In this post, I share how to back your embroidery hoop with felt and a blanket stitch.
There are of course many ways to stitch the felt on; this is just how I do it. You can just hide your aida at the back, but leave the felt off to show off the back of your hoop (I love the backs of hoops so often do this for personal pieces).
However, adding the felt will give your work a professional finish which is perfect if you are giving your hoop as a gift, or you just want to hide your stitches.
This video is quite long but hopefully it is extra helpful!
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Step 1
For backing you hoop you will need to use 2 strands of threads.
Start by using your inner hoop, and draw around it on your felt and cut it out.
Step 2
Then snip off the corners of your aida, and any extra that might make it too bulky at the back. I recommend snipping it down to around 2-3 inches.
Step 3
Then do a running stitch around the edge of your fabric. This is simply a normal stitch weaving in and out of your fabric.
When you have gone all the way around pull gently and your fabric should bunch together.
Step 4
Next, come up through the edge of the fabric next to your hoop and place your felt at the back. Your felt may have pencil lines on from when you cut it. If this is the case then place the side with the pencil lines down so they are hidden.
Now you do the blanket stitch. Put your needle in the felt about an inch away from the edge of the hoop.
Come out right next to where you first came out and make sure your needle is in front of the spare thread. Pull gently and you will have made your first stitch.
For your second stitch put your needle in about an inch along the hoop away from your first and an inch down away from the edge again.
Come straight up by the edge of your fabric and again make sure the thread is behind your needle. Pull gently and you will have made your second stitch.
Repeat until you reach the end.
Extra resources
- How To Cross Stitch Guide For Beginners
- Hints and Tips to Make You a Professional Cross Stitcher
- My Facebook Cross Stitch Community
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Es muy práctico gracias
I am so happy to have found your page and podcast! Thank you for sharing your skills and insight. I feel like I have a new friend!
Aww thanks so much Vivian!
This is so helpful and clear! You are a star for posting this it’s so good for a beginner like me. Would you use any particular type of felt for the backing? I’ve seen several types, like polyester, wool, etc so just wondering how much that matters in terms of how it easy it is to blanket stitch it to the back of the hoop/aida.
Hi Becky, Thanks for your question! Hannah loves Cloud Craft felt as it is 100% wool, but if it’s for backing then any felt will do. 🙂