How to Frame a Finished Needlepoint Piece

Once that last stitch is taken, your finished needlepoint is ready for blocking and framing. While you may think that needlepoint framing requires a professional, many frame shops do not know how to handle needlepoint. You can frame your own finished needlepoint piece using appropriate materials and preservation techniques. A good framing and blocking job will allow your needlepoint to survive as a family heirloom for generations.

Things You'll Need

• Quilt wash
• Hollow core door or soft wood boards
• Aluminum or stainless steel push pins
• Canvas stretcher bars or foam core
• Staple gun or heavy thread and needle
• Frame
• Glazier's points

Instructions

1. Wash your needlepoint in a gentle quilt wash. Rinse well.

2. Block and pin the needlepoint piece in the desired finished size on soft wood boards or a hollow core door, squaring corners neatly and smoothing out any wrinkles in the needlepoint canvas. Pull quite firmly if necessary to achieve the desired shape and to eliminate any distortion. Pin, starting at the center of one side, then working on the opposite side. Repeat for the remaining sides. Secure the canvas firmly to the blocking surface. Allow to dry fully.

3. Measure your blocked needlepoint to determine the finished frame size. Assemble your stretcher bars, connecting them at the corner joints or cut a piece of acid-free foam core board to the desired size. Frame larger needlepoint pieces with stretcher bars, and smaller ones with foam core for a good result.

4. Begin at the center of one side and work toward the center of the other side, stapling your needlepoint to the stretcher bars. Continue securing the center of the remaining two sides and then the corners, pulling the needlepoint piece quite taut. Use heavy thread and a needle to lace the needlepoint canvas around a foam core backing. Stitch back and forth from side to side. Complete the horizontal stitching, then stitch through the canvas vertically from side to side to secure the needlepoint piece to the frame backing.

5. Remove and discard the glass if it came with your frame. Place the foam core backed or stretched needlepoint canvas into the frame. Secure with glazier's points to finish framing needlepoint pieces.

6. Attach a picture hanger to the back of your frame.

Tips & Warnings

• Try using rubber mats made for garage or playroom floors as an alternative blocking surface.

• Needlepoint and other textiles need to breathe. Avoid framing under glass, or use spacers between the glass and needlework.

References

• Needlepoint.org Wash and Block
• Needlepoint-for-fun.com Frame Needlepoint