Stretcher Bars vs. Scroll Frames: Which is Right for You?

Stretcher bars are the most common way to mount a needlepoint canvas. They're inexpensive, easy to assemble, and hold your canvas at a consistent tension from the first stitch to the last. We recommend them for anything up to about 14 inches square.

Scroll frames come into their own for larger pieces or when you're traveling with a project. You roll the unstitched portion around a dowel, exposing only the area you're working on. Your canvas stays cleaner, your bag stays lighter, and you avoid the awkwardness of a giant frame on an airplane tray table.

The tradeoff: scroll frames take a little more setup, and some stitchers find the exposed working area smaller than they'd like. If you're a two-handed stitcher who lays their canvas flat on a stand, stretcher bars are usually the answer.

Come by the shop and we'll show you both, mounted, with a real canvas on them. You'll know which one feels right the moment you pick it up.