Have you ever wondered how to display your embroidery or stitch art in a timber embroidery hoop so that the back looks as great as the front? There are a few different methods that I’ll describe below.

YOU WILL NEED

• timber embroidery hoop with top tension screw
• pressed fabric project, ready for framing
• pinking shears (optional)
• sewing thread and large needle
• circle of wool felt measuring slightly less than the circumference of the hoop
• optional hot glue gun

METHOD

When you have finished your embroidery, stitchery, or project to be framed, make sure it is pressed well and ready to go in the hoop.

1. Place the inner circle of the embroidery hoop on a flat surface. Position your fabric over the inner hoop so the design is facing you and well centred. Put the outer hoop over the fabric. Press down on the inner hoop to pop it into place, ensuring that the design is centred in the frame and that the screw is centred at the top.

2. Tighten the screw, pulling the fabric taut as you go. Make sure the fabric is firmly held in the hoop.

3. Trim the fabric approximately one to two inches (2.5 – 5 cm) from the outside edge of the hoop. Using pinking shears will help ensure that the fabric doesn’t fray.

4. Thread a needle with a very long doubled over length of sewing thread. Starting at the top of the hoop, stitch a loose running stitch (about ½” (12mm) from the fabric edge), all the way around the outside edge. When the stitching meets at your starting point, pull the thread to gather the fabric in firmly behind the hoop. Secure the thread with a few stitches.

You could leave the hoop like this, but you may want to completely cover the back for a neater finish.

5. To cover the back of the hoop, secure a circle of wool felt to the back (that measures slightly less than the actual size of the hoop). First, centre the felt over the back of the hoop.

6. Whip stitch or blanket stitch in place with evenly spaced stitches.

For an alternative ‘no sew’ finish, run a line of hot glue along the inside edge of the inner hoop and press the trimmed excess fabric down to secure it in place. Then cover the back of the hoop with a circle of light card, secured in place with hot glue.

How easy is that?

You may also like to add a bow and a hanging loop to the top of the screw. You can decorate the outside edge of the hoop by wrapping it in ribbon or strips of fabric before you place it over the sewn project. Or hot glue on a trim like pom pom ribbon when the hoop is complete.

I have used the felt circle method to back most of the hoop designs that I have created, including the Craftiness is Happiness Hoop pattern and the Flora Fiesta Embroidery Design pattern.

 

I hope you found these tips useful. Please leave a comment if you have any other tips or tricks to add.

Happy stitching, Lauren x

This post was written by Lauren Wright and appeared first on Molly and Mama http://www.MollyandMama.com.au