Question of the Week: Embroidery Hoops?

Hi all! It's been a while since I posted, but I'd love to get back into the swing of things, and what better way than to post a few of the questions we get via email!

Today's question comes from Ethel, who asks:

Having been a fabric artist for years, I’m still discovering embroidery and I’ve run into a snag. I can’t seem to buy any embroidery hoops here where I live. Michael’s said they don’t sell them any more, and 2 Walmart stores had none.
 
What do I have to do different to embroider without a hoop, as different from embroidering with a hoop?

As for myself, I have definitely had the hoop problem as well. My local craft stores stock very few wooden hoops, which are the ones I use most in crafts that I give away. I use the same plastic hoops for my larger projects over and over again. If I have to purchase a big batch of hoops, I usually go to Ebay, and snap up whatever vintage hoops I can find there.

Most of the hoops I used in the project below were scored on Ebay, and you can tell from the slightly different finishes:

Now, I'm opening it up to all of you, because I am curious - where do you find your hoops? What are your favorites? Do any of you stitch without hoops, and if so, what advice can you give? :)

Posted by Feeling Stitchy on Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Be sure to click over to our Facebook group post above, there are some good suggestions there, too!