On the evenings after work last week, I worked on getting my cross stitch piece, Come Let Us Adore Him, framed. Lots of people think framing your own stuff would be fun…and it is, but it’s also really putzy.
One night I find the frame, measure it, and cut it down. It has to be glued and then wait 24 hours and then the stain/paint touch up which means waiting another 24 hours.
I have found it works great to do this on work nights. I can get one step done, wait, and do the next step the next night. Then I can have the frame ready by Thursday when I have the day off and I can do the lacing and putting everything together then. It ends up working out pretty well.
I’ve gotten so I like small things framed rather than everything being finished as a pillow…pillows are great but framed pieces are almost more versatile. Here is my finish. Sadly I had trouble with the lighting. It washed out a bit. I didn’t realize that until it was already packed away. I’ll try to get better pictures once Chrismas rolls around.
Typically when I tell you about framing things I talk more about the lacing. This time I decided to talk to you more about how I measure to cut down the frame. This was an old frame I bought at the thrift store. This one was an antique frame. I love these narrow ones for small finishes.
I like to “frame my pieces tight”. I know it’s not everyone’s style but it’s mine. I don’t like a lot of space between the edge of the stitching and the frame. A half-inch will do just fine. That’s about what it will likely be for this piece. I consider it a “jack-pot frame” if I only have to make two cuts and this time, I think I hit the jack-pot. You can see by my standard, the frame, when placed this way is already the right width.
To figure out how I was going to cut it, I measured across my stitched piece. You can see it’s 5″. Then I flipped my frame over and measured the width of the opening on the BACK SIDE of the frame.
I wrote those two numbers down. It went from 5 to 6. Then I measured the height of the stitched area and wrote that number down. It was 2 5/8″. I figured the difference between 5 and 6 is 1″. So I added 1″ to 2 5/8″ to get 3 5/8″. That’s how tall I need to make the side pieces of the frame.
I took my sewing ruler and measured from the inside corner on the backside of the frame down 3 5/8″. I made a mark on the frame. Then I turned my ruler to the 90-degree angle mark and drew a line. That would be my cutting line. It’s SUPER important to draw the line at the correct angle. It’s easy to cut it in the wrong direction.
After the cuts, everything matched up perfectly. I put in a little glue and put the frame into my clamp. You can find the clamp I use HERE. I let this set for 24 hours.
I like having a product like Restor-a-Finish to spruce up the frames once they are ready. There are several different stain colors. You can find it HERE.
I let the frame dry for 24 hours to ensure it isn’t wet and won’t bleed onto my cross-stitch piece.
After that, I measured the opening, cut some matte board, and laced my stitched piece. I used the glass from the original frame and cut a piece of the glass to fit the new frame. I don’t use specialty glass on these small pieces. I use THIS TOOL to cut the glass. These small pieces aren’t heirlooms…just for fun and these pieces are okay with regular glass…or with no glass. There’s no rule on that, you do you.
Next, I use THIS TOOL to push in glazier points to hold everything in place.
There you have it!!
For those who are curious. This was stitched on 40-count Vintage Meadow Rue by Lakeside Linen. I used the called for colors. I think you’d have to find this pattern at 123 Stitch or on the secondary market.
This was a fun project and I am excited for Christmas to come and I can pull this out and display it. I am seeing that the time I spend stitching Christmas projects on the 25th of each month is paying off on some cute little finishes.
Beautiful finish! Thanks for sharing how you cut down the frame. I now feel more confident to try it!
It’s beautiful – I love the chart and the way you finished it. You are so talented!
Love and prayers
Thank you for your complete explanation of how to make the frame fit a piece or picture. The finished piece is really beautiful!!
Another beautiful finish. Thank you for sharing the framing process. You do such a great job of cutting frames to fit and of course, you save many dollars. Great finish!
Do you use glass?
I do. For big pieces that I want to preserve I use AR glass from the frame shop. I just call ahead, they cut it and I pick it up. For small pieces like this, I just cut down the old glass and pop it in. This is so small and it doesn’t come out often so the plain glass is okay. I use this to cut it down. https://amzn.to/3rNLOkB
I love this one! A new decoration for Christmas!
Thanks for taking the time to show exactly how you cut down the frame. Very easily understood! Was wondering if you have just a couple of different colors of the Restore a Finish? I was looking online yesterday to get some to refinish some of my kitchen cabinets and an antique wash stand in my bedroom. I don’t know what the wood is on either, but I can pick a color that’s close. Just didn’t know if you could use something like walnut on any dark wood, and oak on lighter woods, or if you need to get a more precise color. Anyone who uses this can chime in…
Tammie, you need to experiment. I’ve stained oak two different ways. One is to stain with the oak stain and then stain with a darker stain. You can repeat the staining steps as many times as you need to get the color you desire. The second is to mix two stain colors together prior to staining the project. This is more difficult because you don’t know how much stain you’ll use and you either end up mixing up too much (a waste) or not mixing up enough so now you have a hard time mixing up stain to match the first batch
I hope this all makes sense.
I do use Walnut on any dark wood. I have three colors, light and dark oak and walnut.
You’ve inspired me to get out the saw I bought last year to cut down frames. I ordered all the things you recommended and hopefully, by the weekend (if I can get Vince to clean out a place in the garage for the saw), I’ll try cutting down a frame. Thanks for the inspiration. Your stitching and your framing look amazing.
THANKS Judy. I’m not a perfectionist and that sure helps! HA!!
What is secondary market places?
Etsy, eBay and Facebook resale sites.
This is beautiful, I really like it. You are so talented! Cutting your frames yourself.
i have tried to purchase the restor a finish and Calif. says no. Do you know why ???
Since you have mastered this framing so beautifully I am wondering is there going to be anything you will not be mastering ??? I am always amazed. Congratulations
Jo… that is SO AWESOME!!! Do you use regular matboard or some kind of foam board cut to size? Sorry if I missed that if you detailed it – I was just so excited to see your cross stitch finish and frame!
I know I have a finished cross stitch piece around here somewhere that I did for my son on linen over two threads. I never did frame it cuz I didnt know how/what to do. Most of the other things I have done in the past got made into pillows or came with specialty frames. I also LOVED working with perforated paper! Thanks for the inspiration… now I just gotta find the UFO box where that piece has been living for years! LOL (seriously its TRUE)!
We are dog lovers like you (3 French Bulldogs). I recently found the cutest Frenchie primitive cross stitch pattern that I absolutely LOVE, but was hoping to find it kitted. The website did offer the option to order the threads, but I didnt see the fabric it called for. Maybe it doesnt matter much since you wont see much of it anyway cuz after cross stitching you cut it out to make the cutest little stuffed pillow out of it in the shape of the dog! As I said before, I have been out of cross stitching so long that its almost new again to me! Like you said, THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT since I used to cross stitch!
April in Iowa
HI April. I use sticky board. You can find it HERE. https://amzn.to/3tsc84l
Cool beans – THANK YOU, Jo!
April in Iowa
This is a beautiful piece of stitchery. I have several pieces that need to be framed, and I think I will begin looking at the antique shops. Thanks for your directions!
I don’t get tired of saying it. I love your work so much. Beautiful. Seeing your posts makes my day.
Great explanation! Thanks for sharing your process. You make it seem doable!
You are a busy woman Jo! I love your new finished piece. I do have a question though. Do you ever cover the back of the framed piece with paper – or anything. That is something I struggle with, trying to make the back look neat. Thanks for the inspiration.
I do make the back look nice. I use either brown paper or scrap book paper.
I love how you use your quilting ruler for non-quilty tasks! I use an old quilt ruler and rotary cutter for wallpapering work.