some type holder for surface design on thick felt

[Truffles]

I'm struggling to describe what I need here. I've just finished a large and quite thick "painting on wool" meadow scene. I made the prefelt then wet felted and needle felted the scene in place. My next step is surface design. I'm looking for some type of holder for my piece while I'm doing the surface design. I've tried embroidery hoops and have popped two them, I bought a pvc tubular frame used in quilting and my felt is way too thick for the pieces that snap on to secure the felt to the frame. Does anyone know of a gizmo I can get to hold this felt while I work on the surface? This can't be a unique situation but it's the first time I've made such a hefty piece. Because of its size it needed to be heftier than usual. 

[Shepherdess]

similar to the PVC pipe thing, is to make one yourself. Use 4 strate pieces and 4 elbows and then stick the hook side of the strong, wide velcro on the long pieces. the nice thing about this is that you can make different size frames and you can pull them apart for storage.

[Truffles]

Thanks so much. My spatial skills are ebbing today. I love the idea of making my own frame with the velcro but what would I use to secure the piece to the frame? Something has to snap over it so it stays on the frame. Don't take up your time trying to get this across to me-I have a neighbor who can help be visualize how to do this. I appreciate your suggestion! Yes, I will set my email so I know there is a response. 

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

Hi, Glad you are staying with us at least for a while.
If you press the back of your felt to the hooky side of the velcro you'll find it will stick to it just as strongly as the fluffy side of velcro sticks to the hooky side.
Alternatively you could use an old fashioned tapestry/canvas work frame.  Have a look at this Amazon link here.  You can get these attached to table stands or floor stands or just to sit in your lap (and lean against a table if it's a big one).  This is basically the same idea as Ann's DIY frame, but there is a strip of strong tape attached to the round sections top and bottom instead of velcro.  When using the frame for embroidery you stitch the fabric to the tape.  I have done the same when working on a large piece of felt work.  If your piece of felt is too long for the depth of the frame you just roll it around the top and bottom rollers so that the section you are working on lies between them.
I'm sure that YouTube will be able to show you how embroidery canvas is mounted on one of these frames - you just do the same for felt.
Do show us your results when you've finished your work.  We'd love to see it.

[MTRuth]

Another suggestion is that you can baste your felt to a larger piece of lightweight fabric such as white muslin. Then use the frames by putting the lightweight fabric in the frame and pulling it tight. This means the frame must be larger than the felt piece for this to work.

Is there a reason that you don't want to just hold the felt in hand and stitch on it? Especially with hand stitching, I rarely use a frame. I do use frames if I am couching a lot of threads down but generally, I don't use a frame at all. The felt is usually stiff enough to support the stitching.