The 10 Best Embroidery Hoops for Easier Stitching
Embroidery hoops are essential for keeping fabric taut while you stitch. In this post, we review the 10 best embroidery hoops that offer stability and ease, ensuring your stitching experience is smooth and frustration-free.
Our top pick is the Morgan Products Plastic No-Slip Hoop
An embroidery hoop is essential to the art of embroidery, whether it’s punch needle embroidery, cross stitch embroidery, or one of the many other subgenres of needlework. It stretches your fabrics taut as you work, making for easier stitching and display.
Important attributes to look for when buying an embroidery hoop include material, size, and shape. Based on those factors, our top pick overall is the Morgan Products Plastic No-Slip Hoop, thanks to its quality construction and extra-strong grip.
Here are more of the best embroidery hoops.
Best Overall
Morgan Products Plastic No-Slip Hoop
PHOTO: Morgan Products
What We Like
- Slip-resistant
- Durable
- Quality construction
What We Don’t Like
- On the pricier side
Our top pick is a favorite among embroiderers, thanks to its ultra-durable frame, simple-to-use clasp, and unparalleled fabric grippage. Whether you’re using monks cloth or another popular embroidery fabric, textiles stay exactly where you place them, sans slipping. In turn, you’ll be spared of the frustration that stems from loose fabric and constant readjusting. We love that this hoop creates the perfect amount of tension for easy crafting.
Dimensions: 7.25 x 0.5 x 8 inches | Material: Plastic | Weight: 0.15 pounds
Best Modern
Anchor Faux Wood Round Embroidery Hoop & Frame
PHOTO: Anchor
What We Like
- Clip-free design
- Beautiful, faux wood
- Three size options
What We Don’t Like
- No hanging mechanism included
This beautiful faux wood hoop is pretty enough to hang on your wall, making it a great option if you plan to keep your finished product inside your hoop for all to see. Though it looks remarkably like wood, it’s actually made from flexible plastic. Two concentric circles hold your fabric taut while you work: Simply remove the inner circle, place your fabric between the two, and reassemble. The clasp-free nature of this hoop gives it modern, clean lines, and there’s no risk of snagging your fabric on any knobs.
Dimensions: 6, 8, 10 inches | Material: Plastic | Weight: Not listed
Best Set
TOKESHOW 7 Pieces Embroidery Hoop Set
PHOTO: TOKESHOW
What We Like
- Excellent value
- Broad size range
- Easy-turn clasps
What We Don’t Like
- Bamboo is not the sturdiest material
Thanks to its vast array of sizes—which range from a mere 3 inches to 12 inches in diameter—this 7-piece set is sure to meet many of your embroidery project needs, The hoops are made from bamboo, and the twistable clasps are made from sturdy stainless steel. They’re also surprisingly easy to twist despite their ultra strong grip. This set is an excellent value for money, too, and is on-par, quality-wise, with pricier options.
Dimensions: 3-12 inches | Material: Bamboo | Weight: 2 pounds
Best for Small Projects
Similane 12 Pieces 4 Inch Embroidery Hoops
PHOTO: Similane
What We Like
- Perfect for small projects
- Value pack
- Warp-free bamboo rings
What We Don’t Like
- Quality can have slight inconsistencies
This adorable set of bamboo embroidery hoops is perfect for creating holiday ornaments and similarly small projects, as well as intricate designs with thinner thread. At a mere 4 inches in diameter, each of these hoops is super small, yet they’re surprisingly strong, too. The rings align perfectly without any signs of warping (which can be common for bamboo hoops), and the stainless steel screws hold fabric super taught. This set contains 12 hoops, which makes it a great value for money.
Dimensions: 4 inches | Material: Bamboo | Weight: 0.62 pounds
Best Q-Snap
CYB Q-Snap Needlework Frame Bundle
PHOTO: CYB
What We Like
- Durable
- Size variation
- Extensions for large projects
What We Don’t Like
- On the pricey side
Q-snap frames are a popular choice for embroiderers, thanks to their ultra-sturdy nature (they’re made from PVC tubes). This one is among the sturdiest we’ve seen, and the most versatile. Once interlocked, the PVC tubes are totally slip and budge-proof. The plastic itself is hard and durable, making this a great choice for serious embroiderers looking to invest in a long lasting set. This set comes with three different sizes of embroidery frame: 11 x 11 inches, 8 x 8 inches, and 6 x 6 inches. Bonus: there’s also an extension kit (extra tubes) for super-large projects.
Dimensions: 6, 8, 11 inches | Material: PVC | Weight: 1.58 pounds
Best for Lap
Morgan Lap Stand Combo
PHOTO: Morgan
What We Like
- Lap-style design
- Portable
- Hoop size optionality
What We Don’t Like
- On the pricey side
This double-decker embroidery hoop offers optionality in terms of size. It features both 7-inch and 10-inch embroidery hoops. Simply decide which one you want to use for your project, and flip the lap stand to suit your needs. The opposite side (the one you’re not using) functions as a handy lap or table base for a more comfortable embroidery experience. Not to mention, the lap-friendly style makes it a breeze to work on your project from the comfort of anywhere, including the couch—or bed.
This hoop combo is made from ultra-sturdy, crack-proof plastic. Assembly (and disassembly, in case you want to pack it for a trip) is super-simple, too. All in all, this is an ultra-versatile option in terms of size and portability.
Dimensions: Varies | Material: Plastic | Weight: 0.32 pounds
Best for Displaying
MWELLEWM Embroidery Hoops
PHOTO: MWELLEWM
Design-wise, this eclectic set of embroidery hoops is suited to tack up on the wall once you’ve finished using them. There are four frames, each of which is a different shape. We’re partial to the oval and octagon frames for their unusualness. Hang them individually or group them together for a quirky, eclectic gallery wall.
Though these frames appear to be made from wood, they’re actually plastic (clever!) with a rubber interior for extra-strong grip. We love the funky faux wood detailing, which is reminiscent of retro and vintage decor styles. Bonus points for the single-knob screw, which adds a special aesthetic touch.
Dimensions: Varies | Material: Plastic, rubber | Weight: 0.5 pounds
Best Plastic
Wool Queen Hand U Journey Universal Clip Frame
PHOTO: Wool Queen
What We Like
- Sturdy
- Easy assembly
- Good for beginners
What We Don’t Like
- Plastic may crack
Another Q-snap frame, this one is an excellent choice for most standard embroidery and punch-needle projects. Its measurements accommodate many potential products, including most pillows and wall hangings. Once you snap the plastic tubes into place, they form a sturdy square. Twist the included clamps (on each PVC tube) over the sides of your fabric for a super-tight work surface.
Dimensions: 17 x 17 inches | Material: Plastic | Weight: 0.71 pounds
Best Adjustable
goufa Adjustable Embroidery Hoop Stand
PHOTO: goufa
What We Like
- Smooth wood
- Clean, simple design
- Rotating
What We Don’t Like
- Does not include hoop
This rotating embroidery hoop stand features clean, modern lines, giving it an edge over many of the bulkier options in the category. It’s made from beechwood—which, in addition to providing a pretty facade, is smooth to a degree that prevents projects from snagging. This stand creates a comfortable crafting experience: With a simple swivel, you’ll be able to view your project from every possible angle.
It’s worth noting that this is not actually a hoop; however, this stand does accommodate a range of embroidery hoop sizes, ranging from four inches to just under 15 inches. In addition to the clasp portion that holds the hoop, this stand has a flat bottom, which allows for setting up your embroidery station, laptop-style, anywhere you choose.
Dimensions: 23.08 x 5.01 x 2 inches | Material: Beechwood | Weight: 2.09 pounds
What We Like
- Two pack
- Pre-prepped fabric
- Perfect for punch needling
What We Don’t Like
- Fabric cannot be adjusted
If the process of readying your embroidery fabric (clipping it in, stretching it taut, etc.) is the bane of your crafting existence, consider this option. This frame is pretty much plug and play (er, punch) for punch needlers. The fabric, a traditional monk’s cloth, comes adhered to the frame, stretched to an acceptable tautness for any punch needle embroidery projects. It’s a set of two pre-prepped squares, making it an excellent value to boot. Once you’ve finished your project, feel free to hang it up as-is: the minimalist no-hoop design gives it a clean, modern canvas art feel.
Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 inches | Material: Monks cloth | Weight: 1.15 pounds
Final Verdict
For a strong fabric grip and high-quality hoop, we recommend the Morgan Products Plastic no-Slip Hoop. If you plan to leave your finished embroidery piece in your hoop, consider our top pick for displaying, Mwellewn 4 PIece Embroidery Hoop Set.
What to Look For in an Embroidery Hoop
Size
Embroidery hoops come in many sizes, ranging from a minuscule 3 inches in diameter to an expansive 14 inch in diameter—and beyond. The best size for your project can vary, of course, depending on what you’re creating.
Shape
When many of us think of embroidery hoops, we think of circles. But, while two concentric circles are the traditional style of embroidery hoops, there are so many more shapes to explore these days, including rectangles, ovals, and even octagons. These shapes can come in handy when you want to keep your finished piece in your hoop, as different shapes can add visual interest.
Material
Embroidery hoops come in an array of different materials, including wood, bamboo, and plastic. Which material you choose is up to you and the goals of your project. Generally, plastic snap-grid frames are extremely durable and slippage-proof, which can make for a less frustrating experience.
Wood frames have their merits, too. For one, they are often less expensive than their plastic counterparts. They can also be just as effective in terms of slip-proofing your fabric, so long as the wood isn’t warped and the screws are sufficient in terms of quality and durability. You can also find embroidery hoops made from fun, colorful plastics, as well as flexible, clip-free hoops that are made to look like another material for the sake of aesthetics (e.g. plastic can be made to look like wood).
- What is the most popular embroidery hoop size?
Circular embroidery hoops measuring 5 x 7 inches or 6 x 10 inches are among the most commonly used embroidery hoops. That said, embroidery hoops come in an array of shapes and sizes.
- Do you leave embroidery in the hoop?
You can, if you’d like. The answer to this question lies in personal preference and project type. If you’re making an embroidered piece to hang on your wall, feel free to choose a pretty embroidery hoop: that way, your finished project will already have a frame of sorts.
- How do you clean finished embroidery?
There are a few ways to do this, but one of the simplest is to cut off most of the excess material and then sew the edges such that they’re tucked behind the hoop.
Learn More:Finishing the Back of Hooped Embroidery
Why Trust the Craft Ideas Blog?
This article was written by Sophie Wirt, an NYC-based writer and editor, has been penning product reviews, interviews, and investigative pieces—primarily within the beauty industry—since 2015. Her work has appeared in publications including InStyle, Allure, W, SELF, and Byrdie, among others.
For this article, Wirt considered embroidery hoops in a bevy of sizes, shapes, and materials, each with an array of different embroidery projects in mind. Durability and a slip-free grip for fabric were two key components in our decision-making process. Ultimately, she compiled a list of embroidery hoops with smooth, frustration-free crafting at the forefront.
