Tips for Framing Cross Stitch Projects

Once you’ve finished stitching a cross-stitch project (having done what you can to keep it clean and cleaning it when you’re done if necessary), it’s time to put that beauty in a frame.

Of course the easiest way to finish a cross stitch project is to leave it in the hoop you used while stitching it and just finish the back.

But if your project is too big for that, or you just want to use a regular frame, you’re going to need to know how to do that.

This tutorial from Felt Magnet has some good advice on framing cross stitch, including why you might not want to just let a professional framer do it (they usually work with prints, photos and paintings and may not know how to properly treat your project).

Kymberly offers tips for choosing a good frame for a cross stitch project, how to prep the frame and the project for framing and how to mount and hang your finished project.

It’s definitely worth taking the time to do this right, whether you’re framing something for your own wall or for a gift.

Do you frame your projects? I’d love to hear any tips you may have.

[Photo via Felt Magnet.]

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To Ways to Back a Hoop to Frame Cross Stitch

Natalka Studio is an Etsy shop based in Ukraine with a wide variety of cross stitch designs, including realistic, detailed designs with women doing various things, holiday patterns, geometrics and more.

One of the biggest categories in the shop is called girl cross stitch, which features detailed designs of women with flowing hair doing things like drinking coffee, dancing and carrying flowers. There are seasonal projects in this category as well as a couple having to do with hobbies.

I like the knitting one, of course, and almost shared the sewing one as the featured pattern above until I realized the thread is coming off a cone on the floor and there’s no pedal for running the machine.

The one I am sharing here isn’t actually in that category but it is really cute. Little Girl with Watermelon uses 21 colors and measures 73 by 73 stitches. That’s 5.21 inches or 13.3 cm square if you work it on 14 count fabric. I love her messy hair and the little dress and matching bows. You could also change the colors if you have a little girl who isn’t as into pink (or doesn’t have brown hair).

The largest category on the page is animals, and there you will find wild animals like monkeys, pandas and sloths; ocean creatures such as rays, an octopus and a blue tang fish; frogs, dogs and geese, among others.

There are also a lot of Christmas cross stitch patterns, which include a lot of traditional motifs and some more whimsical themes. I like this one of Santa resting by the fire with his boots off.

In addition to all these you’ll find pretty flowers, a bunch of mostly floral bookmarks, a whole big set of patterns with lemons, and a lot more. The fruits and berries section (if you like fruits other than lemons) would be perfect for decorating your kitchen or breakfast area.

Check out all the great patterns they have to offer at Natalka Studio on Etsy.

[Photo: Natalka Studio]

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