Hoops are something that’s going all around Pinterest and everyone’s artsy Instagram feeds. They were once only used for hand embroidery work on bigger pieces of clothing. Although they are now also used for something known as ‘hoop artwork’ and many other purposes.
And hoops have become essential for every person who loves embroidery. But, to help you out with all your queries related to “Are wood or plastic embroidery hoops better?” we’ve come up with this article.
Hoops come in many different sizes and forms. Whether you choose wooden hoops or plastic ones depends upon your experience.
So, without any further ado, let’s get into the details of embroidery hoops and what to consider when choosing them.
Are Wood or Plastic Embroidery Hoops Better?
When we start a comparison, there are a few factors to look out for. The elements are pretty important to not overlook, since nobody would want to spend hours sewing the perfect embroidery just for it to fall apart a few days later.
Moreover, there’s a difference between the hoop a beginner should pick and the hoop a professional should go for. Let’s discuss the details of choosing the perfect hoop material.
1. Plastic Hoops
If the primary headache you have with hoops is their durability, I’d say you go for plastic hoops. Plastic hoops can provide durability and flexibility. You won’t have the uncertainty of having gaps between the rings as with wooden hoops.
Many people have never even seen a plastic hoop breaking in years of use when it’s tended with care. That’s a plus point.
Plastic hoops will also provide you with a pop of color, which should make your embroidery stand out when the frame is an essential element to your art piece.
Even if you’re working on the embroidery of more significant projects, such as quills, plastic hoops will be durable enough to sustain the weight of the cloth and keep it intact in place.
2. Wooden Hoops
Wooden hoops can absolutely jazz up your project by giving it a rustic, vintage, and ‘properly embroidered’ vibe. On the other hand, when you go for a wooden hoop, many uncertainties can arise.
Layered wooden hoops almost always have the risk of falling apart. Wooden hoops also tend to have gaps in the middle of the circumference, making people hugely frustrated during work. After all, who wants a cheaply warped wooden hoop?
However, all of these problems are unavoidable. When you go for a high-end wooden hoop from trusty manufacturers, rest assured you won’t have to worry about it falling apart.
Although cheaper wooden hoops can get the job done, there are always risks. A beginner might begin with a cheap wooden hoop to try out embroidery, but we recommend professionals to go for the pricey, better-quality ones for a perfectly embroidered piece.
The Fusion of Plastic and Wooden Embroidery Hoops
If you’re confused about which hoop to choose, you can also take a look at a new combination of wooden and plastic hoops named “Flexihoops.” They’re stunning and sturdy at the same time.
Not only do they make the best frame for the artwork but also they hold your embroidery without moving around & being fussy, or creating creasing marks.
Some of the reviews of people who’ve shifted to Flexihoops mention that they’re never going back to the fuss of choosing between a plastic or a wooden hoop. Who doesn’t like to hear about the embroidery fussy days being over?
Pricing and Availability
Embroidery work is not expensive (Thank god!), and you can easily get cost-efficient embroidery hoops at your local convenience stores like Walmart. You can also look for them online, as there are a variety of options out there.
The usual cost for embroidery hoops is around $10-$15 for sets of three. People also tend to donate their used hoops to thrift stores, so don’t forget to check there!
Although the hoops are cost-efficient, you’ll find extremely cheap hoops in the market. The pricing may sound attractive at first, but during usage, they might turn out to be a total waste of money.
To avoid scenarios like this, make sure you research first about the hoops you’re interested in – whether they’re made of plastic or wood.
Conclusion
Upon inspecting embroidery hoops and after hours of research, we prefer plastic embroidery hoops over wooden ones.
However, it’s better if you try them out by yourself first to determine which hoop suits you the best. After all, hoops are, no doubt, nothing short of artworks, and every embroidery fan will have a different opinion.
We had fun explaining your queries related to “Are wood or plastic embroidery hoops better?” And we hope you had fun reading and knowing all about hoops from us. Till the next time, happy embroidery!