Embroidery hoops keep fabric smooth and taut, to help you achieve better tension when stitching, darning and patching.
Ideally your hoop should be larger than the area you’re mending. Choose here from my two favourite sizes to mend with: 15cm or 10cm diameter.
Embroidery hoops are designed to be used with woven (non-stretch) fabrics. When mending or embroidering stretch fabrics, I recommend attaching water-soluble stabiliser first, to prevent crying and/or swearing.
To use:
- Unscrew the hoop to loosen it (without removing the screw).
- Remove the outer hoop and place your fabric over the inner hoop, with the area to be mended framed in the centre.
- Place the outer hoop over the top of the fabric (you might need to unscrew it a bit further to make it fit). Tighten the screw until the fabric is secure.
- Pull the fabric taut but not too tight along the warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) threads. When mending a hole or rip (not just a threadbare area), be careful not to overstretch your fabric in the hoop or your stitching will become floppy and distorted once the hoop is removed.
Made from bamboo with a metal screw and fitting. Note: this item is delivered to you without packaging, but when it arrives at Modern Mending HQ every pack of 10 is wrapped in plastic. I’ve listed it in the plastic-free collection but thought it was worth noting.
For a premium-quality hardwood hoop, try Nurge beechwood embroidery hoops.
Prefer a darning mushroom or fabric stabiliser to a hoop? Check out our range of tension-taming tools.
Want to see how it’s done? Modern Mending the book includes 18 pages of hand-stitching instructions, 32 pages of darning instructions and 30 pages of patching instructions, with photographs and illustrated diagrams.
Weekly dispatch
This shop dispatches orders once a week so I can do alllll the things – including running this shop and running after two tiny tots – and enjoy my life. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.
Shipping carrier
I ship via Australia Post. If you select Express Post at checkout, it will speed up Australia Post's delivery timeframe but won't speed up my process.
After your order has been packed, you will receive an email notification with your Australia Post tracking number, which you can use to check on the delivery status of your order.
International customers: click here for current Australia Post international delivery timeframes.
Shipping fees
Shipping is currently a flat rate of $12 within Australia ($17 Express Post); international shipping is calculated at checkout. Gift vouchers are delivered electronically and do not require shipping.
International shipping
I ship worldwide with the exception of the UK, due to VAT regulations that came into effect on 1 January 2021. If you are in the UK you can order the UK edition of my book from your local bookshop.
Local delivery
Customers in Northcote, Thornbury and nearby suburbs (subject to capacity) can select local delivery at checkout. Local delivery is extra-slow and coincides with my pram-walking / kid-wrangling schedule, up to one week after purchase.
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I choose to reuse
When shipping orders my first priority is to reuse packaging materials whenever possible – boxes, padded mailers, cardboard, paper, tissue paper, bubble wrap and egg cartons from neighbours, second-hand shops and recycling centres. I cannot guarantee the materials used to ship your order will be plastic-free for this reason.
I buy recycled packaging
If I don’t have suitable second-hand packaging to use for your order, my next priority is packaging made from recycled materials. It's important to me to support Australian companies making good products from our recyclables, and to make sure that material gets a second life.
Tape
I use compostable, gummed kraft-paper tape to seal my parcels whenever possible. I have a second-hand tape wetter that I love, purchased from my local op shop. Gummed paper tape is available at most art-supply shops if you want to make the switch yourself!
Express Post orders will have official plastic "Express Post" tape added.
International orders will have a plastic pocket taped to them, to accommodate paperwork required by customs.
Individual product packaging
Every item for sale on this website has its packaging components listed and in most cases photographed, so you can make an informed decision.
Upstream packaging
When I speak to my suppliers I specifically ask that my orders be supplied to me without plastic packaging, whenever possible, to avoid waste and single-use plastic. This isn’t always possible, but I’ll keep asking, forever.
Here's how one of my suppliers has my name recorded in its database:
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