So, you finished your embroidery project and are looking for the best way to finish the back of the hoop to display it? Then, you are in the right place. Let’s see why we should add extra effort to finishing the hoop and explore some options for doing it together!
Why do we need to finish the embroidery hoop properly?
- The finishing will protect your stitches from potential damage.
- It will hide ugly knots or jumping threads on the back of the piece.
- The back of the hoop will look neat and professional.
- The finishing will allow you to add an author’s name and date to the work of art.
- The backing is a blank canvas to add a message to a gift-getter.
Before finishing the back of the hoop
No matter which way to finish the embroidery in a hoop you choose before you proceed:
- Remove pattern tracing marks.
- Wash your embroidery if needed.
- Iron the fabric.
Note that for the tutorials below, I used a fabric with a print instead of embroidery. Also, I chose the contrasting color threads and backing fabric to make them stand out and be visible for the sake of the example. But, of course, you can always choose neutral fabrics and threads for the backing.
Can you guess what method I used to finish each of these hoops?
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
Ways to finish the back of the hoop
Gather with a running stitch
This method is straightforward and fast to make. It is an excellent choice for temporary finishes when you have yet to decide how to display your hoop. It is also a beginner-friendly method that requires no special stitches or skills.
For this method, you will need the following:
- The hoop.
- Finished embroidery.
- Backing fabric (if you want to cover the back of the stitches).
- Pinking shears (or fabric scissors).
- Needle and thread.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
The method is straightforward:
- Layer the embroidery with a backing fabric. The embroidery faces outside, and the backing fabric faces the back of the hoop. It will be visible after you finish the framing.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Center the embroidery and tighten both layers of fabric in a hoop. Do not leave wrinkles or folds.
- Tighten the screw of the hoop.
- Trim the backing fabric close to the border of the hoop.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Trim the excess fabric of the embroidery with pinking shears. Leave a 2-3 cm edge.
- Embroider a running stitch around the edge of the fabric.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Pull the thread to gather the material on the back side of the hoop.
- Secure the ends of the thread and cut them.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
TIP. Instead of using a backing fabric, place a piece of paper inside the hoop before pulling the threads. The paper will cover the stitches. Besides that, you can write your message or add your brand logo to it.
I used this method to finish the hoop (without the backing) in the “Embroidered Cute Baby Rainbow Nursery Decor” tutorial.
Cover the back of the hoop with felt fabric
Adding a felt cover on the back of the hoop is an excellent way to finish your embroidery hoop neatly. The felt backing will hide all the stitches and knots on the back of the hoop. At the same time, it will keep your stitches secure and safe from snagging or any other damage. Besides that, a felt cover is a perfect canvas for adding your name and date, marking the piece of art, or adding a personal message if your embroidery is a gift.
For this method, you will need the following:
- The hoop.
- Finished embroidery.
- Felt fabric.
- Needle and thread.
- Fabric shears.
- Some pins.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
The method:
- With the inner ring of the hoop, mark and cut out a round piece of felt fabric.
- If you want to embroider a name, date, or message on the felt backing, do it in this step.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Then, make a gathering with a running stitch (like in the previous method).
- Pin a piece of felt fabric on the back side of the hoop.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Sew around the edge of the felt fabric. You can use a Whipstitch, Blanket stitch, Running stitch, or Herringbone stitch to secure the felt and the embroidery fabric.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
If you are unfamiliar with hand embroidery stitches mentioned above, read the “Six Basic Hand Embroidery Stitches to Learn First” article on The Artistry.
Make a cardboard cover
Another excellent way to cover the back of the embroidery in a hoop is to make a cardboard cover. This method can be straightforward and fast, or you can add extra effort to make it almost perfect.
For this method, you will need the following:
- The hoop.
- Finished embroidery.
- Felt fabric.
- Backing fabric.
- Cardboard.
- Paper scissors and fabric shears.
- Needle and thread.
The method:
- Prepare a cardboard cover – mark the inner circle of the hoop on the piece of cardboard and cut it out. The cardboard circle should be 1 mm smaller than the diameter of the inner hoop.
- Cut out a circle of felt fabric – the same size as the cardboard or 1 mm smaller.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Glue it to the cardboard with a couple of drops of fabric glue or a paper glue stick.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Cut out a round of fabric (2 cm more extensive than the cardboard).
- Embroider or write your message on the material (optional).
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Cover the cardboard with fabric. Embroider a running stitch around it, and tighten it around the cardboard cover on the back. Secure and cut the thread.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Gather the embroidery fabric on the back of the hoop with a running stitch, but do not tighten it too much, and do not make a knot. The stitches should have some flexibility.
- Place the cardboard cover inside the inner ring of the hoop and push it inside to cover the back.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- If the measurements are correct, the cover will stay in place without glue. If the lid is not tight enough, you can secure it with four stitches in the opposite slides.
TIP. If your embroidery fabric is thin or stretchy, place a piece of the felt fabric inside the hoop to layer it between the embroidery and the cover. This will prevent the cardboard cover from making the front of the embroidery look bulky or bumpy.
If you choose this method but want to make it simpler and faster, do not cover a cardboard lid with fabric but use it as it is. Just push it inside the back of the hoop above the gathered material.
Glueing the fabric. The adhesive method
This method of framing your embroidery in a hoop is the most permanent of the abovementioned methods. Therefore, choose it only if you do not want to be able to remove the fabric from the hoop.
For this method, you will need the following:
- The hoop.
- Finished embroidery.
- Backing fabric.
- Fabric glue.
- Fabric shears and embroidery scissors.
- Some ribbon. The ribbon should be as wide as the height of the hoop.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
The method:
- Layer the embroidery with a backing fabric. The embroidery faces outside, and the backing fabric faces the back of the hoop. It will be visible after you finish the framing.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Center the embroidery and tighten both layers of fabric in a hoop. Do not leave wrinkles or folds.
- Tighten the screw of the hoop.
- Trim the backing fabric close to the border of the hoop.
- Trim the fabric. Leave the border the same as the height of the hoop + the width of the edge. E.g., If your hoop is 1 cm high and the edge is 2 mm, trim the fabric, leaving a 1,2 cm border.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Place some fabric glue on the border of the hoop and tack the fabric around the whole edge. Press it with your fingers till the edge is nice and neat.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Make vertical cuts spaced 1-2 cm apart on the loose fabric border. These will prevent forming the folds of the fabric when we glue it. If your material is thin and light, you can skip this step.
- Add some fabric glue on the inner side of the hoop and glue the fabric to the border piece by piece. Do not apply the glue on the whole border simultaneously; address it bit by bit.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- After the glue has dried, add some glue on the inner border of the hoop and attach the ribbon. It will hide uneven edges of the fabric and decorate the inner side of the ring.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
Choose your favorite method
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
After exploring all the options, which method do you like most?
My preferred method is backing the embroidery with felt fabric. It is versatile as it gives me many options to add my brand name or extra details like a small applique, some beads, or a hook. Besides that, the hoop finished with the felt looks professional and clean.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
But all the options mentioned above are worth trying and have their place and time to be used.
What way do you usually use to finish your hoop? Which method will you try first? Please, share with us in the comments!
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