NOTE: During Christmas week 2016, I will be republishing older articles about great tools to buy or make yourself. Because these are older articles, links may not work.
Updated March 13, 2021.
If you stitch your needlepoint on stretcher bars and don’t use a stand of some kind, you might want to consider using a frame weight.
Frame weights work best with larger canvases, you stitch near a table and use the weight to counterbalance the part of the canvas away from you against the table.
One of the most common kinds of frame weights consists of a fabric bag, like a bean bag, stuffed with shot for weight. You can also fill them with pennies, pie weights, or even clean aquarium gravel. Other kinds of crafts call them “soft weights.” While frame weights are often not too expensive, soft weights are often made from leather and are not cheap.
Book Arts Studio posted a tutorial on making soft weights, pictured above, from fabric and shot. It looks really easy.
You could even use a piece of needlepoint for the front. This would be a great way to finish the upcoming Spring SAL.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Hi Janet – I wonder, could you explain about frame weights a little more? They sound intriguing, but I cannot envisage how they work. I tried googling “frame weights’ but couldn’t find a picture of any in acion.
I am currently stitching on a frame but no stand, and am juggling the frame around, trying to find some way of being able to use both hands so I can lay the thread – it’s not easy!
Joce —
I don’t use them either, but I’m going to ask around to find someone who can guest post on it.
Keep Stitching,
Janet
I’ve been wondering the same thing too. I mostly use a floor frame but am curious about the frame weights.