How to Use Sticky Board to Mount Cross Stitch Projects

There are lots of different ways that you can prepare your finished cross stitch for display. You can leave it in the hoop you stitched it in, maybe sewing the edges of the fabric to each other or otherwise securing them on the back side so the edges won’t fray and so they are out of the way.

Small projects can be turned into cards or bookmarks, or mounted in frames made for keychains.

You can turn a project into a pillow, pincushion or ornament by sewing fabric to the back and (probably) adding a bit of stuffing or batting between the layers to give it a bit more dimension or to turn it into a pillow or pincushion.

Of course you can also frame your cross stitch projects, in a picture frame, with a mat or even both.

One way to make that easier to do is by using sticky board (or mounting board) on the back of your project. This is a product you can buy online or in craft stores that’s basically like cardboard but it’s sticky on one side. While it comes in standard sizes you can also cut it with a box cutter or craft knife if you need a smaller size.

Stitched Modern has a great tutorial for using this product to help you frame your cross stitch project. The mounting board holds down the raw edges on the back of the work, giving it a smooth and secure finish without having to do any sewing or other finishing.

The product is also acid free so it won’t harm your project. It’s a great way to frame projects you’re giving as gifts or plan to display long term because the fabric will be extra secure in the frame with this extra bit of support on the back.

Have you ever used this technique? I’d love to hear about it.

[Photo: Stitched Modern]

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Make a Cross Stitch Corner Bookmark

One of the most common problems that cross stitchers at all skill levels have is that the cross stitch fabric can start fraying while you stitch.

Beginner cross stitchers might wonder why this happens and if there is something they are doing wrong to cause it.

The reason cross stitch fabric frays is because it is a woven fabric, and the nature of any kind of woven fabric (whether that’s cross stitch fabric, a torn up towel or a piece of fabric you’re going to sew) is that it wants to fray.

It’s not necessarily a huge deal if you cross stitch fabric starts fraying mid-project if you have left a lot of extra fabric around your stitching. But if there’s not much fabric to spare in order to be able to finish the project the way you want, you’ll want to do something to stop the fraying.

When I was growing up I remember my mom using masking tape for this purpose, but it turns out there are lots of different things that you can do to stop your cross stitch fabric from fraying.

Craft with Cartwright came up with 15 different things that you can try, which seems like a lot, but that just means you have lots of different things you can try.

If you don’t want to buy something, you can stitch along the edges. If you already have supplies like tape or glue, or access to pinking shears or a serger, there are lots of options you can try.

Some of these are more permanent than others, so it will depend a little bit on how you want to finish your cross stitch project as to which is the best choice for you. It’s a great idea to read through the whole list just so you can have them in the back of yoru mind the next time you start a project and think about how you would like to protect it.

You can find the whole list at Craft with Cartwright.

How do you like to stop fraying on your cross stitch projects? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[Photo: Craft with Cartwright]

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