I use whatever takes my fancy at the time and depends on the size of the project. I like q snaps but the bigger ones can get a bit heavy. I use a piece of felt between the stitching and and the clip that goes over and have never had a problem. If it is a larger project I sometimes forgo the felt and just fold the stitching over so that the clip fits over the wrong side of the fabric. It also helps keep the material taut in the q snap.
i love q snap so much. it makes my cross stitch easier because i can see the hole in fabric more clearly, and can leave it on fabric without worrying about the mark in it. now i have 3 set of q snap in different size
I love my qsnaps:D I do find them to be heavy but I use a floor stand so its not a problem. Ive never had them harm my fabric and I do leave the fabric in them.
Ive been doing a lot of smaller projects lately and was wasting fabric so Id have enough to fit the smallest qsnap. I was telling my DH about one project where I was going to have to cut the fabric much bigger than needed. It was a beautiful piece of hand dyed linen and I didnt want to waste any of it. So, DH took the qsnap out to his workshop and started sawing it, LOL;P Now I have my very own custom made tiny qsnap:D
I just got my first q-snap last week. I ordered an 11x11 which is one of the bigger sizes but Im used to stitching with a 10 inch hoop mostly so I figured anything smaller would be a hard transition for me. I will be honest...the first day was very annoying for me. The ends of the fabric that stuck out on the corners were scratching at my arm as I stitched and I found it was very bulky. But I stuck with it and now I will never go back. I hold mine by the bottom left corner and stitch with my right hand. It can get a little heavy but I do stitch a ton...several hours a day. So far it hasnt been so heavy that Ive switched back to a hoop though.
I have the 11X11 size and I balance it when stitching either on the arm of my chair or desk. I love the ample space it gives, so that I can jump around a design without having to move it, like a hoop.