Choosing the right frame to display your needlework...

One thing I love about stitcheries is the varying ways in which we can display them.

Needlework has the knack of bringing to life many projects and gifts, such as quilts, wall hangings,  pomanders, bags, pillows, table runners, dolls clothes, lamp shades, phone cases...the possibilities are too numerous to list!

Personally, though, I have a real penchant for frames.

It's rare that I don't come home with a frame or two when I've spent time window shopping in town or browsing the shelves of local op shops (thrift stores). 

There's no frame too large or small, and I especially love a splash of colour or metalwork.

For today's blog post I want to share with you some of the frames I've used for my designs (and why). You may be inspired to choose a frame more often as your needlework display - after all, they make really lovely gifts.

Some frames dictate my choice of thread colour for a design I'm stitching. 

I'll measure how much space I have for displaying my work then design to fit, choosing either threads that blend with the frame, or threads that contrast.

The projects below were thread co-ordinated with the frame. The first one also featured a fabric border top and bottom, chosen because it blended with the inner section of the frame, while the birth notice highlighted the mauve in the frame by a good spattering of mauve floss in the design itself...

Stay Calm and Stitch was a contrast design, embroidered with black thread to stand out against the salmon frame. The faux rust on the frame added to the effect...

Needlework can also be displayed inside an elegant white frame as this makes the stitchery your most prominent feature...  

 Adding borders to your stitcheries before framing in white allows you to display your work in a larger size frame. In the two projects below I chose my threads from the colours in the fabric...

By accident I found this peachy pink frame to be an exact match for the applique fabric I wanted to use in the bunting of a daughter's wedding memory, so I added more of the fabric as a border to accommodate the larger size of the frame...

Fabric borders look beautiful as a contrast to vintage frames. This tiny frame was just a few dollars at an op-shop and perfect for the sweet stitchery I designed for a friend last year, but the addition of a feature print brought it to life...

Slightly different because it's not needlework, but remember my framed 2015 mission statement I showed you yesterday?

Framing and displaying this on my bedside table has allowed it to become the daily reminder I need to see and recite each day (and in the frame it's much prettier than hiding in my journal)...

What do you think? Are you inspired to look at frames with fresh eyes?

Perhaps you have a few stored away that can be made new with some of your needlework, or even a powerful quote or two?

Is there something you have ready to frame right now - if so, what is it, and how will you frame it? Leave your comment below as I'd love to hear about it!

Some of the stitchery patterns shown in the frames through this post are HERE.

 Have a blessed day!

I have some secret stitching to complete so Mr Poirot will be keeping me company...

How to frame tiny stitcheries...

 

Yesterday I showed you my very sweet little poinsettia posy, just 1¼” x 1½” in size...

Such a pretty little posy deserved a special frame for it's permanent display, and I had two that seemed worthy of the honour. But which one to choose?

The delicate metal rose frame has been sitting in my supplies cupboard for about 5 years waiting for employment so once I checked the stitchery would fit easily inside the aperture I packed the square frame away for another day.

Because the rose frame is oval it required a different framing technique to THIS one I shared earlier in the year. If you have a round or oval frame and would like to frame an embroidery inside it my short tutorial may help.

First, trim your completed stitchery block slightly larger than the outer edge of your frame. This doesn't need to be perfect but as close to the right shape as you can manage...

Fuse a piece of Pellon behind the stitchery. You can accurately trace the size and shape of the Pellon from laying the frame over the Pellon and tracing along the aperture edge. After you have cut out the shape from the Pellon centre it behind the stitchery and fuse in place (from the front of the stitchery)  with a warn dry iron. Press down gently on the stitchery and avoid moving the iron back and forth.

Do NOT iron the Pellon...

Lay the backing board over the template plastic and trace the shape with a fine tipped permanent marker. 

If you don't have template plastic use a piece of cardboard or a piece cut from an old x-ray. 

Make sure the plastic fits inside the frame with a tiny bit of space to move as you'll be adding more width when you wrap the stitchery around it...

Thread your needle with strong thread, such as a Perle #12...

Hand sew a line of running stitch ¼” inside the edge of the fabric...

Finish the line of running stitch just beyond your starting point so that the beginning and the tail of the threads 'cross' each other...

Lay the template plastic over the centre back of the stitchery and gently pull the two ends of the thread to gather the stitchery around the plastic...

Tie off with a double knot and trim the excess thread away...

Place the stitchery inside the frame...

...and replace the backing board.

Beautiful!

To create this little posy just download my free Holiday Hostess Poinsettia Tree  block HERE in my shop. Trace a few of the poinsettias in a round, add a few more Colonial Knots and you have something rather sweet, and a perfectly pretty and quick gift for Christmas!

hugs