Cross Stitch Frame

From LoveToKnow Crafts

Do you need a cross stitch frame?

A common question for people just beginning to do counted cross stitch is: what do I do with all these pieces? Beginners particularly are looking for solutions that will hide the messy back of their pieces, all the knots, stray bits of thread and just messy stitching left behind to make the pretty pattern on the front.

The good news is there’s a very easy, inexpensive way to showcase your cross stitch pieces: frame them.

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Choosing Material for a Cross Stitch Frame

Almost any piece of counted cross stitch can be framed, no matter the size. But the kind of frame you want to use may vary depending on the subject of the piece. For instance, you probably don’t want to put an old-fashioned sampler in a modern metal frame or an incredibly complex and colorful design in a frame with a color that clashes that features a pattern.

Take a lot of time and care choosing a cross stitch frame. Framing cross stitch is a lot like framing any other kind of art. You want the frame to reflect the tone and scale of the piece, and you also want to choose something that’s going to look good in the room that you’re going to hang the piece in.

Look at the colors in your finished cross stitch piece. Is there a color that dominates? You might choose a similar (slightly lighter or darker) color for your frame. Or pick out a color that is only used in a few places in the piece. The frame will make that color stand out more in the piece and will make it look more complex and artful.

Or go for a standard neutral frame of brown, black or gray. A simple frame won’t take any attention away from the cross stitched piece but will still make it look really nice on the wall.

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Matting Matters

For a more dramatic effect, you can also frame your cross stitch with a mat in addition to a standard frame. Using matting can be helpful when you have a piece that is not a standard size. You can use the mat as a border to allow the piece to fit into a standard sized frame.

For an informal look, say for a piece that will sit on your desk or in the kitchen or bathroom, you can mount your cross stitch exclusively in a mat frame. This is a cute look for samplers and little floral motifs or whimsical designs. Instead of hanging these pieces, purchase small easels to allow them to stand on the desk or countertop.

If you want to use a mat and a frame, the same considerations hold as when choosing a frame. Pick a mat of a color that is included in your cross stitch piece, or that is harmonious with the piece.

Or use two mats, one of an interesting color and one that is more neutral to go on top. That way you only see a little bit of the color for interest and your framing job doesn’t look too trendy (or rapidly outdated). The top piece of matting should be a half inch or so narrower than the bottom one, so some of the color will show.

The size of matting you use will depend on the size of the piece you are framing and the size of the frame itself. A good rule of thumb is to have matting that’s no more than four inches in width, but it’s really personal preference that will dictate how much matting you use. If it looks good to you and you will enjoy looking at it, then that’s the right way to go.

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The Big Frame-up

To use a cross stitch frame, gather your frame, matting materials (which you can purchase in standard sizes at craft and framing stores, or cut to size using a craft knife) and the piece you want to frame.

If there is a lot of excess cross stitch cloth around your piece, you will want to trim the piece down so that there’s just enough fabric to fill the frame. If you are using mats, you can use a little double stick tape to secure the piece to the mat so that it will stay straight in the frame.

Place the piece in the frame, making sure that it looks straight. Slide the back of the frame into place, hang and enjoy.

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Alternatives to Framing

If someday you run out of walls or simply want to try something other than framing your pieces, here are some other ideas:

make a pillow, using the cross stitched piece as the front

make a wall hanging, using fabric as the “frame,” and hang using a twig or a dowel

use a large piece or several related small pieces as blocks in a quilt

use pieces to decorate almost anything made with fabric, from the side of a tote bag to the outside of a floss organizer or needle roll for the knitter in your life