Needlework System 4 Floor Stand Review
Ahhhh. My search for the nonpareil of floor stands for embroidery frames and hoops has come to a stand still. I am a happy and comfy two-hander once again! I saved until I could afford the Needlework System 4 floor stand, hoping that I had finally found the "perfect" embroidery stand, the cadillac of hoop holders, the dream tool for two-handed stitchers. Finally, after several months of tucking away the funds, I could justify the purchase. So here's my review of it, and a few photos...
The Needlework System 4 is everything I hoped it would be: it's uncomplicated, durable, easy to use, versatile, and provides firm "hold" on my embroidery frames.
When I began to consider a new floor stand, I asked myself some questions:
1. Where do I plan to use it?
2. What do I want it to do?
3. How long do I expect it to last?
#1 - Where do I plan to use it?
If I'm going to invest in a floor stand, I want to be able to use it ANYWHERE (with the exception of the car!) For in-home use (or to take to guild meetings and so forth), a floor stand should be portable and versitile - I should be able to use it wherever I would want to stitch: a living room chair, an upright table chair, or even comfy on the couch - depending on the project, these are the places I stitch.
It fits easily up a living room chair. The height is adjusted by moving the main length of the stand forward. After adjusting the height, it is just a matter of adjusting the slope of the frame in the clamp.
It works just as easily at a regular upright kitchen chair. When I sit in an upright chair to stitch (for those "intense" projects where I need a good-sized table close at hand), I put the main bar of the stand straight up at a 90 degree angle to the floor. The frame and clamp can be adjusted for slope, or left flat (parallel to the floor).
And at the couch, it's great. I can pull the stand forward, with the long front foot of it under the couch (the front foot is long - only about half of it showing there - and just over an inch high - so there's good balance, and it can fit under just about any furniture).
So, yep, the stand works wherever I would sit to stitch.
#2. What do I want the stand to do?
When I embroider, I use stretcher bars for the most part, so I want the stand to hold my stretcher bar frame firmly, without any instability, and without constant shifting in position while I stitch. I do not want to have to adjust the slope of the frame continually, or re-tighten the clamp on the stretcher bars! The Needlework System 4 stand is the only floor stand I've ever tried (out of many!) where, once everything is set and tightened, I don't have to readjust, even after a long time of stitching, moving, turning the frame, and so forth.
The clamp is a simple vice set-up, made out of thick plastic, with a large screw on the top. The stretcher bars fit between the two layers of thick plastic, and, to tighten, you just turn the large screw on top.
On the neck of the clamp, there's an place to adjust the slope of your frame. There are metal teeth in this adjustable joint, so that, once you tighten the clamp in the position you want, it doesn't move. In the photo, the joint where the teeth are is unscrewed, so that's why it looks uneven where the teeth meet. When the joint is screwed tight, the teeth fit together evenly.
I also want to be able to turn my work while it's on the stand, without having to readjust screws or anything like that. I can!! I can turn my work 360 degrees, without any part of the stand impeding the turn. I can even turn it one-handed, while holding a camera, as you can see in this video:
The turning mechanism doesn't loosen up, either, so wherever you position your frame horizontally along that turn, it's going to stay there!
#3. How long do I expect it to last?
Well, if I'm going to invest $300 in the two components - the floor stand and the frame clamp - it better last a LOOOOOONG time! The Needlework System 4 has a lifetime guarantee. I spoke to three shop owners before selecting one to purchase from. Out of the three, all of whom have sold many of these stands, only one had a return for paint rubbing off. The company apparently replaced the stand.
Other features I like:
There's a scroll frame component available (I don't use scroll frames often, but...)
You can use the stand sideways, slipping the front foot under the side of a chair or couch, and clamping your work on the side rather than the top.
It's super-duper light, and, by unscrewing one screw, it disassembles into an easily carried package. (They also make a travel stand, which folds into a smaller package and fits in carry-on luggage).
You could buy two stands for Really Big Projects, and clamp one stand to one end of the project and the other stand to the other. But....! Well, you can use sawhorses or tressles for the same effect, and a bit cheaper!
So that's the stand. I do like it! It's been a pleasure to use, every single time I've used it. I haven't had one instance of it feeling insecure or unstable. I haven't had any problems getting it to adjust to "just the right place."
All that being said, it is a rather hefty investment as needlework stands go, but if it lasts through my stitching days, I know I'll be glad I got it!
If you have a NWS4, drop a comment and let me know if you have had equal success with it, or not! If you have a different type of floor stand, why did you select it and what do you like best about it?
The Needlework System 4 is everything I hoped it would be: it's uncomplicated, durable, easy to use, versatile, and provides firm "hold" on my embroidery frames.
When I began to consider a new floor stand, I asked myself some questions:
1. Where do I plan to use it?
2. What do I want it to do?
3. How long do I expect it to last?
#1 - Where do I plan to use it?
If I'm going to invest in a floor stand, I want to be able to use it ANYWHERE (with the exception of the car!) For in-home use (or to take to guild meetings and so forth), a floor stand should be portable and versitile - I should be able to use it wherever I would want to stitch: a living room chair, an upright table chair, or even comfy on the couch - depending on the project, these are the places I stitch.
It fits easily up a living room chair. The height is adjusted by moving the main length of the stand forward. After adjusting the height, it is just a matter of adjusting the slope of the frame in the clamp.
It works just as easily at a regular upright kitchen chair. When I sit in an upright chair to stitch (for those "intense" projects where I need a good-sized table close at hand), I put the main bar of the stand straight up at a 90 degree angle to the floor. The frame and clamp can be adjusted for slope, or left flat (parallel to the floor).
And at the couch, it's great. I can pull the stand forward, with the long front foot of it under the couch (the front foot is long - only about half of it showing there - and just over an inch high - so there's good balance, and it can fit under just about any furniture).
So, yep, the stand works wherever I would sit to stitch.
#2. What do I want the stand to do?
When I embroider, I use stretcher bars for the most part, so I want the stand to hold my stretcher bar frame firmly, without any instability, and without constant shifting in position while I stitch. I do not want to have to adjust the slope of the frame continually, or re-tighten the clamp on the stretcher bars! The Needlework System 4 stand is the only floor stand I've ever tried (out of many!) where, once everything is set and tightened, I don't have to readjust, even after a long time of stitching, moving, turning the frame, and so forth.
The clamp is a simple vice set-up, made out of thick plastic, with a large screw on the top. The stretcher bars fit between the two layers of thick plastic, and, to tighten, you just turn the large screw on top.
On the neck of the clamp, there's an place to adjust the slope of your frame. There are metal teeth in this adjustable joint, so that, once you tighten the clamp in the position you want, it doesn't move. In the photo, the joint where the teeth are is unscrewed, so that's why it looks uneven where the teeth meet. When the joint is screwed tight, the teeth fit together evenly.
I also want to be able to turn my work while it's on the stand, without having to readjust screws or anything like that. I can!! I can turn my work 360 degrees, without any part of the stand impeding the turn. I can even turn it one-handed, while holding a camera, as you can see in this video:
The turning mechanism doesn't loosen up, either, so wherever you position your frame horizontally along that turn, it's going to stay there!
#3. How long do I expect it to last?
Well, if I'm going to invest $300 in the two components - the floor stand and the frame clamp - it better last a LOOOOOONG time! The Needlework System 4 has a lifetime guarantee. I spoke to three shop owners before selecting one to purchase from. Out of the three, all of whom have sold many of these stands, only one had a return for paint rubbing off. The company apparently replaced the stand.
Other features I like:
There's a scroll frame component available (I don't use scroll frames often, but...)
You can use the stand sideways, slipping the front foot under the side of a chair or couch, and clamping your work on the side rather than the top.
It's super-duper light, and, by unscrewing one screw, it disassembles into an easily carried package. (They also make a travel stand, which folds into a smaller package and fits in carry-on luggage).
You could buy two stands for Really Big Projects, and clamp one stand to one end of the project and the other stand to the other. But....! Well, you can use sawhorses or tressles for the same effect, and a bit cheaper!
So that's the stand. I do like it! It's been a pleasure to use, every single time I've used it. I haven't had one instance of it feeling insecure or unstable. I haven't had any problems getting it to adjust to "just the right place."
All that being said, it is a rather hefty investment as needlework stands go, but if it lasts through my stitching days, I know I'll be glad I got it!
If you have a NWS4, drop a comment and let me know if you have had equal success with it, or not! If you have a different type of floor stand, why did you select it and what do you like best about it?
Labels: needlework tools, pictures
Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, January 16, 2008
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Mary, that is without a doubt in my mind, the most comprehensive review of a needlework stand I have had the pleasure to read. You covered all the major questions I have be debating in a concise and to the point fashion.
I'd love such a system and with your help I may just be a bit closer to getting one!
Mary, your new stand looks great. Thank you for providing a detailed review.
You have the same kitchen chairs that I do. :-)
I'm glad you all like the review on the stand. I LOVE the stand!
I'm going to provide a list of online shops where you can find it...
Well, Ginger, all I can say is - we must have good taste!!!
Mary, thank you for the wonderful review! I've just started using a slate frame and am thinking about buying another stand that just has a clamping mechanism and I like what I see with the NS4 especially the ability to turn the work 360 degrees.
Do you have a feel for how big of a frame the stand will support?
I've done some cursory checks on Lowery stands. Can you compare the NS4 and Lowery? One thing I like about the Lowerys (I think) is that there's a table clamping version. Is there something comparable with the NS4?
I have answered my question about the table clamp--yes, there is one.
So, now, where did you buy yours?
Hi, Margaret -
Yep, they have a table clamp, and they also have a lap stand, although I have no idea how comfortable the lap stand would be.
You can see all their products and accessories here:
Needlework System 4 Website and I bought mine through Needlepoint Alley in FL, because their website is one of the few that has a regular shopping cart feature, so it was easy to order. The websites I had seen to that point were all similarly priced.
However, they don't have them in stock - they have them drop shipped from the company. So it takes about 10 days to 2 weeks to get them.
Since then, I realized that Threadneedle Street carries them as well, and they also have all the components available on their website. Their order form is not as "easy" - BUT - this is the clincher - they sell the stand and clamp for $247 as opposed to (I almost went into shock) $310.
So - I would DEFINITELY go through Threadneedle Street. Even if they don't have them readily in stock, I'm sure they can have them drop-shipped to the buyer, and for $60 bucks, it's REALLY worth the wait. $60.
$60 is half the cost of the table accessory!
Anyway, live and learn! I was going to make this "mistake" the topic of a whole new post - and I still might, since people don't read the comments as often as they do the posts!
Needless to say, in the future, I will be much more inclined to scour before buying. I don't understand that big of a price difference!
I saw the stand in a shop in KC, which is a little over 2 hours from me, and it was $300 for both components (the stand and the clamp). It wasn't worth the $10 to drive to KC to buy it, but had it been $247, I certainly would have!
I have ordered a travel stand, frame clamp and table clamp from threadneedlestreet.com. I just wanted to comment that the shipping costs are really reasonable ($9 from Washington to San Diego) and the owner says that UPS rates will be going up on 1 February. Also, I've ordered from Threadneedle Street before and have received really good service and quick delivery from them.
Side note: They also carry Hardwicke Manor hoops (the best!) and the prices aren't bad.
Mary, thanks so much for this review. Having just trashed my Gripit Legend wooden floor stand, which I could no longer tighten, I'm ready to order a Needlework System 4. My local needlework store doesn't carry them. Of course I want to find the best online deal. Did you pay #310.00 plus shipping?
Thanks.
Never mind. I found your post with the information about Threadneedle and I've already ordered.
Thanks so much for all the information.
It arrived this morning, assembled in a couple of minutes, literally, and I can lift it with one finger! It's wonderful. Thanks again for steering me to the System 4.
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