Elan Lapstand

The last thing I needed was a new stitching stand. At the rate I’m going, I’m going to have to ask Vince if I can start putting stuff in his shop! 🙂

A couple of days ago, I was watching this flosstube by Handwork Maniac. She uses the Elan Lapstand and it looks like it’s exactly what I’ve been thinking I needed but didn’t know it existed.

Below I will compare and contrast and try to explain why I think this Elan stand may be a better stand for me.

Rolaframe vs. Elan:

I do love the Rolaframe. It was my first frame and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it but there are a few areas where I think the Elan is going to win out over the Rolaframe and these are all due to my personal preferences.

• The legs/footprint. This one I’m going to blame on Oscar. I mostly stitch while sitting on the loveseat. By the time I have my floss, phone, remotes on the left side of me, I’m almost sitting right in the middle of the loveseat. With the legs, that doesn’t give Oscar much room for jumping up onto the loveseat without hitting the frame. Also, he wants to sleep as close to me as he can get. In fact, as I’m sitting here typing this, his head is resting on my arm and from my side vision, he looks like a bobblehead because his head is bobbling with each keystroke I make.
• To get to the back side. All you have to do is flip it up but if tying off threads or ripping out threads, I have to remove the frame, flip it and re-insert it. It isn’t difficult at all but I think the Elan is easier.
• The angle. This is where I do have a problem. If I’m sitting in a straight, upright type chair looking down, the angle is fine. If I’m sitting in the loveseat or recliner, I have to kinda raise my knees to tilt the frame more towards me and that gets uncomfortable after a while.
• Changing the frame. To change to a different project on a different frame, simply lift the frame out and insert another one. Very easy. (R-1) see at the top of the frame, the left side simply drops down into a “well” and the right side slides into a hole. Lift the left side out, slide the right side out and that’s it.
• Storage. To store the Rolaframe stand, I simply take the frame out but that doesn’t reduce the amount of space it takes up unless I take it completely apart.
• Changing Frame Size. Photo R-2. See the horizontal bar at the bottom? To adjust the stand for a smaller or larger frame, the bar has to be unscrewed and the legs moved over to the correct position. It isn’t a big deal as long as you’re putting the frame in and stitching til the project is finished but if you’re changing projects often, it can be a pain. Sounds like a real problem, huh? NOT!
• Rolaframes are the only frames that can be used in the Rolaframe Stand. The Rolaframes are, as far as the stands I use, the most expensive and no other frames, as far as I know, can be used in the Rolaframe stand. Also, the Rolaframe frames are not easy to get.

K’s Creations vs. Elan:

I like this stand a lot for several but there’s one reason I don’t like it and it isn’t any fault of the design . . it’s just the way it is with this type stand.

• The footprint. This stand is a true lapstand. There are no legs sticking out to get into Oscar’s way. The stand is adjusted for different size frames by uncrewing the two knobs at the bottom (K-5) and sliding those pieces in or out so the frame fits. I can slide those so that all the excess is on the left (Oscar sits on my right) and then very little will be in interfering with his comfort.
• To get to the back side. See (K-2). I simply loosen those two knobs about midway up vertically, flip the frame to any position I need it to be in, then tighten the knobs and I can rip, check things – do whatever I need to do from the back side, then loosen the knobs again, flip it into the right position and tighten the knobs.
• The angle. By loosening those same knobs I use to flip the frame to the back side, I can position this frame at any angle – no limits.
• Changing the frame. To change the project, this is where I’m not crazy about this frame. In photo K-3, see the knob on the side piece that’s kinda standing vertical? There’s one of those on each side. The knobs are unscrewed and that screw is what holds the frame in place. Unscrew those, remove one frame and screw another one in. It’s kinda floppy and I feel like I need a third hand while doing it. Not hard . . just not as easy as the Rolaframe and I don’t think it will be as easy as the Elan.
• Storage. By loosening four knobs, this frame folds completely flat. (K-4). I can slip it into a pillowcase for traveling or storing, with or without the frame on it.
• Changing frame size. I covered this under “footprint”.
• The frames for this stand are supposed to be purchased from the K-Stands folks and I’ve added several extra frames. I have ordered some lesser expensive frames that I think might work but they have not arrived yet.

The Elan Stand:

Again, I haven’t used it. I haven’t seen it in person but here’s what I’m thinking.

• The Footprint. Again, it’s truly a lap frame. There’s a piece of wood that slides out for stability if you need to use a larger frame. I think this will work with up to a 30″ frame. What I would do is have that extended board going to my left side so Oscar wouldn’t run into it, but that would mean I might have to adjust myself more to the right so if I were using a larger frame, I might have to move to the sofa or, since I keep one hand under the work, I might leave the extender in place and stabilize the frame with my hand.
• To get to the back side. It’s much like the K’s Creations stand but there’s only one knob to turn to flip it up and then the knob can be re-tightened to keep it in place. The piece does not have to come out of the frame.
• The angle. Just like the K’s Creations stand, the knob loosens the piece, the frame can be adjusted to any position and the knob tightened to hold it in place.
• Changing the frame. This is where this one shines. It’s similar but better to the mechanism used to hold the frame that the Lowery stand uses. In fact, just like the Lowery, Q-Snaps and stretcher bars can be used for sure and probably hoops, The other two cannot use anything but the scroll frames.
• Storage. This stand is flat except for the arm with the gizmo that holds the frame. From watching Handwork Maniac’s video, it appears that the arm can be moved to an angle (45 degree maybe) if you’re carrying the stand to your stitching group but for safer storage/carrying, the arm would need to be removed.
• Changing the frame size. Simply unscrew the knob that adjust the angle of the frame, slip the frame out and slip another one in. Tighten the knob. It doesn’t matter if the new frame is a different size – no other adjustments need to be made. Yay!
• The frames. As I mentioned, stretcher bars, Q-snaps, probably hoops, and any scroll frames should be able to be used with this stand.

I will write a review of the stand once it has arrived and I have used it for a few days.