Gripper Frames or Morgan No Slip Hoops
Gripper Strip Frame
Gripper Strip Lap Frames are the best for punch needle rug hooking. Your backing needs to be tight as a drum which enables you to “punch” the needle through the backing. These frames enable you to stretch the fabric taut.
Please see Oxford's youtube video for stretching your fabric on a gripper strip frame. https://amyoxford.com/pages/tutorials
The tighter your backing, the easier the punch needle will go through your backing, making the craft more relaxing and reducing hand and wrist strain. Another plus of using this frame is that a taut backing produces more even stitches.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THE GRIPPER STRIP ON THIS FRAME IS RECOMMENDED FOR USE WITH LINEN AND MONK'S CLOTH, it can also be used with Weaver's Cloth.
The frames are made by hand in West Wales from pine and ash.
***The gripper strips on these frames can be very dangerous and you will either need to buy a cover or make your own cover from a piece of wool or flannel. If I do not have covers in stock, I am happy to send instructions for making the covers.
Morgan No Slip Hoop
Made in the USA
Plastic with metal hardware
Morgan No-Slip Hoops have a unique patented feature, a tongue and groove configuration, which holds the fabric securely between the inner and outer rings, thus keeping the fabric in place when using a punch needle.
Works great for monks cloth, primary rug backing, or even weavers cloth.
When using a Punch Needle your backing needs to be tight as a drum which enables the needle to slide more easily through the backing. Normal wooden embroidery or quilting hoops are not constructed with this tongue and groove configuration and do not keep your fabric in place, meaning it makes the fabric baggy and your stitches uneven. The tighter your backing, the easier the punch needle will go through your backing, making the craft more relaxing and reducing hand and wrist strain. Another plus of using this frame is that a taut backing produces more even stitches.