Lacing and Framing Tutorial

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Hi everyone,
I used to work at a picture framers and people often ask me how to frame cross stitching, so I have made a basic tutorial. Not everyone does it my way, but this is how I do all of my own and used to do the ones in the shop. It looks complicated, but if you practise on a few small items, you will have confidence for bigger ones! Its lots of fun and saves you a lot of money, which is always good. I apologise in advance that some of the pictures are a bit blurry - my camera is not so good. :(

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Frame with glass and back board (or matboard cut to size)
• Acid-free Mat/border
• Acid Free foamboard
• Piece of card to put on the back of the frame
• Map pins
• Thread and needle in a contrasting colour from your fabric
• Thick needle and crochet cotton (or thick perle will do) - MUST be cotton, not nylon. I use a curved needle but any will do
• Big paper-based brown tape
• Hanging kit (D-rings and wire)
  

(You can get the foam board, hanging kit and mat/border at the framers inexpensively)


(tape and hanging kit are not in the photo - sorry!)

Step 1: Lining Everything Up
Put your cross stitch on top of the foamboard and the mat/border on top of that and line it up so it is sitting exactly how you want it.


Take the contrasting thread and sew a line of basting along the bottom and partway up one of the sides where the fabric is touching the edge of the mat/border. Try to keep it between the same two threads of linen all the way (although I havent done this very well in my picture!!)



Step 2: Pinning
Take the map pins and, starting at the corner you have basted, start sticking the pins through the linen into the foamboard, using the basting to line it up. You must remember that the linen will stretch, so you should take that into account when pinning near the basting (i.e. the basting line will end up on the back a little, not the edge). Pin the long edge first. Dont push the pins in all the way, because it is easier to adjust later if they arent in all the way.


MOST IMPORTANT!!!
When you are pinning, make sure you are going along the line between the same 2 threads of the linen all the way along. This means it will stay straight. I tried to get it in the picture, but my camera isnt good enough. Its really easy to do this with Aida, but you will have to look closely to do with linen. Hope that makes sense. Here is my awful drawing to explain!! ;P It is supposed to be pins!


Once you have pinned one of the longest sides, pin the opposite. You need to stetch the fabric over the edge of the foamboard and keep it taut as you pin it. Again, it is VERY important to stay along the same linen thread the whole time.


Now do the same for the short ends. You can put the mat/border on top occasionally to check the sewing is in the correct position. If not, then loosen one side and tighten the other to move the image.


Step 3 : Lacing
Thread the large needle with the crochet cotton (I always use 5 x the distance of the board - it can run out quite fast!). Dont remove the pins.
Turn the foamboard over onto a cloth (to protect your cross stitch).
You are going to start by doing the longest sides first. Tie a firm double-knot on one end and then start sewing back and forth across. Make sure that the edges have been zigzagged or sewn tightly, so the cotton wont pull right through.


Sew back and forth all the way down. I usually prefer to go at least 2cm in from the edge of the fabric just to be safe. Dont worry about it being tight just yet.

Now that it is sewn all the way down, starting at the top, pull each thread very tightly, until they are all very stretched. Then fasten with a double knot into the fabric, making sure the thread doesnt go slack while you are tying it. It is inevitable that a few of the pins will fall out while you are tightening, but as long as most of them stay in, that is ok.


Now we will do the short ends, but first we must do mitering on the corners to make it sit flat. If you forget to do this, that is ok. I just prefer it personally.
Fold the fabric, as I have done in these pictures, then start lacing as before.


Remove all the pins (it hurts if you stand on them later!! OUCH!);P

FINISHED!!!

Step 4: Framing
Take the back off your frame and clean the inside of the glass.
Put the mat/border in and then the cross stitch. (You can hold the back tightly and flip it over to check if you want).
Hold it in place with flexiclips or, if the frame didnt come with them, you can tap a very small nail in each side to keep the whole thing in position.


Now, put a piece of card over the back of the frame and use the brown paper tape to hold it in place.

Measure 1/3 of the way down - this is where you will screw in your hoops of your hanging kit. I forgot to buy one, but this is what you will need to hang it.
Here is a picture of one from online (NOT my picture):


Now you are FINISHED!!! YAY!!!
I hope this tutorial has been clear and useful :D

frugalmom032

WOW! Thank you so much, I have been interested in learning this, everyone else makes it look so complicated.

seditas

Muchas gracias por ese tutorial, muy practico

Heidy2006

Very good tutorial

misslola

Thank you so much for sharing

WiseOwl

This is great Ferretarium... You make it look so easy.... Thank you for sharing this with us...

sil

Very good tutorial

BarbraStreisand

Very useful.....Thank You!!

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absntmindedme replied at 2012-3-14 19:39

                               
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Very useful.....Thank You!!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Biddy

This is just great! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this.

toti1418

Muchas gracias, muy necesaria tu explicación, y didáctica

malva2005

                               
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anesku

thanks for sharing!