How To Frame Embroidery For A Professional Looking Finish

Framing an embroidery is a phenomenal way to finish your artwork because it makes it look really put together and professional.

I recently hand-painted some frames and put a few of my original embroideries in them. So naturally, it would be the perfect opportunity to share how I mount and frame them with you!

I used to mainly finish my embroidery in hoops, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, a nice frame can make your work stand out. While you may not want to use this technique for every piece, learning skills like this will give you even more options in your tool kit for displaying your work!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase an item.

How To Frame Embroidery

Before we get started, I want to note that I learned how to frame embroidery through RSN’s Book of Embroidery. This tutorial is loosely based on their instructions, and I have also sprinkled in lots of my own tips and considerations that have helped me!

Keep reading for a step-by-step tutorial, or jump to the video.

Supplies Needed

• Mounting Board – The self-stick boards are helpful. (Grab one on Amazon) If you cut it down to size by yourself, ensure you have a small amount of wiggle room within the frame.
• Quilt Batting (optional): This gives your fabric a little extra padding, which will help more delicate fabrics and may help to hide knots and thread along the back.
• Curved Needle – Grab one at Colonial Needle. I promise this will make your life a lot easier when you’re securing the back of the fabric!
• Heavy Duty Sewing Thread
• Sewing Pins
• Scissors
• Adhesive Spray or Glue Stick – (Roxanne is good from Colonial Needle)
• Neutral-colored Fabric – muslin works great, needs to be the same size as your embroidery fabric

Getting Started

Choose an embroidery with at least an inch or two of extra fabric around the mounting board. This will allow you to adequately secure all sides evenly to the board.

If you’ve never framed anything before, I recommend starting with a smaller embroidery piece. It will be less overwhelming!

Press Your Embroidery

It’s so important to press your embroidery before you frame it. Any creases or wrinkles are likely to appear even after you frame it.

Press your embroidery carefully – use the proper temperature setting for the fabric you’re using, and don’t hold the iron on the fabric for too long (this can scorch the fabric).

Steam and ironing starch are great for any stubborn wrinkles.

Secure The Fabric To The Mounting Board

Don’t skip this step! It may seem a little overboard, but it’s essential because you will use this layer of fabric to secure the fabric to the board.

Trim the mounting board fabric so there is an inch or two of extra fabric. If you’re using an adhesive mounting board, stick the board onto the fabric and smooth out any wrinkles.

• Secure the edges of the fabric to the back of the mounting board. Using the adhesive spray or glue, start along one side, then secure the opposite side.
• To remove some bulk around the corners, cut a small triangle from the corner, leaving a small amount of fabric at the corner of the mounting board.
• Remove the excess flaps of fabric along the back. The fabric should now look similar to an envelope.
• Finally, secure the other two edges.

Position the Fabric

Sandwich the quilt batting on top of the mounting board. Place the pressed embroidery on top of both layers.

Make sure the design is centered correctly. If you have a lot of extra fabric along the sides, carefully trim some of it off, but make sure you leave at least an inch or two.

Pin The Fabric To The Board

Next, we’ll start pinning the fabric to the board to temporarily secure it.

I like to do this on a flat surface to avoid shifting the fabric.

Place pins along the edge of the fabric and through to the back of the mounting board. (You’re essentially pinning the embroidery fabric to the first layer you secured onto the mounting board.) Be careful, this part can be tricky, and it’s easy to get pricked!

I prefer to use quite a few pins for this because it helps me get the fabric nice and tight, which will smooth out any wrinkles.

I will start along one of the longer sides first, then work along the opposite side, pulling the fabric tight as I go.

Secure the shorter sides until you have pins all the way around.

Look at the front to ensure the embroidery is still positioned correctly. If there are any wrinkles you need to smooth out, now is the time to readjust the pins.

Fold the corner of the fabric along the corner of the mounting board, then fold each side (similar to how you would wrap a present). Pull tight and secure with two pins.

Securing the Fabric With Stitches

Once the back is completely secured, it’s time to start securing it with thread. We’ll use a herringbone stitch to secure the fabric to the fabric on the mounting board.

• Thread the needle and place a quilter’s knot in the end.
• Grab the fabric with your needle, making sure you grab both layers.
• For the next stitch, you’ll make it closer to the edge of the fabric and slightly off to the right. Grab the fabric and pull the thread through.
• The next stitch will be in line with the first stitch you made, so you’ll essentially be zig-zagging your stitches down the edge of the fabric.
• Work these stitches all the way down each side. If your thread is snagging along the pins, it’s helpful to remove a few pins as you go.
• Secure the thread, and you’re ready to place it in the frame!

Extra Tips

• Before you stitch an embroidery you plan to frame, you may want to double up the fabric or use a stabilizer on thinner fabrics. Another great option that provides way better tension is a slate frame. Removing puckering around embroidery is challenging, so preventing it is key!
• If you have an embroidery you want to frame and are having trouble getting all the wrinkles out, you can try wet blocking it beforehand.
• Try using a darker fabric on the mounting board to hide stray threads along the back
• Threads showing through to the front of the fabric? Take a needle and go through the first layer of cloth below where the stray thread is showing. Make a sweeping motion with the needle, tucking the tail behind the embroidery.

Video Tutorial

The more digital the world becomes, the more I gravitate towards slow, meditative activities like this. It may feel a little inconvenient to frame things this way because it does take more time. Trust me, I get it; I used to feel the same way! I’m a person who likes to get stuff done quickly, so more often than not, I will choose the more efficient way.

But lately, I’ve been really savoring slower, more tangible tasks like this or taking a few hours to set up my slate frame or sort my embroidery thread. I’ve been savoring it! Do you feel the same way? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. If you want to learn how to stitch the morning glory flower, I have an exclusive tutorial for it on my Patreon.