Last month was a busy one for me, with training courses, a review of my company’s strategy and a new in-person embroidery workshop.
At the end of the training course, I published a story on my Instagram with a preview of the installation I’d done. And I received a ton of questions about how I do to set up the embroidery frames.
So I decided to tell you all about it in this blog post, which I hope you’ll find very useful 😊.
A space problem
If you live in a flat, you’ve probably already noticed: finding a space dedicated to embroidery can be a real challenge. With all the beads, sequins, threads and fabrics piling up, it’s not always easy to find a comfortable place to create.
Classic embroidery frames are often bulky, and when you’re short of space, it’s not always easy to find a dedicated place for them. Between the sofa that’s already occupied, the table that’s used to hold all kinds of objects (adverts, keys, handbags, rubber bands, etc), and the desire to put everything away after each session, space quickly becomes a challenge in itself!
So, which embroidery frame should you choose when you have little space but lots of willpower? What do you do when you still want to embroider comfortably? That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this blog post! ✨
The perfect spot
Before choosing your embroidery frame, the first question to ask yourself is: where do you want to embroider?
Ideally, you’ll want to find a space with good lighting (natural light during the day, or a suitable lamp in the evening) and a surface nearby where you can put your tools and supplies. You don’t need a big workshop: a desk, a dining room table, or even a corner in the living room will do.
Just ask yourself where you feel most comfortable embroidering over the long term. A quiet, comfortable and well-lit place will make all the difference to your embroidery experience! ✨
Theory and reality
We’d all love to have 30 m² dedicated to embroidery, with plenty of space to organise, store and sit comfortably… But let’s be honest, the reality is often quite different. Sometimes the only space we have available is a desk, in which case we obviously can’t embroider a wedding dress on a 3 metre long frame 😅.
But good news: that doesn’t mean you can’t embroider at all! You just need to adapt the size of the embroidery to the size of your embroidery frame, which itself depends on the available space.
So, can you embroider with the Lunéville crochet hook without a trestle or a 90 cm embroidery frame?
YES! But with one (small) constraint: the size of the project will be limited by the size of the embroidery frame you can install.
The types of embroidery frames depending on your available space
Here are three situations that we’ve all experienced at one time or another. It’s up to you to decide which one you’re in! 😄
1 – ‘My living room, my kingdom… or almost 🛋️’
As during the face-to-face course I did last month, when you only have one table available, I recommend small rotating frames. Mine are from La Maison de la Broderie et du Canevas, they measure 30×30 cm and cost 21.40 €.
These frames are perfect for small embroideries (brooches, jewellery, etc), as well as pieces up to slightly larger than an A4 sheet, like my embroidery patterns. They fit perfectly on a table and are super handy to carry around! 👌🏼
2 – “I embroider in ninja-mode, between the pile of laundry and the cat 👗🥷🏼🤸🏼♀️🐈⬛”
Yes, sometimes space is a myth. In those moments, long live the hoop! 🙌🏼 I recommend a quilting hoop, a little thicker than traditional ones, which you can use with a support under your thigh.
It’s not the ideal solution, but it’s a great option for trying out the Lunéville hook without immediately investing in bulkier equipment. Bonus: it’s also perfect for embroidering on holiday without having to pack a whole workshop! 🏝️✈️
Ideal for caravan enthusiasts 🚌… and those who have no choice 😅.
3- “I live in Versailles 👸🏼”
Lucky you! If you’re not limited by space, you can afford almost anything in terms of Lunéville embroidery 😂. In this case, the choice of frame depends mainly on your preferences and your budget. I’ll give you a few references to help you find THE ideal embroidery frame and adapt it to your needs.
So, which team are you in? Contortionist 🤸🏼♀️ or royal palace 🏰?
Whether you’re more of an optimised living room embroiderer, a corner table ninja or the queen of the large workshop, there’s always a solution for embroidery, even in a small space! The important thing is to find the right compromise between comfort and practicality, so that your embroidery sessions remain a real pleasure. ✨
And you, which category do you fall into? Tell me all about it, I’m curious! 😄 Reply to this blog post to tell me all about your embroidery setup. I can’t wait to see where you work your magic! 🪡💖
In the meantime, I wish you beautiful embroidery moments, no matter the size of your kingdom! 👑
L.S.
