Framing a Finished Piece in a Hoop
You've conquered your cross stitch, and now it's time to show it to the world. Use this guide to make sure it looks its best.
How to Annihilate Wrinkles
Nothing ruins the effect of a finished piece faster than wrinkles in the fabric. Getting them out can be a challenge, but trust me, it's worth it.
The simplest way to get wrinkles out of the fabric is by very carefully ironing the back of the piece on very low heat. You can spritz it gently with water to speed the process up, but don't raise the heat. Avoid ironing on top of the finished design—if you need to iron the front, stay on the unstitched areas of the fabric as shown.
If you're not into irons...
If you don't have an iron or just don't want to use one, fret not: there's an alternative method to de-wrinkling that only requires a spray bottle, a cork board, and some push pins.
It's pretty simple: spritz the piece with water until it's slightly damp, then stretch it with pins on the cork board. The wrinkles will release as the fabric dries. If necessary you can repeat the process by spritzing it with water a second time after drying. Keep the drying piece out of direct sunlight (ie, don't put it in your yard to dry).
If you’re using this method, make sure you place the pins well outside the framing area so the pinholes don’t show.
Hoop, There It Is
I typically frame my finished work in an embroidery hoop. If you'd prefer a traditional frame, the principles are largely the same, but this guide will focus on hoop finishing.
Center your piece inside the hoop and stretch it tight. Double check the placement to make sure it’s straight and centered—you won’t be able to move it again later.
Once you have it centered, turn the piece over and cut the excess fabric from the back, leaving about 1” around the entire hoop.
Starting at the top of the hoop, place a thin line of hot glue around the inner hoop a couple inches at a time. Press the excess fabric down to adhere it to the back of the inner hoop, then repeat the process all the way around.
And there you go! Your finished cross stitch is forever immortalized inside its very own hoop frame. You can cover the back with felt for a more polished look, or leave it open like this one. The bolt on the top of the hoop makes a perfect hanger, or you can attach a piece of ribbon or fishing line to hang it from.