Doak, beautiful, I always use the manipulating cloths, I wouldn't open a hive and leave the top exposed to the open air, just makes so much sense to keep them safe without their top of their homes being ripped off and exposed to everything in this world, hee, hee. I have something very similar, mine have doweling sewed into the ends, same idea, it holds down the cloth so that it stays in one place. Beautiful and most wonderful day, Cindi