It can be expensive to go to a store and have them frame your cross stitch artwork for you. Plus, it can take a few weeks before you get it back, since most stores will send it somewhere else to be framed. It can be frustrating to wait that long, especially if you are giving your cross stitch piece away as a gift. A simple solution is to do it yourself. It doesn't take long and will save you a lot of money.
To start, you will need an acid free mounting board, iron, scissors, masking tape, a frame and matting (optional). Before you frame, you will want to iron your cross stitching to give it a fresh, crisp look. Once all the wrinkles have been ironed out, you are ready to frame it.
Before you can place the cross stitching in a frame, you will need to put it on a mounting board. Use acid free mounting boards, either padded or non-padded, which can be found at your local craft store. One side of mounting boards is sticky so that the fabric will stay in place once framed. The reason the mounting boards are acid free, is that the acid will damage the fabric and discolour it over time. Avoid using cardboard instead of a mounting board; cardboard may be cheaper, but is very acidic. Padded mounting boards are great to use when framing without glass or when framing with a shadow box, as it will give dimension to your cross stitched piece. Tip: If you are framing without glass, remember to spray the fabric with Scotch guard to prevent future staining.
To use a mounting board, first centre the cross stitching on the board. Then smooth the fabric and gently press it in place. Cut off excess fabric from the edges, leaving about one inch or less of fabric. Turn the board over and use masking tape to hold the excess fabric in place and to prevent the edges from fraying. Place the matting and then the mounted cross stitching in a frame, and presto, you are done!
Once you have framed your cross stitching, you will want to make sure that the colours stay vibrant and won't fade over time. There are two ways you can prevent the fading of colours once you have framed your cross stitch piece - I recommend doing both. The first way is to keep finished and framed pieces out of direct sunlight. Throughout the day, observe the area where you want to hang or place your finished piece. Take note of where the sun hits the walls and where it doesn't, and place your cross stitch piece where the sun will not touch it. After you have found a place, check the position during the different seasons, as the angle of the sun and where it shines will change.
The second way is to use UV filtering glass. Ultraviolet "UV" light is the largest reason why colours will fade over time. UV filtering glass can block over 97% of UV light, while regular glass will only block 60%. You can purchase UV filtering glass at your local framing store. You now have a beautifully preserved piece of art!
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