Picture Perfect: Three Steps To Preparing Your Cross-Stitch For Framing
Cross-stitch is a beloved craft which many enjoy doing while relaxing in front of the television each night. Once the picture is complete, it is time to ready it for delivery to a picture framer. As someone who has just completed your first large cross-stitch project, you want to make sure your masterpiece is delivered to the framer ready to go inside a custom frame. There are three steps which you must do before your cross-stitch is ready to hang on your wall.
Step One: Washing
Cross-stitch projects can take a long time to complete, so it is inevitable they get dirty along the way. From food and drink drops to the natural oils on your hands, your white Aida cloth looks a little less white once the stitching is complete. However, washing your cross-stitch is not as simple as just putting it in the washing machine. To protect the piece from washing machine damage and to prevent the colour in the thread from running, roll the cross-stitch in a plain white towel. Then, wash the towel on its own without other clothing in the machine. While you may be tempted to skip this step, it is essential that the fabric is clean before the framer places the glass on top. Once the glass is on, any foods or oil left on the fabric could grow mould.
Once the washing is complete, it is time to iron your project.
Step Two: Ironing
When your framer places the cross-stitch into the frame, they do an intricate lacing pattern which you cannot see to keep the piece taut and tight within the frame. If your piece is not ironed flat, no amount of lacing will eliminate the wrinkles. Ironing your work can be done using a standard household iron. However, to protect the threads and Aida fabric from damage, place a tea towel or other light fabric between the work and the iron. By doing this, you do not apply direct heat to the fabric.
After ironing your embroidery, roll it to keep its shape, and you're now ready for step three.
Step Three: Consulting With A Framer
The final step before you can hang a cross-stitch on the wall is to get it framed. Because of the effort put into this project, a custom frame is your best choice. With a custom frame, not only can you choose the type of frame for the piece, but you also get to decide on the glass type (clear or non-reflective) and the colour and design of the mat which goes around your work. A professional framer looks at the colours in your cross-stitch and then makes recommendations based on your budget.
Custom picture framing often takes ten to fourteen days to complete. Then, you can bring your project home and hang it in your house with pride.
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