What are the differences in framing techniques?

Cross-stitch on aida frames up beautifully – the fabric is firm and it covers the mounting board completely since the holes are quite small.

Framing a piece of cross-stitch on linen is a different story. By its very nature, there are almost as many holes as there is fabric in linen. This is also true of most over plainweave fabrics. This means that when the linen is mounted, whatever is behind it will show through.

Most folks (both professional framers and do-it-yourself framers) mount needlework on a white board, usually, but not always, a foam-core board. If the fabric is white, that’s fine. If the fabric is cream/ivory, that’s OK, but it would be a lot better to cover the board with unbleached muslin before the needlework is mounted. If the fabric is any darker, the board should be covered with a similarly colored calico-weight fabric. This also works beautifully is you like to put a thin layer of padding under your needlework, as I do. Cover the board with a layer of batting, and then cover the batting with fabric before mounting the needlework. This is most important when mounting samplers that are stitched on natural/raw linen and are supposed to look antique. A white board showing through is very unattractive and the colors “wash out”. An alternative is to put a piece of mat board of the appropriate color between the white mounting board and the needlework.

Please do not mount on corrugated cardboard – it is highly acidic and will ruin your needlework in no time flat. Discuss this process with your framer when you bring your needlework in for finishing, and be prepared to shop for the backing fabric if your framer does not keep any in stock.

Information from Cross Country Stitching Magazine columns "Ask Judie" - Judie Solomon, Thistle Needleworks & "Carol’s Crafty Corner" - Carol Rice, The Craft Menagerie

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