This is the second part of our Needlepoint Blocking and Finishing series.
With these blog posts, we want to help you broaden your needlepoint knowledge, make you feel more comfortable about this craft, and show you the multiple ways you can transform and elevate your needlepoint canvas!
Needlepoint framing is a way to finish your needlepoint pieces, that results in a put together and modern looking wall hanging. It consists in the mounting of a canvas in a frame, and it can be made in many different ways, depending on the type of frame you use, and mounting technique.
There are professional needlepoint finishing and mounting services, but in this blog post we want to show you how easy it is to frame your needlepoint at home, in an affordable and simple way! We'll show you 2 different ways to do this, accompanied by video tutorials, so you can choose the one that fits your style better.
Needlepoint Framing topics we'll cover on this blog post:
Before you start framing your needlepoint finished canvas, you need to ensure that is has been properly blocked. This step is very important, to remove any distortion or tension that may cause the canvas to warp, so all the edges are neat and straight inside the frame. Read our blog post on How to Block Needlepoint if you need instructions for this first step of the finishing process.
The 3 most common methods used for general needlework framing are gluing, pinning or lacing.
We recommend avoiding using glue, as this limits the possibility of in the future, finishing your stitched canvas for a different purpose.
Below we'll describe two different approaches on how to finish your project with a pin method, which is our preferred method!
The first approach uses a gallery frame, which means the piece of needlepoint is secured/pinned to a foam board the size of the frame you have selected. The stitched piece is then covered by a mat that hides the unstitched area and creates an artistic look for the piece to stand out.
The second approach uses a floating frame, which means the piece of needlepoint is mounted around a foam board the size of the stitched part. This piece is then attached to a back mat that serves as the background, giving the appearance that the needlepoint board is "floating".
Specific tools for the Floating Frame method:
2. Pin the canvas
3. Secure the pins in the back
4. Place the mat and the canvas in the frame
1. Prepare the canvas
2. Secure the foam board
3. Pin down the 4 sides
4. Remove the clips and tape down the canvas
5. Mark the center on the back mat
6. Stick the needlepoint to the back mat
7. Place the needlepoint in the frame
After you framed your needlepoint, there are a few things to have in mind when it comes to protecting it. The glass is a great way to protect your piece from dirt and dust, and other oils and residues that may come in contact with the piece, but you should also keep your frames clean so as to avoid any particles going in through the backing.
If you go for a glassless frame, you have to dust it or dabb it with a damp cloth to keep the dust from collecting on top of the needlework, and avoid having it in places that may be susceptible to staining, like smoke or oils from cooking.
With or without glass, you should also avoid direct sunlight, as it will prevent sweating (because of accumulated moisture) and fading of the thread colors of your piece over time. You also shouldn't keep the framed needlepoint in a humid room, because the constant exposure to moisture may cause unwanted warping and distortion.
Using glass in your needlepoint frame is a personal choice, that depends on the finishing style you want to give your piece, as well as your budget.
If you want to use glass, the one with best quality is Museum glass, because of its particular reflection control properties, as well as being clearer than other glasses (it's very hard to tell that you are using glass!). However, bear in mind that this glass is very expensive.
If you decide to use a more affordable glass, avoid using one without UV protection, and never place your frame in direct sunlight, as explained above.
In our opinion, the trickiest aspect of DIY needlepoint framing is finding the perfect size mat for your piece. Most times, the mat that comes with the frame doesn't align correctly with the dimensions of the stitched piece, which is necessary to avoid showing the blank canvas, or covering too much the stitched area.
In this blog post we show you a variety of framing ideas that you can select for your finished needlepoint. Depending on the size and look you want, you will find for sure inspiration for your beautiful project!
Now that you know how to frame your needlepoint pieces, what are you waiting for? Go give a new life to your walls and decorate them with your favorite needlepoint designs!
If you found this tutorial helpful, share the results with us via email at hello@unwind.studio.
If you send us a photo of your Unwind Creations you can receive 50 Unwind reward points, that you can later redeem into discounts through our Loyalty Program!
Happy Stitching!
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