Ever wonder how professional embroiderers keep their work so beautifully pucker-free as they work? They use slate frames! These marvelous inventions are completely adjustable and can accept a fabric width up to about 3" less than the twill tape across the top bar. The frames are made of strong birch and will last you a life time. It takes about two hours to set one up but your stitching surface will remain perfectly taut in four directions for the duration of the project. Worth every minute in our book! If you are working on a long sampler you simply roll the excess fabric around the horizontal bar and move as needed. You can see these frames in use in old etchings from the 17th century - not much has changed in their make-up. We currently have two sizes with tapes either 16" or 20" wide. The vertical slats are a generous 21" long. These slate frames are commonly called "student" frames as they are not decorated and are a bit lighter in weight than the standard English models. But this has a plus; you can use them with your Lowery stand or any other metal or wood floor stand. Each frame comes with very detailed instructions for assembling the frame. These instructions were written by Barbara Jackson and are only available with Slate Frames purchased from Tristan Brooks. A convenient Starter Kit contains all the extra twill tape, cording, cotter pin coverings and the special needles you need for the set-up. The twill tape and cording can be used multiple times.