How to Finish a Cross-Stitch in a Hoop

Pick the hoop size from your stitch count

The finished design size in inches is the stitch count divided by the fabric count. A design 70 stitches wide on 14-count Aida is 70 ÷ 14 = 5" (12.7 cm) wide. On 18-count, the same chart is 70 ÷ 18 = 3.9" (9.9 cm). Work out both width and height, then take the larger one.

In a hoop finish the inner ring frames the design, so choose a hoop that leaves an even border of plain fabric around the stitching. For the 5" design above, a 6" or 7" hoop leaves about 1/2" to 1" on each side. The cross-stitch pattern maker on this site shows the finished size in inches and centimetres for each fabric count, so you can choose the hoop before you stitch.

• Design inches = stitches ÷ fabric count.
• Hoop: larger than the design on both width and height.
• Fabric: cut it larger than the hoop so you can grip it while tightening.

Step 1: hoop it straight and tight

Loosen the screw, separate the rings, and lay the stitching over the inner ring. Press the outer ring down over it, then center the design, smooth out wrinkles and tighten the screw a little at a time while easing the fabric taut. Crewel Ghoul does this with both layers in place when a fabric backing is used, so they are tightened together.

Put the screw where you want the top of the piece to be, because it usually becomes the hanging point. Check that the rows of stitches run straight across the hoop before trimming, since nothing can be adjusted after the edge is cut.

Step 2: trim and gather the back

Trim the extra fabric to about 1" around the hoop. Cut a long piece of floss; Crewel Ghoul suggests laying it around the hoop to judge the length. Knot one end and work a running stitch along the edge of the extra fabric all the way round.

Pull the thread so the fabric gathers in onto the back of the hoop, draw it snug so the gathers hold, and knot the ends. The front stays tight because the hoop itself holds the stitching; the running stitch only tidies the edge.

Step 3: sew a felt circle over the back

Trace around the outside of the hoop onto felt and cut just inside the line, so the circle covers the gathered fabric but is slightly smaller than the outer ring. Trim more if it does not sit flat.

Knot a long thread and take the first stitch through the gathered fabric only, so the knot is hidden. Then stitch through the fabric and the felt with small whip stitches all the way round, and finish with a few small knots before trimming the tail. No glue is used, so the felt can be unpicked later if the piece needs to come out of the hoop.

Felt, fabric and glue compared

Crewel Ghoul also shows a fabric backing finish: a backing fabric goes behind the stitching in the hoop, the extra is trimmed with pinking shears leaving about 1", the backing is trimmed flush, and the edge is pressed into hot glue run around the inner ring. It is quick and neat, but the glue holds the fabric to the ring for good.

Why a keepsake should be stitched, not glued

Museum conservators avoid putting adhesive on a textile they want to keep. In its guide to mounting small flat textiles, the Canadian Conservation Institute stitches the textile to a fabric-covered support with small stitches, places pins between threads instead of through them, and keeps glue and tape on the support, never directly under the textile.

A hoop finish is not a museum mount, but the same idea applies. If a piece matters to you, choose the felt method so the stitching can be taken out, washed or reframed later without cutting it free from glue.

What to check before you hang it

Look at the front in good light for slack spots and tighten the screw a little if needed. Check that the felt sits inside the outer ring so it does not show from the front. Keep the screw at the top for hanging, and write the fabric count and date on the felt with a fabric pen if you want a record for later.

Common questions

What size hoop do I need for my cross-stitch?

Divide the stitch width and height by the fabric count to get the design size in inches, then choose a hoop larger than the bigger number. A 70-stitch-wide design on 14-count is 5" wide, so a 6" or 7" hoop leaves a border of plain fabric.

Do I need glue to finish a hoop?

No. A running stitch gathers the extra fabric onto the back, and a felt circle sewn on with whip stitches covers it. Crewel Ghoul shows this method as the option for anyone who does not want to use hot glue.

How much fabric should I leave around the hoop?

Crewel Ghoul trims the extra fabric to about 1" around the hoop before gathering it. Cut the fabric larger than that at the start so you can grip it while tightening.

Can I take the stitching out of the hoop later?

Yes, if it was finished with thread and felt: unpick the whip stitches and the running stitch and loosen the screw. A glued finish holds the fabric to the ring and cannot be removed cleanly.