When we asked Anne-Marie of Vermont
to give us her feedback of the Townsend Orbiter,
this is what she had say:

Dear Katie,

Please extend my thanks to everyone who has been involved with the design and manufacture of the new Orbiter frame. I love it. Yes, the fact that it is tractor-red is a plus. But here are the most important reasons:

1) I am tall, and hunching over a rug-hooking frame makes my shoulders and neck ache. I have never used a floor-stand frame before that I can raise high enough for me. I am 5' 10" tall, and floor stands seem to me to be made for folks who are 5 - 6 inches shorter. Also, I like to get my eyes up close to my hooking. I can raise and tilt my rug so it is up close and personal and I can see what I'm doing without putting my head in my lap.

2) I am not as facile as I should be in hooking in different directions. I know there are amazing rug-hooking whizzes who can hook left, right, inside, and out. But when I do that, it's not a good thing. Yes, I know I have to work on my technique. But I surely do love the fact that I can just rotate the frame and have my problem solved, without having to take the rug off he frame to reposition it.

3) Not only am I tall, but I also tend to ALWAYS be too hot. (My friends keep speculating on whether this has to do with hormones, but I've been this way for 40 some years so I doubt it's just a hormonal thing). Because of that, holding a rug in my lap while working can be torture - I just get too hot. And I like to work on large rugs. The orbiter holds the rug off my lap, and that adds dramatically to my comfort level. Because I'm always hot, I tend to wear shorts while hooking - even in winter. And that means I get itchy from the wool and linen on my legs. Getting the rug off my lap is a big deal and makes me so much more comfortable.

4) I like to work on large rugs, and the orbiter hold it steady, without tipping from the weight. I really love the fact that the frame is sturdy, and is not going to get knocked over.

5) I like to hook all over my rug. I do not just outline and fill in one area, and then move to the next. I love that the orbiter allows me access to a very large surface area of the rug. I can hook all over the rug without having to constantly reposition the backing.

6) I love the fact that all four of the gripper strips can be tightened and loosened. With other gripper frames, since you can only move two of the gripper arms, it's easy to stretch the rug out of shape. But with the orbiter, you can tighten all four arms, so the rug is being stretched more symmetrically. And then when it comes to releasing the rug, turning all four arms inward to loosen the rug seems to mean there are fewer times that I accidentally pull out loops (this happens too often if your rug is tight on a frame, and you just yank it off).

7) The red frame is gorgeous.

8) I think the "tray" you can attach to the frame is a great idea. It really protects my hands and fore-arms from the gripper strips. Also, I am leaving the stand up in my T.V. room. With the tray on, there is less chance of me catching my clothes to the frame while walking by it.

9) I love it that you just have to fold up the foot, and fold down the tray, to flatten the frame. Once it is set up and you have the gist of it, it is very easy to manipulate. This frame is a serious piece of equipment, and I have the sense that it will be exceedingly durable over time.

10) I often get together with friends to hook - at their homes, or somewhere away from my home. This will be easy to pack up, stick in the car, and set up for my work. When more thoughts about the frame float into my gray cells, I'll send another email.

Cheers, Anne-Marie