Could a Lowery workstand change your cross stitching life?
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- I recently came into posession of a very fancy Lowery workstand for my cross stitch and have had a few questions about exactly how worthwhile an investment these things are. So let's find out, with this sort of rambling review.
00:00 Intro
00:37 Why a Lowery?
02:21 Parts & assembly
03:33 First impressions
05:02 Has it made a difference?
06:20 Issues & workarounds
08:53 Is a Lowery workstand worth the price?
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I got one a month ago, I'm 61 never really thought about a stand but late one night suffering a cold I was ploughing through you tube and came across cross stitch stands. Convinced by reviews .My opinion I love it and yes I stitch in the same position as you. Its also fine with my 27 inch scroll wooden stand. Best treat I brought myself. Great review very informative.
I don't think anyone could blame you for treating yourself when you weren't feeling too well, I've certainly bought less sensible things in the throes of illness! Good to hear it holds up with the bigger projects too as I'm hoping to try and start on something bigger soon.
Lowery gang forever!
I got my lowery stand 3 years ago. I have since bought one for my daughter, one for my stitching spot upstairs, a corner clamp ( holds q snaps perfectly) and a table clamp. I stitch every day. I take it with in our camper. It is one of the best things I ever bought.
I had a few cross stitch pieces from over the years. When I retrieved them from my shed, pieces were missing or broken😞but I made it work. I now have a stand for the table, and a lap stand, and floor stand.
I like my Lowry stand, but I needed a few tweaks to love it. First of all, I don't know how anyone uses it without the longer arm. Second, I needed something to hold a tablet since I stitch using Markup RXP. The attachment from Lowry was very expensive. But I found that a tablet holder designed for a microphone stand works perfectly and can be bought online for about $20. Third, I found it was unbalanced with larger pieces. I added a 20 lb weight on top on the bottom piece fixed that.
Now I love it.
I recently got mine through the Cross stitch magazine subscription offer and am loving it. I got my boyfriend to make me a hook on phone attachment as I mostly use pattern keeper and it has been a game changer all round. That paired with the light attachment. Don't think I could go back to other stands now
So appreciative of your fair but loyal report card on this stand….loved reading the previous comments here…..I am 73 and I would love thirty more years…..but going “home” already has a set time and place…..that being said I am going to take a good look….the comment about loving the work-in hand method appeals to me as I love feeling textures ……but darn Girl you have me thinking ……
Far be it from me to encourage spending large amounts of money, you know I'm not the type. But I have to admit, if I was going to recommend one thing to treat yourself to... 😅
Yes!! I love mine, have had it for less than 2 months and it is just wonderful
Lowery gang! I've got the extender bar now as well so it's even better (and even more unbalanced because OF COURSE I was too lazy to fix that yet) :D
Yes mine is coming soon so excited can’t wait
Thank you for the great review.
Perfect timing, I was wondering about those after watching your last vlog, it looked so practical! I'm not ready to invest at the moment but your video answered all my questions, thank you Michelle! 😁
I'd definitely wait and see if you sink deeper into the hobby first, for sure! Plenty of less expensive toys to play with first :D
I'm 75 and I bought my Lowery stand last Fall. I own several different wood stands, both floor & lap stands. I now must stitch in a recliner and none of the wood stands worked all that well. My Lowery works perfectly! I prefer using scroll rods because they don't wrinkle your fabric. Because of their shape scroll rods also reach over the arm of my chair better than a Q Snap. I will even put a smaller stitch on the end of longer rods so the stitched area is in front of me. I would like to buy the longer bar for the Lowery but it seems extremely over priced. And so far the way I'm using mine works just fine. If I need to work in an area on the far side, I just turn the stitch & the chart over and stitch it upside down. The crosses are the same even when upside down.
I already have one! And yes, it changes the way you do cross stitch! I wish I had had a review like this before buying one. Best review!
Excellent video. My lowery stand is on order and I’m interested in trying it in front of me like you showed.
I have uneven hardwood floors and I have two 3lb hand weights that I put on the base plate. Keeps it from wobbling and allows you to stitch in different orientations more easily. You could also use a sandbag or books, anything heavy works well
Yes I've currently got it wedged under the couch with a thick Eurovision trivia book, haha, it's ok though nobody can see it 😅
Genuinely the nicest channel on CZcams, I'm always amazed you don't have more subscribers!
As this 5 day late reply proves, I can barely keep up with the subscribers I've already got. But thank you! :D
Never thought about trying it in front of me, you are the first CZcamsr to suggest it. Believe me, I have looked at all the Lowery videos I can find. Great idea as my stitchy chair is impossible to slide the stand under. Thanks!!!
Excellent video and review. I have three (yes, 3) different stands at the moment. I love them all for different reasons but my biggest gripe about all three is the storage issue.
The newest stand I acquired was also the most expensive - it’s called the Monstrik by Omanik Factory. I’ve heard nothing but positive reviews about this stand so I finally splurged (and it was a big investment for me). Sorry to say, it is HEAVY AS LEAD and very cumbersome to move into position when I’m about to stitch. Since it is so heavy and I have major back issues, it’s been sitting in the middle of my living room since it arrived. I even had to push my coffee table clear out of the way to accommodate the stand. It’s not something you could “easily” or quickly fold up and stash away someplace - or if there IS a trick to doing that, I haven’t learned it yet.
The positives are - it holds large projects easily and it’s very easy to turn the knobs on each side and flip over to the back. I know a lot of stitchers who use stands use various ways of starting and ending threads on the front, and I’ve watched tons of CZcams videos on doing this - but I just can’t seem to get the hang of that and still flip my project to the back to start and end threads. My stitching is faster with two hands but that is also a skill I think needs to be acquired and it’s very odd at first trying to get your non-dominant hand to go where you want it to go! 😂
I also have a K’s Creation metal stand which reminds me A LOT of your Lowery stand. I honestly think it’s basically the same exact stand with a few different knobs and a little wooden tray to hold your scissors and a few assorted stitching accessories. That came standard with the stand.
It holds Q-snaps well although like the Lowery, they can fall out. I found using a piece of paper towel wrapped around my Q-snap holds it in place just fine - but felt or fabric would also work. I’m not a grime guard kinda guy, cuz I like to be grimy! Just kidding, but I don’t care for grime guards as they tend to get in my way. Maybe that’s just me because loads of people swear by them!
And my oldest stand (and still my favorite) is my Necessaire floor stand and Millenium frame(s). The frames are outstanding and can get your stitching project DRUM TIGHT in a few minutes time. The stand has two wooden pieces that come toward you and you rest your frame on those. You can easily flip the whole project over, do your business on the back, and flip it right back in place - in seconds/minutes. The frame and stand are also lightweight and very easy to move around the room. BUT like the other two, I wish it could quickly and easily just fold up somehow for storing behind the couch etc….
So - all three are storage issues in my book. The Omanik is HUGE and HEAVY, but great for large projects. The K’s Creation is lighter than the Omanik, and best for “regular” projects and Q-snaps. The Necessaire floor stand is lightest of all three. All wood and handmade, and if you don’t mind unscrewing parts you CAN store it pretty easily - I just never do. I’m now trying to decide which I’m going to keep and which I may sell. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of the Needle Needs Necessaire stand - but the other two are now in competition I guess as to which will be sold (maybe both?) Kevin
👋👋👋 You are the best. I love your energy. I also agree with you about the Lowery Stand. Bye. 👋👋❤👋👋❤👋👋
I was the same got it as a gift but I absolutely love it ! And to anyone out there put it on your list you won’t be sorry ❤
Definitely can't hurt to have it on the list in case someone comes along and wants to treat you, that's sage advice right there :D
I bought my lowery last year and also bought the magnetic chart board and the magnifying light. I used to have a wooden stitchmaster stand, but the lowery is in a league of its own. I absolutely love it. Yes, it was a considered purchase especially with the extras but it will last me the rest of my stitchy life.
I have a Lowery. I love it. When i was using it by my upholstered chair, i put it under the edge of the chair and used the old dictionary (since replaced by google, lol) on the base as it slid in the space under the chair. That was the answer to tipping. I have the corner clamp, and that is so great for qsnaps. I use a square of rubber shelf liner to help hold the qsnap in place, with either clamp so no slipping at all. I even use the regular clamp with scroll rods. I have the stand by a rocking chair now and have a smallish, non-working speaker that i can plunk on the stand for stability. I do move it around a fair amount to keep it out more out of sight now, based on the million comments about "my nest" and how hard it was to share that chair.😂 Something to put on your wish list for travel or retreats, is the table clamp version of Lowry. I use that, even at home, depending on where I stitch. I really like your idea of using the stand in front of you, I will definitely try that. Thank you!
Oh believe me I am already eyeing up the table version! Haha. I had heard the corner clamp is better for Q-snaps but honestly the felt and grime guard are working so well I'll probably focus on picking up other bits first. Expect we all eventually end up with a ton of accessories it's just a question of in what order 😂
You convinced me to buy and I did. It came today and I’m already in love!! It really is a game changer. I’m in my bed stitching so fast and comfortably. Tysm for your video😊
Oh wow, quick decision! But sounds like it's all worked out pretty well, enjoy your bed-stitching! :D
Hello i am so glad i saw your video this morning i am sick at the moment and stuck in bed missing stitching 🙂and this will really help me thank you
Oh no now I feel terrible for such a late reply. I hope you're feeling much better by now!
Glad you're enjoying using the Lowery. I received one as a gift 2 years ago and and love it. I agree, it definitely changes the way you stitch and yes, can be really expensive if you get the add on accessories. I got the magnetic board holder (not so good) the lightbar (great) the daisy dish (handy for bits) and the recommended angle daylight magnifying lamp (but way cheaper at a craft shop). Thank you for your honest and helpful review. And they're readily available 2nd hand on sites for those who want to try the basic stand but can't afford the price. However World of Cross Stitch are offering a new one as a free gift if you subscribe 🙂
Finally, I got a Sue Hawkins Needleworks doorstop kit, made it up and it stops the wobble ❤
I got one for Christmas as well - I think it is a wise investment. Anyone who has ergonomic body pain, I think you can get into a better position with a stand. While it is expensive, it's cheaper than managing neck and shoulder pain - so it's priceless in that regard! The extender bar is a must-have. I got the magnet board holder/clamp but it's too close for my eye sight, so I give that a mixed review.
I have a stacked hoop lap stand. Mine is a 7 and a 9 inch, connected by diagonal supports. Whichever side you are using, the other acts as the base, with room for a stitching hand between.
I'm pretty sure you could whip one up with 2 matching size hoops, some dowels, and some qood glue. The one i found in the crafting consignment store comes apart for easy transit and storage.
I love my Lowery, I can't stitch without it now. I've found both the light accessory and the corner clamp to be invaluable. The corner clamps even holds my millenium frame and holds Q-snaps no problem with no twisting. The light accessory has got cheap light bar that I can put right across the top of my work and also a tablet holder so I can use PK or Saga. It also swings out of the way quickly when the cat is misbehaving!
I turned my base totally around so it is not under the furniture and put a weight on it to keep it from moving. Works fine. If I remember correctly, I had some trouble getting mine tightened down properly at first, so the pole wobbled on the base. Got it put together better and have had no issues since. Fiddly at first, then easy, whew.
Had the same problem. Made my husband tighten it with some tools and now it is sturdier.
I have one and I use hand weights for women, sizes 3 and 5 that really holds it down great review if I didn't have one I would definitely get one now.
Thanks! Maybe this is the one thing I will invest in weights for, haha.
Thank you for the tip to turn the clamp horizontally. Right now my Lowery holds a Marussia scroll bar frame vertical as intendend, but for smaller projects I will use a Q-Snap held horizontal in the future.
Always breaking the rules and seeing what works, that's me :)
I see you had a lace making kit for xmas. Well your Lowery stand has an attachment for holding a lace pillow 👍 I had a lowery stand lurking in the loft from my lacemaking days 30 years ago. It has a corner clamp but i decided i needed a side clamp and extension bar but the cost! 🤑 I managed to curb my impatience and eventually found a second hand stand for the cost of buying the 2 accessories new. Thanks for the informative videos 😊
I did! Haven't actually done it yet, it's just sitting on a shelf in the craft room looking accusing and waiting for me to find the time. But yeah I saw that lace pillow attachment and just thought "hmm, fate!" :D
Lots of folks in the comments seem to have had (eventual) luck buying second hand, I'm glad that's an option because all the bits and pieces really do add up. Sadly not had much luck with it myself yet but I'm always keeping an eye out just in case...
I have a wooden floor stand made my a company local to me (which is sadly now out of business). It is large and heavy (your comment that way is spot on), but it's also a beautiful piece of 'furniture' that fits my decor, so I'm good with that. Stitching with both hands was 100% a game-changer and I love it too!
Oh don't get me wrong if we had the space and the money I'd be all over a properly high-end stand like that, it sounds lovely! But our house has, er, let's say it has quite enough craft-based clutter as it is haha.
@@TheGiddyStitcher oh my entire house looks like a craft store exploded in it, but I'm single & live alone, so my mom can make pointed comments all she wants - she doesn't live here and I like it like this! LOL
Keep your eye out for ankle and wrist weights, that velcro on, in charity shops, as they can be dumped round the base and helps with stability .
Ooh yes good plan. Any excuse for a charity shop run!
Fab review. I wouldn’t be without my Lowry - bought second-hand - it’s seen better days to be fair and I wonder whether to do the cross stitch magazine subscription to get a newer version!?!? I had to buy the extender but as a try out I went to B&Q to buy a hollow pipe and bent it myself. It was ok for small/lightweight q snaps. A little bouncy but it confirmed that I wanted to buy the extender and I got it on a special sale price in my own time. I did try to contact a ironmonger. He could supply the rod but couldn’t bend it! But worth a try if you have a blacksmith in the area!!
You're at least the second person to recommend an ironmonger and I have to admit I've got absolutely no idea how to contact such a person! 😂 Worth asking round though, just in case. Wish me luck!
Just find an engineer near you and they will make you a bar any size you want , take your original bar with you to enable them to get an accurate size measurement so that the new one will slot in no problem. I live in the UK and they are so expensive here too, I only paid about 10 pounds sterling for the engineer to make me one, I opted for 10 inch as my sofa arm is very wide, my Lowery is now perfect to use, hope this is helpful to you, your hubby will probably be able to advise you on engineer. 😅
You have a lot of faith in Dave but I asked on the off-chance (since we live in his hometown I thought he might have an idea) and he just sort of stared at me in a blank panic. Still, excellent tip and I will definitely be shopping around, thank you! :D
I love my lowery. Best extras i brought are extension bar and corner clamp (total game changer for q-snaps)
You've got me so curious about the corner clamp, what does it do that's so much better? Just responded to another comment and said I didn't need one, but maybe I do need one! Haha
It holds the qsnap a lot better, and the clamp is out of the way of the stitching area.
I have a wonderful wooden lap stand I bought 20 years ago, but the problem I have with it is it requiring a scroll frame to fit properly. This was fine when I was single, but now if I put it on the frame it’s going to be sitting half in front of my husband’s side of the loveseat! 😂 I probably should figure out a way to fit a q snap in it, but then it also requires somewhere to set the stand when it’s not in use! So maybe I should start saving my money….
I have one and I love it
Lowery gang forever!
Fascinating! I prefer stitching in hand (moving the hoop around just always feel awkward) but I can see how a stand can help.
Also shrimp backs unite!
I used to always stitch in hand and now can't imagine going back! Sometimes I'll start a project without the q-snap but always end up giving in before long. Slightly concerned I'm training myself to be increasingly fussy and it'll all come crashing down one day 😅
@@TheGiddyStitcherxD! Funnily enough, your video is the reason I started to stitch in hand - i had learned cross stitch / embroidery in hoops, and always found it super annoying to move things around, so every project too me ages to complete. Now that I stitch in hand, I've finished three things since december.
I just rewatched your video and ordered a Lowery frame and stuff, hoping to stave off back and neck pain as I work on this big project (it's a SAL and I've put it in a 20"x17" Qsnap frame cause I'm weird and I want to have the whole "canvas" available to me, plus not qsnap over stitched areas ever). I've been gridding it, and... ow! So, I think... an investment into not having pain is a good one any day! I just hope it works :D
Oh I hope so too, good luck! I get a bit the same way with trying to keep everything in the "active stitching area" at once so I get it, feel like a Lowery should be able to hold that fine but you might need extra weight on the base. According to other commenters the corner clamp also holds Qsnaps better than the default side one, so that might be worth trying if the default is wobbly with your big frame. Anyway fingers crossed it sorts things for you!
I'm definitely intrigued by the Lowery stand, but I mostly stitch in hoops or in hand right now. I do have 1 large project that I have on a wooden scroll bar stand, which works pretty well. Bonus - I got it years ago at Michael's on clearance for $20. Clearly there's not many stitchers in this area cuz it's a gem! 😊 Also, I'm a total dork because I felt like an absolute rock star when you said my name! 😂 (And I made my family watch it too) 😂🤣😂
Haha, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I'd recorded that part already when your name popped up and I thought let's just re-record that to include everyone for this week... :D
@@TheGiddyStitcher Thank you! 😊
I am new to cross stitch and ran across a lap size stand for $5
It’s perfect for me. If I keep cross stitching I may upgrade.
Glad you found it useful for you 🌸
Oh that sounds like such a good deal! I do have an old lap stand but never quite found it natural to use, think it just depends on your general setup and what feels best to each person. Having a completely standalone one lets me dance on the couch while stitching! :D
I tend to sit cross legged. It was neat watching you stitch. I thought I was being odd using both hands to move the needle.
It won't let me edit my first post. I wanted to add......it also came with a phone holder attachment (you have to pick one or the other to put in the base) and the clamp itself is metal. I put a high powered magnet there for an extra needle holder and it will hold a half sheet of paper if I have a working copy instead of a PDF.
I love my Lowery stand, it really helps with my arthritis. X
I can definitely see that! Had some problems with one of my wrists in the past and the right tools really do make a world of difference.
@@TheGiddyStitcher I have just ordered an extra extra long arm. Apparently you can get the up to a 22" vertical and 18" horizontal L bar. X
A plate weight with a centre hole can be threaded over the rod or put on the front of the base to stop the stand wobbling all over.
Great tip, thank you!
A hand weight placed on the base plate, or even a plastic jug full of water (with a lid) will counter balance the Lowery stand nicely.
My favourite accessory is the corner clamp. It is perfect for Q snaps.
A lot of people have recommended the corner clamp, seems like it's definitely worth looking into. Thank you!
I love my Lowery stand. Managed to get a second hand one on eBay for £50 and it came with the corner clamp which wasn't in the photos. I use it nearly every day and love being able to stitch with two hands. I had to buy the extra long l bar as my sofa arm is also too wide.
Oh that is a STEAL! I had all kinds of alerts set up for like three years with no luck, congrats on the find!
@@TheGiddyStitcher I know! It was definitely meant to be as I couldn't believe the seller was in the same town and offered to deliver it to me instead of me collecting it. I will never forget that day 🤣
I've thought about getting some kind of stand, but don't know if it would work for me. I do have a lap stand and barely use it. I tried leaving a project set up on it on the table in the family room, but I didn't use it much. I much prefer stitching in the recliner, and if the stand is on my lap the cat doesn't like it because there is no place for her. I've hesitated getting a Lowery stand or anything like it because I'm not sure it would work with my stitching spot. I stitch in the loveseat recliner. I have a bamboo tray from Amazon that goes over the arm of the love seat and holds my pattern, scissors etc when I'm stitching. I also have my lamp on that side so I'm not sure where the Lowery would go or if it would fit under the recliner. Luckily so far I'm able to stitch without my shoulders or arms bothering for the most part.
It definitely does depend a lot on your specifics. I'd similarly given up on a lap stand as well. It kind of sounds like if you did go for something like this you'd probably need to get rid of the bamboo tray (there's various official attachments for the Lowery to hold all kinds of stuff and replace it), but then of course you're into the realms of a complete change--up and the old "if it ain't broke..." starts coming to mind!
@@TheGiddyStitcher Exactly. If my shoulders, hands or arms start to bother me maybe I'll look into a stand. Right now using a small pillow under my arm seems to be all I need. Thanks for the video.
I'd love one but stitching with a lighted magnifier is a must for me - I also wear magnifying glasses! Does anyone know if a good magnifier will clamp onto the stand or will I have to figure out how to have my Ott 3-in-1 stand next to the Lowrey? (Both have wide bases.) Or will I need a new magnifier?
They actually do have an official attachment but it's VERY pricey and that's not even including the extra bracket you need to attach it 😬 www.workstands.com/store/#!/Magnifying-Light/p/357782887/
To me, if you can't find anything like it, it makes a huge difference in a hobby in which you spend a colossal amount of time and you can buy it without neglecting, food, housing, hubby and kids, then yes it's totally worth it. Mine's going to be about $300! Yikes! No it's not cheaper in the USA, not in the Binden years!
Would it hold a very thin traditional embroidery hoop?
Yep! It gets a nice secure hold on a hoop, although you might still want to think about adding some sort of fabric covering if only just to protect the fabric you're stitching on from the clamp touching it.
@@TheGiddyStitcher thank you. That's brilliant!
I'm disappointed in the way a large scroll frame lists to the side, and the Lowery makes it difficult unless you balance one side on something else.
What about a light and magnification - do you have any experience or knowledge about that - would have never considered a Lowry stand without your video 😳
They do sell a magnifying light attachment, but it's very expensive and also requires an extra metal bracket (sold separately, of course). Someone else in the comments did mention though that she got a cheaper magnifying craft light from a local shop that works well, so it might just be a question of finding something that can clamp on securely.
Personally I have a neck light and tried a magnifier that you wear on your head rather than attach to the frame. The neck light is great, magnifier wasn't so much. But I'll keep experimenting!
thank you so much@@TheGiddyStitcher
What is the price
The prices I showed in the video (£97-161) are direct from the Lowery website and before shipping, but it's going to depend where you are and who you're purchasing from. They have a stockists page here www.workstands.com/stockists
I don't do enough cross stitch to justify buying a Lowry workstand. My space is so small that I'd be better off with something that clamps to a table.
Honestly that's fair, although I am obliged to point out they do a mini version that does clamp to a table! But yeah, bit pricey if you don't stitch all that much 😅