How to Needlepoint Frames
Needlepointing a frame is easy and the results are attractive. A needlepointed frame is especially nice for a baby's room or for special family photos. Patterns are available for needlepointed frames, but you can easily design one yourself using a pattern design program or graph paper; just make sure you plan the size first.
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Things You'll Need
- Needlepoint fabric
- Needlepoint threads
- Needle
- Cotton fabric
- Light blanket batting
- Heavy cardboard
- Craft knife
- Glue gun
- Paper
Instructions
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Needlepoint your design. The fabric should have at least three quarters of an inch extra on the outside of the frame design all the way around. You can make the frame any size and shape you want. Aida, linen, monaco or other similar needlepoint or cross stitch fabrics work well for frames. Your design does not have to go all the way around the frame, it can simply be two corners, on the top and bottom, running up the sides or whatever you wish.
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Trim the needlepoint fabric down so that there is only three-quarters of an inch extra all the way around the finished design. Cut out the inside of the frame leaving three-quarters of an inch extra around the design. Cut out a piece of cotton fabric the same size and shape as the needlepoint fabric but do not cut out the center. This is for the back of the frame and will not have a hole.
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Cut out a piece of cardboard the size and shape that you want the finished frame to be, including the hole for the picture, with an craft knife. Cut another piece of cardboard out with the same outer dimensions as the first piece, but do not cut out the hole in the middle. This will be for the back of the frame. Cut out a piece of batting the same size and shape as the cardboard for the front of the frame with the hole in the middle.
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Lay your needlepoint fabric face down. Then center the batting and then the cardboard on top of it so that all of the pieces for the front of the frame are stacked and lined up as you want them. If your frame is rectangular, clip the corners slightly. If it is round, cut into the fabric a half an inch as often as needed along curves. Pick one inside edge to start with. Run a line of hot glue along the cardboard and wrap the fabric around to the back of the cardboard and press it to the hot glue carefully. Once that side is dry (usually within a couple of minutes), do the same thing on the opposite side. Repeat the process for the two other sides so that all the inside edges are finished first. Then repeat the process with the outside edges.
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Lay your cotton fabric face down. Then center the back piece of cardboard on top of it so that they are lined up as you want them. If your frame is rectangular, clip the corners slightly. If it is round, cut into the fabric a half an inch as often as needed along curves. Pick one edge to start with. Run a line of hot glue along the cardboard and wrap the fabric around to the back of the cardboard and press it to the hot glue carefully. Once that side is dry (usually within a couple of minutes), do the same thing on the opposite side. Repeat the process for the two other sides.
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Cut the paper to the same shape as the front of the frame, but one-eighth of an inch smaller both on the outside and the inside. Glue this sheet of paper to the back of the front part of the frame to cover the raw edges of the fabric. Cut another piece of paper to the same shape as the back part of the frame, but one-eighth of an inch smaller on all sides and glue it to the back of the back part of the frame to cover the raw edges of the fabric. Let both sides dry well.
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Run a line of hot glue around the sides and bottom of the inside of the back of the frame (the side with the paper). Carefully press the paper side of the front part of the frame to to the back part so that they become glued together on three sides. The top of the frame needs to remain unglued so that pictures can be inserted into the frame. Optional piping or lace can be added around the edges by gluing them to the back part of the frame before attaching the front part.
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Tips & Warnings
Finished frames can be placed in small stands that are available at most craft stores or hung on a wall by attaching wall brackets to the back.
Make certain that every part of the frame is dry before inserting any photographs or you might end up gluing the photograph into the frame.
