Make a ribbon wrapped hoop frame

How about a free tutorial and a festive Holiday embroidery pattern?

Today I'm going to show you how I frame lots of my embroideries in wooden hoops wrapped with ribbon. It's super easy and a great way to display your work. 

Plus, you'll find this cute Merry and Bright embroidery pattern to stitch up for the Holidays at the end of this post. It's straight from my newest book, Doodle Stitching: Holiday Motifs!

You'll need:

a wooden embroidery hoop to fit your work

white craft glue

ribbon 

I'm using 5/8 inch satin ribbon, but any type will work. You can use wider ribbon for larger hoops (this hoop is 4 inches) but don't go smaller than 5/8 for this size or it will start to bunch up.

Start by stretching your embroidery fabric tightly onto a wooden hoop. Cut off the excess fabric about 1/2 inch around the edge. Now fold the fabric edge around the back of the inner hoop and glue it down with white craft glue. Let it dry completely.

When it's dry, remove the outer hoop. Starting at the screw, put a line of glue on the inside of the hoop. I put glue on the inside just to be sure it won't show at all, especially when using a sheer ribbon. Begin with the end of the ribbon on the inside and wrap it at a diagonal angle around the hoop. Pull it tightly and pinch it flat on the inside and outside as you go. When you get to the other end of the circle, wrap the ribbon an extra time around the end of the ribbon to hide it.

Here's a tip: unwind a foot or so of ribbon before you start and put a pin in it to keep it from unwinding further until you're ready for it. This will save you a long mess of ribbon getting in your way while you work, and when it gets twisted up, you can just let it dangle and untwist easily.

Now place the outer hoop back onto the inner one and tighten it up. You're done! Well, with this part. Tomorrow I'll be posting Part 2 of this tutorial, how to tie that (almost) perfect bow for the top!

Oh yes, and here's the embroidery pattern! There are lots, LOTS more where this came from (for Christmas and many other holidays as well), check out my new book, Doodle Stitching: Holiday Motifs at bookstores or online!!

You'll also find the Woodland Animals Christmas tree pattern right here.

Have fun stitching and don't forget to check out this tutorial for nearly perfect bow tying to top off your ribbon wrapped Christmas hoop.

Enjoy!

xo aimee