Do you love embroidery or cross stitch and are eager to free up both of your hands for stitching? A table stand could be your answer! If you’re unsure where to start, we’ve reviewed some of the best embroidery table stands on the market to help you decide which option is right for you.
With over 15 years’ experience in needlework publishing, professional cross stitch designing and a lifetime of stitching, I’ve tried numerous embroidery stands for professional and personal use.
I’ve selected the Nurge Embroidery Table Stand (190-4) for review today, conducting thorough evaluations considering key factors including adjustability and stability, ease of use, size and portability, construction and value for money.
Stay tuned to find out if this embroidery stand secures its place among the top contenders for the best stands on the market.
If you're new to stitching, check out our guide on how to use an embroidery hoop for cross stitch or start with a free embroidery project with our beautiful heart hoop.
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Summary
This embroidery stand is a great option for beginner or hobby needleworkers, or those looking for your first small height adjustable tabletop stand for hands-free cross stitch or embroidery.
It offers great value for money at under £45, and sits firmly on a flat surface whilst not taking up too much space. However, it does have limitations with holding maximum 16mm depth hoops or frames and, in our opinion, isn’t suitable to also use as a seated chair stand as marketed.
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How we tested
I evaluated five key categories of this embroidery stand: adjustability and stability, ease of use, portability and durability, functionality and value for money.
I tested the stand’s ability to hold range of wooden and plastic standard round embroidery hoops, ranging in size from 3-12in. We also tested it with 165mm and 220mm Nurge branded square plastic hoops.
I also considered factors included the range of height adjustments and angles, user-friendliness of assembly and mechanisms, ergonomics of use, weight and ease of storage, build quality and compatibility.
Lastly, I took into account the price and overall value for money to determine the final score.
Nurge Embroidery Table Stand review
Key features
- Dimensions: base 21x39cm (15x8.3in)
- Weight: 870g
- Range of height adjustments: 9.5-47cm
- Range of angle adjustments: vertical only, in 4 pivot points
- Compatible hoop sizes: 3-12in diameter, up to 16mm deep
- Materials: wood with metal bolts and plastic grip caps
- RRP: £43.85 Buy now from Amazon
Adjustability and stability – 3.5/5
The Nurge Embroidery Table Stand has a very well thought out design style, allowing for height adjustability of between approx. 20-47cm above the table surface, depending on the size of your hoop and angle it’s positioned at. The stand is marketed as extending to 53cm, however this doesn’t account for the depth and angle of the top arm angle required for stitching, reducing the overall practical height slightly.
The height and angle adjustability are achieved with three wooden arms, joined together with wind nut screw mechanisms which can be manoeuvred forward and backwards. The arms cannot be adjusted horizontally, so it is limited to an up and down movement for height adjustment. I found all the joints hold firm with no loss of position if tightened well.
There is a rotating knuckle-head joint at the top in which to place your hoop using a vice type system, with a flat plastic screw to hold it in place. This could do with being a bit wider to add more stability and grip to the surface of your hoop – although it holds securely for stitching, it is possible to dislodge the hoop out of position if you knock it.
The thing I like most about the design is the ability to pivot the knucklehead joint backwards, so you can gain access to the reverse of the hoop without the need to remove it each time. This was very helpful for starting and finishing thread lengths, although I had to be careful not to knock the hoop as I did so to avoid it displacing.
The base of the embroidery stand is stable, solidly made from hard beechwood laminate for a good weight-balance ratio. The ergonomic design of the base means its footprint is minimised on your table surface, whilst still providing stability to working mechanisms above.
The wider front shape of the base also helps to stabilise the stand. I found it best to use with smaller to mid-size stitching projects, due to the weight of larger hoops and fabric factoring into the overall stability. Ensuring the bottom arm is directed backwards helped to provide an even balance, although this does have an impact on the maximum height position that can be achieved.
Ease of use - 3/5
The Nurge Embroidery Table Stand comes as separate parts in a box with base, pre-joined arm, knuckle-head joint, screws, plastic knob grips and rubber discs, so some assembly is required.
Assembly instructions are basic and found on the reverse of the printed box, showing a photo of the parts to join together and instructions in English and Turkish. I did find this quite confusing to follow, however there is a user-made YouTube instructional video linked on the Nurge website for this product, which I found more helpful and recommend checking out.
The plastic wind nut grips are easy to twist thanks to their ergonomic design, and can be controlled using a single finger and thumb. Just be careful of tightening them up too much, as the small size of the grips can make them hard to later undo.
It can be a bit fiddly to get all the different arms positioned for a comfortable stitching angle at first, but you soon get the hang of it. The stand can be left up between stitching sessions if desired, meaning you don’t have to make adjustments too often.
Although this product is called a table stand, Nurge do also market it as a seated stand too, however I found it quite uncomfortable to use in this way. It’s not ergonomically designed to fit underneath your legs, meaning the wood and bottom knob cap dug into my thighs. The design of the stand also means the arm joints need to protrude up in between your legs, unlike most seated embroidery stands on the market that come across the left or right side, so this felt a little ungainly for me.
Portability and durability - 4/5
I found this embroidery stand to be fairly portable, and I like that you can position the arm joints neatly and securely folded against the base, making it only approximately 9.5cm high for easier storage.
There’s no case included, and it doesn't fit back into the box once assembled, however this isn’t necessarily a downside unless you plan to travel with it. That said, it would be nice if it came with a protective bag for safer storage and to help prevent scratches etc, as it needs to remain flat or be propped up on its side by other objects on a shelf.
It’s fairly lightweight for the size of the stand at 870g, made from hard beechwood laminate, fine sanded and polished for a smooth natural wood finish. It has a nice build quality with no splinting of the wood, and I love that all edges are sanded smooth and rounded, with no sharp corners to catch yourself on.
The adjustment wind nut grips are made of plastic, which is prone to break easily or snap, especially as it degrades over time and use. Although there was a spare included in the box, which is useful – as long as you remember to store it somewhere memorable for when needed! Keep in mind you can also purchase these separately from the Nurge website (SKU: Wing Nut 5mm), if you ever need more replacements in the future.
Functionality - 4/5
I tested this stand with a range of wooden and plastic hoop sizes 3-12in, as well as Nurge’s own square plastic frames. All fitted into the knucklehead holder, which has a maximum depth of 16mm. For that reason, however, this stand isn’t suitable for deep quilting hoops, tapestry or Q-Snap frames.
Hoops are easy to fit in place in the top section, although you may need to do some trial and error to find the best position for grip. I found where the hoop’s metal fixings and screw are positioned to be the best spot, but this can vary by hoop. The branded Nurge square plastic hoops were slightly easier to insert, with a wider flatter surface for the vice screw to grasp.
It is very useful being able to angle the top joint backwards, allowing easy access to the reverse of your hoop for starting and stopping thread lengths as you work. This is a big time saver not needing to take out and re-insert the hoop each time.
There’s no additional branded accessories or attachments specifically made for this stand, such as for attaching a lamp or chart holder, however I haven’t found this to be a problem. You can always purchase a separate craft lamp to use alongside it.
Value for money 4/5
The price tag is comparable to other embroidery stands on the market and the build quality and height range make this a versatile product to add to your stitching set up.
It is well made and comes with a couple of spare parts too, so if cared for correctly should hold up well over a long period of time, making it a worthwhile investment from an established craft brand.
You may also like to invest in Nurge’s own plastic hoops (sold separately) which I found were held slightly more securely in this stand. However, if you prefer wooden ones this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for you.
There’s no warranty information mentioned, so this is worth bearing in mind. I have found Nurge’s customer service to be responsive in the past, however.
What’s in the box:
- 1x Flat wooden base
- 1x Jointed arm
- 1x Hoop-holding knuckle joint
- 5x wind nuts
- 1x Metal screw
- 2x Rubber discs
Where to buy the Nurge Embroidery Table Stand
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Our verdict: Should you buy the Nurge Embroidery Table Stand?
I have continued using this product as my personal stand for cross stitch and embroidery projects, as I’ve found it offers a good range of height adjustment options and stitching positions for me to work at.
It allows me to sit comfortably at my sewing table, without opting for a bulky and costly floor stand, which takes up even more space.
I didn’t want a seated stand, so the limitations of the design style haven’t been a problem for me. I fold it away when not in use and can set it back up again quickly and easily, adjusting the height and positions of the wooden arm joints to suit each size of project I’m working on.
My only slight bugbear has been the stand’s stability at holding some larger hoops, and it can take a little time to find the correct balance and position to secure them between the screw mechanism.
However, if you’re looking for a tabletop embroidery stand from an established craft brand, or you’re eager to try one out for the first time, this is a great option to consider at under £45.
Looking for more embroidery stands?
If you're still browsing for stitching stands or looking for help using embroidery hoops, check out our guide to the best embroidery hoops and tapestry frames.
