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Hooking with gripper frames!

10/26/2012

6 Comments

 
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To be fair one has to cover both sides of the coin so I'll spotlight the gripper frame inext.   She is a very lovely girl and in a perfect world we would all love to have one but there are pros and cons to this as well, although nothing to shed any tears over, unless of course you're bleeding! 

Don't we love our gripper frames!  So easy, so slick to move your backing around.   Not all gripper frames are created equal but today's designs usually tilt and turn 360* which is what you want to look for.  The older style stationery frames were high in the back and slanted lower in the front with open areas on the sides and front to get at our work.  But if you wanted to hook in a circle you have to keep adjusting the backing or learn to manipulate your wrists.  Frames that turn 360* allow access to every part of your work with a quick spin. 

There are lap frames, sit on frames and floor frames.  You can decide what suits your hooking lifestyle and some of us have more than one frame to cover all our needs.  A smaller, sit on or lap frame for scooting about to hook with groups or at a friend's house and the floor frame at home for comfort in front of the TV. 

Poor granny had to strap down her pattern to a room sized dinosaur that didn't allow any moving of the backing without a great deal of time and effort.  The stationery frame did not allow movement so she ended up hooking in straight lines back and forth.  She would have loved the flexibility of a moving frame, would have thought thought she died and went to heaven!  Today we like portability, visiting friends with hooking in tow and we also like hooking in wavy lines, circles and diagonal lines.  Thanks goodness for evolution of the rug hooking species!

Cons
1. Deadly spikes that scratch our skin and tear our shirts.  Who hasn't bled on their project please stand!  No one? Didn't think so.  Putting the backing on and taking it off is where you are likely to be scratched but leaving it sit around with out a flannel cover, you can accidently brush up against it for a little abrasive contact. 
2. More cost although that isn't a deal buster if you want one. 
3. Gee, can't think of another negative thing to say!

Pros
1. You can leave your work in a gripper frame for as long as you like.  Seeing your project out and ready you are likely too hook more often. 
2. Easy to move your pattern around to get to all areas.
3. You can make or purchase a gripper frame cover to protect you while you work to stop or minimize injury.   
4. Solid hardwood framing means long life.
5. Grippers never wear out.
6. A lot of the gripper designs have a hand rest bar that stretches across beneath the backing.
7. Usually all gripper frames come apart for travel, will fit in a bag or a suitcase.
  
8. Patterns with very little edging can still be put on a gripper frame and pulled tight to work. 
 

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6 Comments
Discount Trip In Bled link
10/18/2013 03:15:12 pm

Thanks for sharing this

Reply
Donna Pree
5/11/2017 05:41:45 pm

When I took my hooked rug off the gripper strips to hook another section, the gripper strips pulled out a great deal of my work
How do I prevent this from happening?
Thanks
Donna ( in Niagara ON)

Reply
Carol ostermeyer
1/6/2019 02:49:56 pm

I'm so frustrated by this problem. I had my frame shipped from the U.S. At huge cost & cutoms fees & after two attempts it has stood on a shelf for years. Any ideas about how to stop me burning it in the garden!

Reply
Sheila campbell link
10/10/2019 01:59:06 pm

I have grit frame ,when taking rug out it pull some of stitch

Kelly Halseth
9/6/2020 10:07:27 am

I have the very same problem. Has anyone come up with a suggestion?

Reply
Lorna LeBlanc
9/29/2020 07:17:16 am

MY GRIPPER STRIPS DO NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING AS WELL AS THEY ONCE DID...HOW DO I TAKE THE OLD ONES OFF AND PUT NEW GRIPPER STRIPS ONTO MY WOODEN FRAME...IT IS A FLOOR MODEL.

Reply



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