Images Stitchery Design 0040 Lap Stitch Doodler Plus Frame with 3 Dowels

This frame is beautiful stained wood (the dowels and knobs are sanded but unfinished), well balanced, and big enough to handle a very large project but light enough to carry just about anywhere if you have a bag that the frame pieces will fit into. It's a matter of a minute to set it up once your material is basted to the dowels, and while it can be a little hard to stretch extremely tight, once it's there and secured it won't be going anywhere.Pros:- Large! (12 inch high work area; length determined by the dowels.)- Light and very portable (5lb at the most)- Solid; once it's tightened down the frame does not tip or rock. It's also made so that you can flip the frame and work from the other side. Getting to the back is as simple as tipping up the side closest to you.- Beautiful - I'd use it to display finished work- Basting; no fiddling with tape or velcro, etc. Once the cloth is properly attached, it isn't going anywhereCons:- Large! Can be a little unwieldy and hard to reach the middle of the back when stitching with one hand in front and one behind your work- Price can be a little prohibitive (but ultimately worth it)NOTE: the product description says you will get one set each of 18, 21 and 34 inch dowels. This is incorrect. You will get 18, 21 and *24* inch dowels. A downer for me as I was counting on the longer dowels.Kudos for an aesthetically pleasing and highly functional tool handmade in the USA.

I did not need the instructions as this was so easy to set up. After a few minutes of lightly basting my ongoing work to the rods, then attaching the frame with the easy screw on ball knobs, I was ready to stitch. I thought the price was high, but wanted to replace my plastic with display worthy equipment. I am not disappointed. The picture looks like a raw wood frame, but really, it is beautifully smooth and stained a light walnut(?) brown color.After working with it for several hours, I am VERY PLEASED! I move around a lot to prevent getting stiff. I sat akimbo, then feet on ottoman, legs crossed, sat side legged and through it all, the frame was rigid and well balanced. I did use some small pillows on either side of me to support the frame higher when I sat with my legs together. Well worth the money and then some.As it is supported on the sides, it is very light. I was a little worried about the weight when i picked up the packaging, but that included all the dowels and I fretted for no reason. It is easy to turn over to work the back side, too.As previously noted in another review, this can be taken apart in a matter of moments and packed away. The length of the dowels is the only consideration.I can't remember the last time I was so pleased with a product. Tremendous!