What do you use when cross stitching?

I used to love counted cross stitching and made many wonderful things including a set of beautiful pillow cases for my aunt's fiftieth wedding anniversary. I used the round hoops to control whatever piece of the artwork I was stitching. They were the wooden hoops you can buy in the craft stores. Those were really the best to keep the work in place until ready to move on to another section.

I only use a hoop on large pieces or when I need to pull the fabric taut because of the small stitch count. Most of the time I just free hand the piece. I believe in doing what is most comfortable for the stitcher.

it depends on the size of the project...I mean I have my great needlepoint project on a big scroll frame (I don't know if i said it correct in English, the one that has its own legs to stand on!!!) so it is ready for me whenever I need...and I am doing the same with another big project I am working next day as a present for my mother...if I am working on littler projects, I choose those little circular frames you can carry with you...I have many of them in different size and I use to carry them with me...for example on Sunday I am thinking about going to a park for studying, reading there and for stitching there...I am carrying my work with me...it is so nice working "en plain air", that is under the sky, as great painters say!!!!

I do not use hoops or frames when cross stitching. I am not comfortable using those things. There are also times when I bring my CS project in office and do it in my spare time as my other officemates were doing.