Finishing a cross stich project can be incredibly satisfying. After all that hard work and hours invested, however, you may be wondering, ‘What comes next?’
Even the smallest of designs don’t need to be confined to a drawer. Whether your finished piece is large and elaborate or from a beginner kit, you can put it to good use.
Frame Your Cross Stitch
One of the most common ways to display cross stick artwork is in a frame. This is great for designs that you wish to store on a wall, shelf, or desk.
You can use a normal picture frame, but it is good to ensure that your cross stitch is clean, flat and centred before you frame it. Some people opt for a mount or mat around the actual stitching, in order to give it a neater finish.
Framing can be a good option for pieces such as:
- Samplers
- Quotes
- Floral designs
- Animal designs
- Larger finished pieces
- Gifts
For beginners, a simple frame is best. You don’t need to worry about professional framing if this is your first project!
Display It in an Embroidery Hoop
Another good option, especially for beginners, is to leave smaller pieces inside an embroidery hoop, effectively creating a small, circular frame.
You do this by trimming any extra fabric around the edges of the hoop.
Hoop display is a simple way for beginners to display their work, as it doesn’t require the purchase of any extra supplies. You also don’t need to worry about whether you intend to mount or mat your finished work.
The only disadvantage is that, if you want to keep displaying a piece indefinitely, it ties up your hoop and prevents it being used in another project.
If you are willing to buy another hoop, need to graduate to a frame, or have decided that you won’t be pursuing further cross stitch projects any time soon, then a hoop can work very well.
Turn It Into a Card
Small cross stitch designs can be turned into handmade cards. If you enjoy both card making and cross stitch, this is a lovely intersection of the two hobbies!
You could make cross stitch patterns into cards for birthdays, Christmas, weddings, thank-you cards, or any other special occasion of your choice.
Patterns you could consider for cards include:
- Initials
- Small flowers
- Hearts
- Christmas motifs
- Simple animals
If you have created a small design that doesn’t feel big enough to frame, consider using it for a card.
Make a Bookmark
Long and narrow projects can be turned into bookmarks.
If you want to do this, you may consider reinforcing the cross stitch at the back with a felt, card, or other fabric to make it stronger. For extra decoration, you can add ribbon or tassels.
Use It as a Patch
Small designs that are square or circular could also be turned into patches to be used on bags, jackets, or to cover holes in jeans.
To avoid the design fraying, you might consider stitching around the edges.
Cross stitch patches can be used on:
- Tote bags
- Denim bags
- Craft bags
- Pencil cases
- Fabric boxes
- Project pouches
Make a Decoration
In a similar way, smaller projects could be turned into a small hanging decoration. This can be great for seasonal decorations, such as Christmas and Easter.
You can mount your stitched piece onto felt, card, or fabric and then add ribbon or string for hanging.
This works very well for:
- Christmas tree decorations
- Door hangers
- Mini wall hangings
- Seasonal crafts
- Gift tags
- Homemade keepsakes
Turn It Into a Gift
As it takes so much time and care, cross stitch can make a great gift. You can choose a design that matches your recipient’s interests, name, home, or even a special date.
Your finished cross stitch could become:
- A framed picture
- A hoop decoration
- A card
- A bookmark
- A Christmas ornament
- A personalised keepsake
If you are creating your cross stitch to be a gift, think about how the person will actually display the piece. It may be easier to create something small for them to hang, rather than a large piece that needs to be displayed in a frame.
Turn It Into a Craft Journal or Scrapbook
If you enjoy keeping a record of what you have made, you can add small finished pieces to a craft journal or a scrapbook.
This method can work really well for test or practice pieces, allowing you to document your cross stitch journey as you improve.
You could also add notes about:
- The pattern you used
- The colours
- The date you finished it
- What you learned from it
- What you might do differently next time
How to Store Unfinished Cross Stitch Safely
You don’t have to finish every cross stitch project all in one. Sometimes, you may want to put a half-finished piece to one side whilst you decide what to do with it.
Try to keep your work-in-progress clean, dry, and flat. Avoid leaving it scrunched up in a bag, as this can create creases that are hard to remove later on.
You could consider storing finished pieces in:
- A folder
- A plastic wallet
- An acid-free envelope
- A project bag
- A flat storage box
You could keep any instructions or charts stored with your piece, in order to make it easier to pick up later. The same goes for thread and other project-specific equipment.
Should You Wash Finished Cross Stitch?
Some people like to wash their cross stitch projects before they display them, especially if the fabric has marks from handling. This can also apply to fabric that has been stored away.
Whether it’s a good idea to wash your project depends on the materials used. Before washing, you need to check whether the fabric and thread are colourfast. This means that they will not bleed and run when washed.
If you are working from a kit, you may be able to consult the instructions to see whether your threads and fabric are suitable for washing.
If your piece looks clean, you may not need to wash it.
What is the Easiest Finish For Beginners?
The easiest option for beginners is probably to store the cross stitch in an embroidery hoop or simple frame. Using a hoop is a very simple option as you can use it whilst working on the project, and then store it almost instantly. You just need to cut away any excess fabric.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of options for storing or using your finished cross stitch pieces. Beginners may want to opt for a simple solution such as framing in an embroidery hoop or small frame, or turning their creation into a gift, decoration, bookmark, or patch.
Read Next
- What is Cross Stitch? A Simple Beginner Guide
- Do You Need a Hoop For Cross Stitch?
- What Is Aida Cloth?
- What Do You Need to Start Cross Stitch?
- What is a Cross Stitch Key?