Needlepoint & Cross Stitch Framing Ideas
The last few years have seen growing numbers of people take up cross stitching as a hobby, and whilst your first few attempts might have ended up, well, a disaster - we think it's right that you proudly display your more successful attempts in a frame.
FRAME MY CROSS STITCHA POPULAR HOBBY
Whether it's to give as a gift for a newborn or to simply challenge yourself, cross stitching has never been more popular.
Having been proven to stimulate the creative side of the brain and having shown improvement in concentration levels and hand-to-eye coordination, shouldn’t picking up the cotton be encouraged from a young age?
From mini cross stitch kits for crafty kids to intricate patterns for more advanced hobbyists, cross stitches look amazing when they're framed right. But, where do you start and what do you need to consider when you're framing your new work of art?
CHOOSING A FRAME
One you've finished your cross stitch you need to find a frame that'll suit.
When buying a frame for your cross stitch, you need to think about two key things. Your cross stitch itself (theme, size, colour palette) and your existing decor.
EXISTING DECOR
Of course, you'll need to factor in your existing decor and room style. For example, let's say your current furniture has a Shabby Chic vibe to it - you might want to keep your frame choice in keeping with one of our shabby chic frames.
YOUR CROSS STITCH
There are a few things you'll need to take into account with regards to your physical cross stitch before choosing a frame style. Cross stitching is an intricate art, so you don't want a frame overpowers the piece or, even worse, doesn't do it justice.
The Size
Most pieces are relatively small, but we've seen some needlepoint's come in over 20" square. So an important point to note is that the frame you choose shouldn't be too wide or too narrow for the item.
The Theme
Is your cross stitch of the seaside? You might want to reflect this in your frame choice too by using a frame from our coastal collection.
The Colour
Picking out key colours from your cross stitch with a similar frame can look amazing too. Feel that's too bold? Add some colour by using a coloured mount board that compliments the colours used in the picture instead.
OUR SUGGESTIONS
Even with the information above, narrowing down your choice may still feel overwhelming. We do have over 700 frame styles after-all. So with this in mind, we asked our own GCF Framers to lend a hand and come up with a few suggestions for framing your work.
"it is a good idea to try to match the frame to the cross stitch"
TRADITIONAL
Most commonly we see customers framing their cross stitches in one of our traditional frames. Whilst this is by no means a hard and fast rule, we think cross stitches tend to look more at home in a medium or dark wood frame. The design of these frames reflects the traditional nature of the art itself.
"With a range of French motifs, flowers and vintage linens - cross stitching has an certain shabby chic vibe to it"
SHABBY CHIC
Cross stitch has been creeping back into today’s society but in an updated way. Having appeared on several pieces of clothing across the high street as part of their design, and in some cases purposefully emphasised to show clearly that the pattern is cross stitch. This, along with an upsurge in people taking up the art of cross stitching, could be attributed to the revival of the shabby chic look, Cath Kidston having something to do with it. With this in mind, why not try framing your cross stitch in one of our shabby chic frames.
FRAME YOUR CROSS STITCH
If you're ready to frame your cross stitch or needlework, we know just the place to start. We've got a range of perfect products - browse our frames.