Framing your embroidery in the hoop
The simplest way to frame your embroidery once it’s finished is in the hoop. You can either frame it in the hoop you stitched it in or you can buy a hoop for framing (as in the centre picture). The hoops for framing are available as a faux wood flexi hoop (as shown above) or a wooden display hoop. Mine are from Siesta frames
The patterns I create for the monthly pattern club are all designed to fit a 6” embroidery hoop and can be framed in the hoop.
I do have designs that can’t be framed in the hoop, these are usually rectangular A4 size and can be made into hangings (something I will share a post on) or used as panels in cushions or bags. Otherwise they can be framed in a traditional picture frame.
Some people glue the inside of the fabric to the inside of the hoop. I prefer to stitch it in place. The main reason is that I can easily undo the stitching if I want to display my embroidery in a different way.
Perhaps your displays are seasonal, in which case you can take your embroidery back out of the hoop and store it flat quite easily. This way you can reuse the hoop. I like to do this as I have a couple of vintage hoops for displaying my embroideries.
Another reason is that I am somewhat messy with glue and I don’t want to end up with glue all over my embroidery!
To frame your embroidery in the hoop
The fabric you trace your design onto needs to be an inch bigger all the way around the hoop. For a 6” hoop your fabric square needs to be at least 8”.
When you finish your embroidery make sure it is centred in your hoop and taut. Once you are satisfied with it trim the edge to a circle about an inch bigger than the hoop (as you can see in the first picture). I used pinking shears but you can use normal scissors.
Next take some sewing thread, tie a knot and stitch large running stitches all the way around the hoop as in the second picture.
When you get to the end pull your thread and your fabric will close over the back as in the third picture. Once you are happy with it tie a secure knot.
You can either leave it like this (which I usually do) or (perhaps if it’s a gift) you can add a circle of felt to the back. Cut a circle the same size as your inner hoop (draw around the outside of the inner hoop). Now attach the back of your hoop by slip stitching the edge of the felt to the fabric around the hoop.
I have a pdf for framing in the hoop and backing it here