Framing cross stitch and blackwork projects the easy way

If you came to this page looking for frames on which to work your projects, rather than display them, please check out my page on embroidery hoops and frames.

Your first step should be to wash your completed cross stitch piece to freshen it up and remove any oils that have been transferred to the fabric from your hands.

So what do you need for framing cross stitch?

Everything you need is shown in the photo above. Just the cross stitch itself, some stainless steel dressmaking pins and a piece of foam core board, cut to fit inside the frame opening. (Don't make it a really tight fit, as the fabric will need a little room.) I haven't included the frame in this photo but you can see the finished piece after the step by step photos and instructions below.

Choosing a frame

Think of the room in which the needlework will be hung when choosing the colour of the frame. If most of the furniture is black, a black frame could fit in well. On the other hand if you love pine furniture then a pine frame may work better. If you want to add some colour to your framed piece think about using a coloured mount or matt board that compliments the colours used in the picture.

If you have added beads to your cross stitch or are framing a raised embroidery piece you might want to look at frames with a deep rebate, that is the "lip" on the back where you sit the glass, fabric and mount boards. More room here will allow for a double matt to keep the work away from the glass.

Should you frame cross stitch behind glass? I guess we all have our own opinions on this subject. I tend not too, as my framed pictures travel around with me to shows, workshops and exhibitions. Glass would make them heavier and may break in transit.

However if your pictures are going to be hung on the wall and hardly ever moved then the points I mentioned above will not be relevant. If it is going to hang in an area where smokers gather, glass would help protect your valuable work from tobacco smoke. The important thing is to not let the glass touch the embroidery. One way to do this is to use a mount or matt board. You could also use small pieces of board, just under the frame so they don't show, called spacers.

Did I just hear you ask "What is foam core board?" Thought so. I buy this from a stationers or art supply shop in big sheets and cut it to size. But I found a online supplier of foam core board. They even do a black board for darker fabrics.

Basically it is a layer of foam sandwiched between two sheets of acid free card. You can purchase it in either a thick or thin option. I would recommend the thicker foam core board, but do check that the rebate in your frame will hold it! Some frames have very little room if you want to include mounted work, matt board and glass in them. The photo shows the edges of the foam core to give you a better idea of the construction.

Framing cross stitch step One

For this step it helps to work on a dark surface so that you can easily see how much fabric is hanging over the edge of the foam core board.

Lay the work face up on top of the board. Position it so that an even amount of border shows on all four sides then move it up a little to give a slightly larger amount at the bottom of the design.

The design I have used in this example is the heron from my wildlife cross stitch section.

Take a pin and push it into the foam at the top centre as shown in the photo, left. Do the same at the bottom, pulling the fabric so it lies snug against the board and isn't floppy. Do not pull so hard as to distort the board though!

Repeat by placing a pin at the centre of the two sides as well.

Framing cross stitch step Two

Starting at the top centre push more pins into the foam on the edge of the board, placing each one about one half to one inch apart. Work out from the centre in one direction then the other. If you are framing cross stitch worked on Aida fabric try to line up the rows of squares so that the piece ends up straight. But don't panic, if it does go slightly wonky you can just remove the relevant pins and reposition them.

Repeat for the bottom of the piece, pulling the fabric just firmly enough to hold it close to the board with no puckers. Then repeat on each side until pins are holding the fabric on all four sides. Check that everything is even and the rows of Aida squares run as straight as possible.

Framing cross stitch step Three

When all the pins are in place, turn the needlework over. We now need to tidy up those corners.

Fold the fabric point in each corner over the board, then fold the sides over the top and pin in place with one pin pushed right through the board and foam. Repeat for the other three corners. Then take a piece of strong thread and stitch the corners in place.

If you wish you can lace the back of your work by taking long stitches from top to bottom, then side to side but this is not really necessary with this method as we will be leaving the pins in place.

If you are using glass in your frame make sure it is clean and smear free before framing cross stitch pictures.

Then our last job is to drop the work into the frame and attach a back board to keep everything neat and tidy and enclosed.

One benefit of using this method is that it is easy to remove the work for washing, if it is ever necessary.

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