count fabric, and while I typically stitch in hand, using the sewing method, I find that for these much higher counts (46+), I think using a frame of some sort would work better for me. Thank you!!
You're very welcome! I was actually in the same boat moving from my usual standard 14ct to 28 and that's what prompted me to try one in the first place. So I can confirm, makes a huge difference!
Using a floor frame or a Kay’s lap frame makes it possible to stitch ‘double handed or use both hands. I love to stitch two,handed. Makes it go a bit faster.
Great video.I really wanted to try a Q-Snap but the clamps were sooo tight I had a lot of trouble with them. To be fair, some of the problem was my hands. They just don't work like they once did. Thank you.
Didn't know how this "thing" was called but I now feel so smart I bought one some time ago haha! I did run anxiously to my "now fancily called Q-snap" to check if it had the inside ridges you talked about and... yes it did! I am now reassured it didn't hold my cross-stitch properly because of my inability to put it on correctly and not the Q-snap itself! 😅This video was very useful to me as I had obviously no idea what I was doing and now I will finally do things properly! 😂 Also, seeing my video/face at the beginning was very unexpected and I blushed so hard 🤭 (as a strong introvert, I have no idea what I'm doing on YT really 🤣), and of course my husband found that very funny, so thank you for bringing some joy to our day! 🤭🥰
That's the secret of small UA-cam channels....none of us know what we're doing and it's kind of hilarious 😂 Sorry for the mild shock, there! If you do try the Q-Snap again and it's still not working I'd love to hear what's going wrong with it, maybe we can figure it out together and it'll give me notes for the inevitable update to this video a year from now 😅
@@TheGiddyStitcher Haha alright, once I start a new cross-stitch project, I'll tell you if I still struggle 🤭 Right now I'm trying to learn crochet (a little bumblebee 😍) and that will take a loooot of time, I am still a one project at a time kind of crafter! 🤣
❤Thank you for this video. I purchased 8x8 qsnap.
May seem simple, but do appreciate explaining so thoroughly.😊😊😊😊
Erma
You're very welcome! Sometimes the seemingly "simple" questions go unanswered because everyone's too busy with the more complicated stuff, so I wanted to try and be as thorough as possible :)
It takes me a long time to get my aida cloth in my q-snap without it being skewed too badly. Any tips to avoid the skewing?
Hi, just wanted to tell u I have learned so much from u,, I am legally blind in one eye but love cross stitching! But I do want to thank you for teaching me a thing or two and for making me laugh😍 😍 😎
I have a few off brand Q snaps and they do have some issues with holding the fabric. Mainly because of the construction, the corners are separate pieces so the sides can twist if the connection gets loose. I finally got some of the branded kind and they are better.
Ah that makes sense, also explains why you can't mix and match pieces from the official ones with the off-brand ones. Usually with these things my absurd frugality wins out and I go with off-brand to save the tiny amount of money, but it definitely sounds like it was the right decision going for the real thing this time!
Hi. I'm wondering if you had any advice on how to straighten out my Q Snap. It's a Q Snap brand not a cheeper alternative and the bars and claps has bowed with use. Many Thanks
Hi! Do you know how these would work with stiff felt? Like the kind used for beadwork? I've been searching for something that I can use for beading and so far this seems like the most likely option, but I'd love to hear from someone with experience.
I stared out with the spool huggers. However they don’t hold much of the fabric. I just use them to hold back the few centimeters of fabric when stitching close to the edge.
Thanks a lot for this video. There were a few topics I wasn’t thinking about. When I do my German stitching dictionary I will reference this video and send people over if that’s ok with you.
Aww, that does seem to be the consensus about the spool huggers. Makes me a bit sad, they looked so colourful and fun! Definitely feel free to reference me to as many people as you want, haha! :D
Thanks for this video…fab as always! I’ve not tried one of these but am curious so this has answered all my questions. I like to hold the hoop in my hand but have small hands so have been wondering about comfort with this and if it would be too clunky.
Thank you very much - I used to get myself in a fankle before, but it was so easy this time! x
Oh my god you just taught me my new favourite word 😆
I love my q snaps. I haven't tried stitching in the well. I usually use 8x8 or 11x11. I tried mixing the pieces to make 11x8 but didn't like that for some reason.
11x11 is definitely my next one, just for when I need that extra oomph. But 8x8 is so easy to hold, I love it. It's all just personal preference when we get right down to it, but hey at least you have the option of 8x11 if you ever need it!
I just got the 11x17 Q snap, but its not square. Its like a warped picture frame or something...when its put together it doesnt lay flat on a table, it twists out of square. It also wont even stay together. Did I get a bad one? Did I not put it together right?
I saw a tutorial that actually suggested using a car wheel cover from Dollar Tree as a grime protector to save money. Haven’t tried it yet, but it IS the same shape as the grime protectors.
But they're fairly large.
I have several Q-snaps in different sizes. The pieces are all mixed up. I wish Q-snaps had a pamphlet that shows all the different configurations you can make with the pieces. I must be Q-snap challenged because I can never figure out new configurations. Some people say you can make so many configurations if you have all the pieces.
Please, What are the names of the magnetic needle holders? They are awesome
The specific ones I have are these smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0892K75ZB but a search for "magnetic cable tie" on your local Amazon or wherever should turn up a ton of very similar things. Hope that helps! 😊
@@TheGiddyStitcher thank you so much!
Great Video very helpful as I am considering getting one for my eye of the sparrow sampler which I am purchasing my bit for the project and have never used a q snap and found this very helpful
Thank you
Venetia
I'm so happy it helped! Any more questions I didn't cover, just let me know. Good luck with your first q snap!
This was very helpful. Thanks.
Thanks for making this video …..fab as always! I don’t use these but have been both curious and concerned for many of the reasons you mention here. I like to stitch in hand but because I have small hands I wondered if this would be clunky to hold. I’d most likely start with an 8x8 inch. (My first comment vanished so apologies if it reappears as well as this one).
UA-cam is forever doing shenanigans with disappearing comments, I've given up trying to spot a pattern in them honestly! I think (hope?) this is one of those subjects where it feels almost silly asking certain questions because everyone else makes it look so simple. But I have no shame, so figured it would be good to share. Glad it was helpful! 😀
Re: your question, the 8x8 is VERY lightweight so that's not an issue, but the pieces are quite chunky so I'm not sure. A lot of people prefer to clamp them into some sort of stand and go hands-free for that exact reason. But as another commenter pointed out, the way you attach your fabric ("in the well" vs not) can make a big difference to how comfortable it is to hold, so if you do try one it'd be worth experimenting with both ways to figure out which feels best.
Love the video, very helpful.
Can you tell me what those colorful things are and what they are for - I think there were 3
I'm guessing you might mean the "magnetic cable ties" that I'm using to hold excess fabric (and also as handy needle minders)? Popping that phrase into a search on amazon or similar should find lots of them :)
Thank you for your video. Personally I loathe Q snaps. Happy stitching
Perfectly valid opinion! 😄
This was so helpful thank you !!
Very useful video, I learned a lot thank you!
Look at me, ma, educating folks 😎
Dollar Tree has Steering Wheel covers for $1.00 or $1.25. They work great and are inexpensive.
Where did you get your magnetic holders ?
Hi, so the specific ones I have are these smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0892K75ZB but a search for "magnetic cable tie" on your local Amazon or wherever should turn up a ton of very similar things. Hope that helps! 😊
thank you this was very helpful!
You're welcome!
👍 great info. Thanks. 😀
Glad I could help!
Any tips for removing the clamps without killing your fingers?
I like the felt idea. I will have to try that. I hate removing the clamps. Drives me nuts. The grime guards…make them a bit wider….that way you roll up your excess fabric and jam it into the back of the grime guard.
The felt is an absolute gamechanger for removing the snaps. It still looked a bit awkward to do in the video but that's because I was reaching around a tripod with a camera in my face, haha! Definitely recommend :D
Another thing I have seen people do….is lay ribbons under the clamp backside and frontside then you roll the excess fabric and tie the ribbons around the roll of excess fabric. It looked a bit finicky though. But also kinda cute…you can do matchy ribbons!
@@glennybarkedalot4572 Ooh that does sound cute! Definitely a bit of a faff if you're taking it out of the frame regularly though. Although I am far too lazy to do that 😅
As a brand new Q-snap user, I've found that using a rubber jar opener works great in gripped the clamps so I can slide them off or tighten the fabric.
Oooh this was so helpful tysm😊
You're very welcome! 🥰
Thank yoy
What about the extra fabric around the edge? That is what annoys me during stitching
Do you mean the excess fabric that I rolled up against the sides of the frame in my example? Personally I've not found that to be an annoyance (yet) but do worry about it getting dirty, I'm thinking maybe a grime guard is the answer to both of our issues! Now if only they didn't look quite so frumpy...
I have seen people lay the fabric over the q snap….then fold the extra fabric up towards the front of the piece before they put the q snap clamps on…so you have a double layer of fabric under the clamp. (Hope that makes sense)….the good thing is your right side of the excess fabric is protected this way.
I recently started using one, and the most terrifying part was trying to remove the clamps off my project... they were so tight on there that I had trouble removing them even from the bare frame! Love that felt idea, though!
It really is so nerve wracking doing that the first few times! Especially since all the videos I'd watched before getting one myself were using older clamps that were a lot looser, I definitely thought mine was broken at first.
Happy to confirm though it gets a lot easier, and I do absolutely still recommend the felt :)
Is anyone able to use a laying tool with a Qsnap?
I think a stand of some sort is essential if you want to use a laying tool with any frame. Need both hands free. I used a laying tool for the first time when I was doing turkey work. I had my fabric in an off brand qsnap being held by my Lowery stand. Hope that helps.
❤❤❤
You remind me Cristine from SimplyNailogical))) do you watch her?))
Ooh I don't but now I'm intrigued so need to go check her out and see whether that's a compliment or not 😂
@@TheGiddyStitcher it's totally a compliment))) i love her so much) your way of speaking and using winks and emotions is just like hers!!!
Not the greatest for punch needle as you have to constantly tighten the monks cloth.
Ooh I'd not even thought of using it for things like punch needle, that's useful info thank you for sharing!
Je suis déçue j'en ai acheté 2 aujourd'hui et ma toile n'est pas tendue
😯😇😯🎵🎶🪡🪡 very entertaining, but I stitch in hand and find hoops and frames more of a hindrance. You said it best, it is all personal preference.
Absolutely! I'm finding the Q-snap great for evenweave but still holding my Aida projects in hand, that seems to be working out well so far. Hoops are definitely a hindrance though, I'm with you there!
I really love using Q snaps. I'm waiting for the extra ones I ordered to come and they are taking forever 😵 Hoops are nice, but it's not always convenient to stitch in a circle.
Oh no, waiting for slow craft supplies is a pain, hope they turn up soon! I'm way too frugal to buy multiple but my birthday wishlist definitely has a few of them on there now :D
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