How to frame a cross stitch
You do not choose a frame for the stitching — you choose it for the stitching plus a border. That means you can work out the frame before the first stitch, and cut the fabric for the frame instead of the other way round.
Updated
A framer will do a beautiful job, but most cross stitch is easy to frame at home: you need a standard-size frame, a piece of acid-free foam board or mat board, and strong thread or pins. The one decision that matters is the frame size, and it is best made before you cut the fabric.
Before framing: wash and press
Fabric picks up dust and oil from your hands while you stitch, and a hoop leaves rings. Hand-wash the piece in lukewarm water with a mild soap without rubbing, roll it in a towel to press the water out, then iron it face down on a soft towel. The towel keeps the stitches raised instead of flattening them.
What size frame do you need
Take the finished size of the stitching and add a border of fabric on every side — around 2 inches is the usual choice. Without it the design looks cramped and its edge disappears under the frame lip. Then look for the smallest standard frame that fits: frames come in fixed sizes, and those are what you size the piece to.
| Chart, stitches | Finished piece, in | Frame, in | Fabric to cut, in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 × 50 | 3.6 × 3.6 | 8 × 10 | 12 × 14 |
| 80 × 100 | 5.7 × 7.1 | 11 × 14 | 15 × 18 |
| 100 × 140 | 7.1 × 10.0 | 12 × 16 | 16 × 20 |
| 150 × 200 | 10.7 × 14.3 | 16 × 20 | 20 × 24 |
Look at the 100 × 140 chart: with its borders it misses an 11 × 14 frame by a fraction of an inch, so the table moves up to 12 × 16. If a slightly narrower border suits you, the smaller frame works too — the 2-inch border is a matter of taste, not a rule.
Cut the fabric for the frame, not for the design: it has to cover the whole board and wrap around behind it. If you choose the frame up front, the cut in the table is the piece of fabric to start stitching on.
How to mount cross stitch on a board
- Lacing is the most secure. Lay the piece face down with the board on top, fold the edges over and lace them together with strong thread in a zigzag, long sides first, then the short ones. Nothing is glued, so you can re-stretch the piece at any time.
- Pinning is quicker. Stretch the piece over foam board and push pins into the edges, starting at the middle of each side and working out to the corners.
- Self-adhesive board is the easiest, but it leaves glue on the fabric. For a piece you want to keep for years, lace it.
Whichever method you use, check the grid: the fabric threads should run straight along the edges of the board. A skew of a couple of millimeters shows the moment the piece goes behind the frame.
Should cross stitch be framed under glass
Glass keeps out dust and fading, but pressed straight against the stitching it flattens it. If you want glass, put a mat or a spacer between it and the fabric so there is a gap. Without glass the stitches look more alive, which is a perfectly good choice for a room without kitchen steam or heavy dust.
Framing cross stitch in a hoop
A small piece can stay in a wooden hoop. Tighten the fabric, trim it about an inch and a half beyond the hoop, gather the edge with a running stitch and pull it tight on the back, then cover the back with a circle of felt. The same steps work for any hand embroidery, not just cross stitch.
In short
- What size frame do I need for my cross stitch?
- Add a border of about 2 inches on every side of the finished stitching and choose the smallest standard frame that fits. A 50 × 50 chart on 14 count Aida measures 3.6 inches, or 7.6 with borders, so it fits an 8 × 10 frame.
- Should cross stitch be framed under glass?
- It does not have to be. Glass protects against dust and fading, but pressed against the stitching it flattens it, so glass is used with a mat or spacer. Without glass the piece keeps its texture.
- Do you need to wash cross stitch before framing?
- Yes, if the fabric shows hoop marks, dust or marks from handling. Hand-wash it in lukewarm water with mild soap, do not rub, roll it in a towel, and iron it face down on a soft towel so the stitches stay raised.
The numbers and charts on this page are computed by the same code as the builder.