How to Frame a Cross-Stitched Piece

The first step in framing a piece of cross-stitch is to select a picture frame and a mat combination based on the piece itself. The proper frame can turn a cross-stitched work of art into a treasured heirloom. Does it call for a simple picture frame, or might a jeweled ornate picture frame be better? Personal taste definitely figures into things, as well as the décor of the room in which it will be hung.

The following step after picking the mat that you like most is cutting the backing so it is the same measurements as the mats you have chosen. Backing can be made out of matboard or maybe foam-core. Cut a window out of the backing that's a quarter inch bigger all around the mat window. Stick double sided stitchery tape all along every edge of the portion that is cut out; in the end this will become the back side.

Mount the backing - the piece with the window cut out of it - on the mat by using double sided tape.

Once you make sure that the cross-stitch is fully centered in the window, firmly push the cutout piece into the window (the side without the design will be in the direction of the cross stitched work's back.) Centering the stitchery correctly in the middle could take a few tries.

Pick a corner that looks just about how you want your completed cross-stitch to look, and then start to pull the fabric through the back and stick it to the stitchery tape which is on the back. Start at that very first corner and make your way all the way around. You will probably have to make readjustments by pulling on certain parts once again or even several times until it is correct. Whenever you are finished you can use framing tape to adhere the piece of backing to the window. Cut out a piece of scrap mat which you can fit across the whole back of the piece.

Finally, fit the "package" into your selected picture frame and secure it. Choose some craft paper to use on the back of the frame and then all you have to do is select the kind of hanger you want, whether it is a sawtooth hanger or both picture wire and some eyehooks.

Whether or Not to Use Glass

The weather and the location in your house where this piece is going to be hung have a lot to do with making the decision as to whether or not you want to use glass, commonly referred to as glazing in the framing circle. You should use glass if you are living in a pretty dry climate. Build up of dust can seriously affect the fabric of an unglazed piece of cross-stitch.

If you're going to hang your piece where the conditions may be humid, such as in a bathroom or perhaps your kitchen, you should always glaze the cross-stitch and seal it securely. Your fabric may often be badly damaged when the humidity is quite high in the area it is placed in. If it's not properly sealed, then moisture will appear on the glass and this can cause mildew and mold problems.

When the climate you live in is humid and the average humidity doesn't ever really go lower than 20%, you are basically guaranteed to have problems with sealing your cross-stitch well enough that dampness won't be a problem. Expert framers actually build humidity controlled rooms for this very purpose. So if you reside in such a climate, take your cross-stitch work to a professional framer to seal it or leave it unglazed. If you do decide not to glaze it, you should most likely not hang it up in the kitchen, as the fabric is likely to get ruined by grease and other oils in the air.

So do not forget to make use of these tips and you will surely treasure your splendidly preserved cross-stitch for many years to come.


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Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Our ornate decorative picture frames are perfect for showing off your cross stitch pieces, family photos or artwork. Call 800-780-0699 or visit our website to see our matted picture frames today.