Handcrafted Hickory Slate Frames & Embroidery Trestle Stands

This collection features handcrafted slate frames and trestle stands designed for traditional hand embroidery. Each frame and stand is carefully made from solid hickory wood by a master finish carpenter, creating tools that are strong, stable, and built to last for generations of stitching.

Slate frames are the traditional choice for serious embroidery work because they allow the fabric to be laced and tensioned evenly across the frame, keeping the embroidery surface perfectly tight. This consistent tension is essential for many historic and professional embroidery techniques.

These frames are ideal for:

• Goldwork embroidery
• Silk shading
• Crewel work
• Ecclesiastical embroidery
• Fine hand embroidery projects

To properly mount embroidery on a slate frame, this collection also includes the traditional setup supplies used by professional embroiderers, including:

• 1.5" heavyweight twill tape for attaching to the edges of the embroidery ground
• Bracing needles used to lace the fabric to the frame
• Lacing string for tightening the fabric across the frame bars

Together, these tools allow embroiderers to achieve the even tension required for detailed and historic embroidery techniques.

Whether you are working on goldwork embroidery, silk shading, crewel work, or church embroidery, these handcrafted frames and stands provide the stability and durability needed for long stitching sessions.

Why Use a Slate Frame?

Slate frames have been used by embroiderers for centuries because they allow the embroidery fabric to be tensioned evenly in all directions.

Unlike hoop frames, slate frames provide:

• Consistent tension across the entire embroidery surface
• Greater stability for detailed work
• Better support for large embroidery pieces
• Traditional mounting methods used in historic embroidery studios

This makes them especially well suited for goldwork embroidery, silk shading, and other fine hand embroidery techniques.