In Italy it is difficult
to find a scroll frame, that gives you the possibility to roll up
the excess fabric around the scroll rods, and which keeps the
fabric outstretched and tight, without leaving creases, as
happens with hoops.
Sometimes you can find a rectangular frame which is held up and
fixed on both sides, but has the disadvantage of being rather
cumbersome, and aboveall, has fixed sizes.
In the United States, unlinke in Italy, it is easy to find scroll
frames of all sizes, which means you can choose the size that
suites best the embroidery you are working on, and gives you the
possibility to work on more projects at the same time, on
different frames.
If you don't want to or
can't turn to the online shops to purchase these frames directly
from the United States, you could try "doing it yourself"
and build one or more frames, without too much trouble. I made
one especially to have the scroll rods 85 cm. long (34")
which I needed for "Summer Sampler" of Butternut Road.
List of
materials required
a lenght of rounded
hardwood rod, 2 cm in diameter (0.8"). In a "do-it-yourself"
store I found pieces 2 metres long, which cost around
6000 Italian Lire (about 3.00 USD).
a rectangular strip
in hardwood (which doesn't bend), section 2 cm x 1.5 cm;
some wood screws (see
picture 1/A) with double threading: one part with a
spiral bore thread and the otner with normal tightening
thread;
suitable wing nuts (see
picture 1/B);
suitable washers,
best if rather large (see picture 1/C);
a strong cotton
string, 2.5 or 3 cm wide and a little shorter in lenght
thand the rods you wish to make.
Carrying out the job
Decide on the length
of the horizontal scroll rods. It depends obviously on
the type of embroidery that you intend to do, since the
fabric has to fit entirely in width. The sizes 40 cm or
60 cm. (16" or 24") are quite common.
You can calculate the lenght in a way to take advantage
of the total lenght of the rod and obtain sets of
different sizes (maybe even buying two lenghts of rounded
rod). Remember that for every frame size you must have
two rods of the same lenght.
Cut the wooden rods
to the chosen lenghts, keeping in mind that for every rod
lenght you have to cut two pieces (the upper and lower
rods).
Decide on the lenght
of the side bars. The lenght of these determines the
portion of fabric that will be visibile while you are
stitching (the distance between the two scroll rods).
Decide on the lenghts required taking advantage of the
total lenght of the rectangular strip, but without
exaggerating, as the longer the side bars are , the more
cumbersome the frame will be.
Cut the rectangular
strip into the chosen lenghts for the side bars: two
pieces for every size.
With a 5 mm drill bit
(one mm less than the diameter of the screws) drill holes
lenghtwise on both ends of the horizontal scroll rods (see
design 2); the depth of the holes must be slightly less
than the lenght of the bore thread on the wood screws.
You will need a steady hand (or a drill with a stand) to
make the holes dead centre and parallel on the rods, but
even if they're not perfect, don't worry, because once
the frame is assembled and tightened it should be fine
anyway.
Insert and tighten
the wood screws in the appropriate holes. Grip the screws
in the middle part with pliers to tighten: that way the
threading will not be ruined. There's no need to tighten
up filly the screws, as the side bars will be inserted
here before the final assemblage.
With a 7 mm drill bit
(one mm more than the diameter of the screws) drill holes
at each end of the side bars (see design 3). To make sure
that the holes are drilled in the sxact same position,
put both pieces together while drilling.
Cut the cotton string
into pieces that are slightly shorter than the scroll
rods. Glue the pieces along the edge to the rods (see
design 4). To avoid fraying wet slightly with glue the
cut edges, or sew a zigzag pattern with a sewing machine.
Wood glue is excellent and very resistant.
Finally, the
assembling. Insert the scroll rods into the side bars,
add a washer and a nut externally onto each screw and
tighten. The scroll frame is made.
Here is the final
result: the first one is my scroll frame, the second one
was built by a friend of mine, who had the nice idea to
cover the wing nuts with polymer clay (be careful to bake
well, ant not to cover the part of the nut which goes
against the frame).
How to use
Choose the suitable sized
rods for the project you intend to work on, baste the fabric onto
the upper and lower cotton strips. Roll the fabric up around the
scroll rods, then rebuild the frame. Now the scroll frame is
ready for use.
To hold it, the simplest way is to hold it with a string around
your neck: look at
Skyhook's string stand for a clear and detailed
explanation.
Otherway, if you want the best comfort, you should choose a lap
stand or a floor stand, and, if you want to go on doing it
yourself, check this site againg later: you'll find my
instructions for a floor stand.
