How to Wash and Frame Your Finished Painting

You've made the last stitch. After weeks of work, your picture is in front of you and you get a little emotional (it's normal, it happens to all of us). Now comes the finishing touch, the step that turns your work into a real picture to hang on the wall. Do it calmly and it will look twice as good.

First, washing

Even if your hands are clean, the fabric accumulates grease and marks from so much handling. A gentle wash restores its freshness:

• Warm water and a little neutral soap or mild shampoo. No bleach or strong detergents.
• Do not rub: gently move the fabric in the water and let the soap do the work.
• Rinse well until no soap remains and do not wring: press between two towels to remove excess water.

Drying and ironing

Lay the fabric on a dry towel until it is only damp. To iron it without flattening the stitches, place it face down on a soft towel and iron the back with gentle steam. This way the stitches sink into the towel and retain their relief.

Mounting the picture

To keep it taut and last for years, it is ideal to mount it on foam board or a rigid base:

• Center the fabric on the base, leaving a margin on all sides.
• Fold the edges back and secure them with pins while adjusting the tension.
• Secure the fabric on the back by lacing it from side to side or with strong double-sided tape.
• Check from the front that the design is straight before closing the frame.

Choosing the frame

A simple frame lets your work take center stage; one with a passe-partout (that cardboard border between the fabric and the frame) gives it a gallery-like feel. If the picture will receive a lot of light, ask for UV-filter glass so that the colors do not fade over the years.

In summary

Wash carefully, iron face down, mount taut on a rigid base, and choose a frame that respects your work. Your picture deserves to be displayed on the wall, not stored in a drawer. Ready to start the next one? We await you in our needlepoint kits.