How To Back An Embroidery Hoop With Felt
Make the back of your embroidery look just as amazing as the front! In this post, you’ll learn how to back an embroidery hoop with felt. This method for finishing an embroidery looks so polished when it’s done. I’ll even show you an easy way to add your initials or name to the back to make it even more special.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase an item.
Supplies Needed
- A finished embroidery
- Embroidery hoop
- Felt – I use this wool felt
- Fabric scissors
- Embroidery needle
- Embroidery floss
- Marker or pen
I have included a downloadable PDF here that you can use or reference to add your own monogram to the back of the felt. I think this is a great way to “sign” the back of your work! Grab a contrasting color of embroidery floss to stitch with and a way to transfer the letters over. Frixion pens and stick and stitch work well for felt.
If you want the stitches to blend in, choose embroidery floss that matches the color of the felt you are using.
Secure The Fabric
In this tutorial, I’ll be backing this colorful mushroom embroidery I recently made. If it looks like something you want to stitch too, you can grab the PDF pattern here!
- Place your embroidery in the hoop. Trim the fabric so there is about an inch of excess fabric around the hoop.
2. Cut a long piece of embroidery floss. (I like to lay the thread around the diameter of the hoop to estimate how long of a piece I need.) Then tie a knot in the end of it and begin making a running stitch along the edge of the excess fabric.
3. Work your way around the edge, gathering the fabric as you go by pulling on the working thread.
4. Pull the thread tight so the fabric is secured on the back. Secure both ends with a knot.
Attach the Felt
5. Using a pen or marker, trace around the outside of the hoop onto the felt.
6. Cut out the felt along the inside of the circle you traced. The felt should cover the embroidery fabric but be slightly smaller than the outer ring of the hoop. If it’s not, trim it down just a little bit more.
7. If you want to add a name or monogram, transfer or draw the letters onto the felt.
8. Stitch the letters. I used a split stitch, but there are a variety of embroidery stitches that work well. If you need more ideas, this tutorial has tips for embroidering letters.
9. Now it’s time to secure the felt onto the back of the hoop. Cut an extra long piece of thread, measuring it the same way you did in step 2.
10. Tie a knot in the end of the thread. First, make a stitch through only the embroidery fabric. This will hide the knot at the end of the thread.
11. Now make a stitch through both layers of the fabric. Start by going through the embroidery fabric and then through the felt with your needle.
12. Continue making these whip stitches around the entire circle of felt.
Finishing The Stitches
13. Secure the thread with a finishing knot. When you make the last stitch, pull your thread through until you have a small loop. Take the needle off the end of the thread.
14. Take the tail of the thread and pull through halfway, making another loop.
15. Do this 2 or 3 times.
16. Pull the thread all the way through and a knot will form. Trim the tail and you’re done!
And there you have it! A professional looking back of the hoop. This is one of several different ways you can finish an embroidery hoop: you can also use decorative fabric and even paper!
P.S. If you have leftover fabric scraps from trimming around the embroidery, let me show you how you can use them to bind an embroidery hoop.
Amanda is a hand embroidery teacher and artist. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing accessible tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.
