The Framers Forum

Hello again,

I have framed a few textiles but this style is new to me. It is a fairly stiff panel. They don't want the brown edge showing, but as much of the gold border as I can, no mount and AR70.

How would you guys approach it? I suspect there are a couple of different ways.

The fabric is 600 x 600mm, with the brown binding 3-4mm. The chosen moulding has an 8mm lip.

I'm totally lost, where is the brown and gold you are talking about?

Sorry, the brown edging around the fabric is what they want hidden, but they want to see as much of the wide golden border as possible. It looks much more golden in real life!

I have laced and pinned cross stitch and needlepoint before but not anything like this. It is a stiff fabric and so I am wondering what other methods might be appropriate.

If there is a way to attach it to a board flat and the rebate of the moulding cover the brown edging.

If of low value and with consent it could be hotpress adhered to a board.

Will it stretch over foamboard or is it too stiff?

Why not just frame as is? It doesn't look as though it will wrinkle, so simply sit it on backing board the same size and frame as normal with 2mm space all around. Add a spacer under the glass so the glass isn't resting on the fabric.

Justintime wrote: Wed 05 Feb, 2025 1:04 am If of low value and with consent it could be hotpress adhered to a board.

It isn't of huge value but they don't want it stuck down.

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pramsay13 wrote: Wed 05 Feb, 2025 8:04 am Will it stretch over foamboard or is it too stiff?

Why not just frame as is? It doesn't look as though it will wrinkle, so simply sit it on backing board the same size and frame as normal with 2mm space all around. Add a spacer under the glass so the glass isn't resting on the fabric.

I think it is too stiff to stretch.

See, I was originally thinking of simply tagging/stitching it around the edges to some board, use spacers and then the moulding would cover the edging up, but then I wondered if that would be wrong?

Have I been overthinking it?

If it is 'stiff' does it need to be stretched at all. Can you not just frame it as it is?

The artwork and border is probably stuck to a fusible fabric like vylene.

If it lays pretty flat then just close frame it with a spacer to cover that brown edge. If that crimps it and makes it less flat then maybe add a stitch in each corner and another central each side, leave a few mm extra space around it and make a stepped spacer so that the closest part just rests on the fabric whilst covering the edge and your stitches - or tags.

If you want to be flash and customer has deep pockets, check out “DCO”. (Direct Contact Overlay). On TFG.

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A few stitches to support it, hidden around the edges. But if you space the glazing away there is the risk (and depending on how stiff the piece is) that the central section might want to pull forward. So if you use acrylic rather than glass then you could put it up against the acrylic and use that as part of the support. It is a version of direct contact overlay, because that method usually relies on a spread of pressure from behind pushing the item against the acrylic, whereas you don't want this to look squashed, so the stitches are doing the support (you could just do them along the top edge) and then the acrylic is a gentle support across the face, but not squashing the long-stitches that have created the central artwork with any extra pressure.

The higher cost of the acrylic (Artshield or even Optium if they would pay for it) is partially offset by having no spacers and less work time to get the piece ready to put into the frame.

The DCO method does indeed use pressure but you can’t apply that anywhere bar the extremities really, and there is no artwork as such at that point here.

Also the artwork is pushed in to - basically - a pillow, which makes any crushing of stitches etc, unlikely. Is this stitched or painted anyway? If this is a goer do a grumble search, there’s loads on it.

Also the acrylic should be abrasion resistant - more expensive - and if you want to add optical coatings then you’re probably talking optium museum.

I think you’ll probably be fine with just close framing and a spacer anyway.

I knew there would be a couple of different options and I didn't want to go wrong from the off.

Yes, it backed with vylene-type-stuff and really rather stiff.

I doubt they will stretch to acrylic, I will have another conversation though and decide with them. I suspect the close frame/spacers will be the way for this one though. I have a similar piece in my random box of bits to practice on, so I might try the DCO with that one day.

Thank you all, appreciate it as always.