[Ahoy] Frame Finishing Tutorial

[ahoy] frame finishing tutorial

Materials:

Any of the 4” designs from Ahoy stitched on 30 count linen Matboard Batting Lacing thread (hand quilting thread or pearl cotton #8) Stitchery tape (double-sided, acid free) Acrylic paint Tim Holtz Distress Ink Art Minds 5 1/2” unfinished wood frame—from craft stores

Supplies:

Sharp sewing needles Rotary cutter Quilter’s ruler Cutting mat Box cutter Iron & pressing surface Scissors [square.ology] flat-finish tutorial Foam brush Sandpaper

Prepare the Flat-Finished Squares:

1. Using the complimentary [square.ology] Flat-Finish Tutorial, flat finish your Octopus Dance, Sandcastle Frame or Sail Around stitching. 2. Sew any embellishments to your stitching with a sharp needle and matching thread.

Pick a Frame:

The original frames that are pictured on the chart were purchased from Hobby Lobby. The frame pictured at the beginning of this tutorial is from Michaels. Either of these frames (or others too!) will work, just be sure the wood is unfinished. When picking a frame, take your flat finished stitching along so you can be sure the frame is big enough. Lay the flat finished piece on top of the frame to check that the edges of the frame show around the linen.

Paint the Frame:

Now comes the fun part —let’s play with paint! I used Sea Breeze Americana acrylic paint plus a few drops of white to achieve the color I wanted.

1. Cut the twine hanger off of the frame at the knots. Cut carefully so you can tie this piece back on at the end.

2. Use the foam brush to apply paint evenly to all of the frame’s edges, like the photo below. The unfinished wood will absorb the paint. There is no need to paint the middle section because it will be covered.

3. Let the paint dry for about 15 minutes. Touch lightly with your finger to test dryness. If dry, apply a second coat of paint. This coat will take approximately 30 minutes to dry.

Distress the Frame:

1. Test the paint again with your finger to make sure it’s dry. If it is, then it’s time to sand the edges. Rub the edges with a small piece of sand paper to remove some of the paint from the curves to get a distressed look.

An up-close shot of the worn edges!

2. Now we’ll distress the paint. I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink—Frayed Burlap color. Take the ink pad and lightly sweep it across the paint. Don’t press it into the paint, just draw it across the surface so it brushes the frame. It will look like this.

3. Using a Kleenex and moderate pressure with your fingertip, smudge the ink so that it is absorbed into the paint.

Finish the Frame:

1. Retie the twine hanger onto the frame. 2. Apply stitchery tape to the back of your flat finished square and remove the backing paper. 3. Position the flat finished square in the middle of the frame so that an even amount if the frame shows around all of the edges. Press firmly to apply the stitchery tape to the frame.

Have more fun with [square.ology] and our complimentary cross stitch finishing tutorials!

Bloom Bit Tutorial Whimsy Pennant Banner Tutorial