What to Do with Embroidery When It Finished?

Discover creative ways to showcase and preserve your finished embroidery. From framing and wall hangings to pillows and wearables, explore various options for incorporating embroidery into your home decor. Find inspiration and ideas to transform your embroidery into stunning pieces of art or functional items that reflect your unique style.

Embroidery is a time-honored craft that has been enjoyed for centuries. Whether you're a novice or a veteran embroiderer, you've likely found yourself with a finished piece you're unsure what to do with. But have no fear! Here are some tips and ideas for what to do with your beautiful embroidery projects.

Table Of Contents

1. Frame Your Embroidery

Framing preserves your work and allows you to display and enjoy it as a piece of art. You can choose a suitable frame that complements your design and size it accordingly. For example, a glass frame will help to protect it while allowing you to show off your work. You can buy frames at craft stores, online, or even use a pre-existing one.

When framing embroidery, make sure the fabric is stretched properly. If it's too loose, it could sag over time and damage the embroidery. You can buy unique embroidery frames designed to keep the fabric tight and secure. Or you can use a frame that includes a matting board, which will help to keep the fabric in place.

Use acid-free matting and archival mounting techniques to protect the embroidery from damage.

2. Make a Quilt

If you enjoy quilting, you can incorporate your embroidery into a quilt design. Use the embroidered piece as a quilt block or appliqué it onto a more oversized quilt top. This allows you to combine your embroidery with other fabrics and create a unique and personalized quilt.

You can also use the embroidery pieces to create a unique border around the quilt.

3. Create Home Decor

Embroidery can be a wonderful way to create unique and personalized home decor items. Here are ways you can incorporate embroidery into your home decor:

Transform plain walls into stunning displays with embroidery art. Stretch your embroidery over a canvas for a modern look. Choose designs and colors that complement your existing decor or create a striking contrast.
Make embroidered pillows or cushion covers to add individuality to your living room or bedroom. Embroider intricate patterns, monograms, or personalized messages on the pillow covers to make them truly unique.
Enhance your dining experience by stitching embroidered designs onto table runners and placemats. Choose designs that match your dining room aesthetic and create a cozy and inviting atmosphere for your guests.
Transform plain tea towels into decorative pieces by adding embroidered designs. Stitch colorful patterns, botanical motifs, or kitchen-themed quotes onto the towels. They'll not only look lovely but also serve a practical purpose.
Embroider delicate patterns or bold motifs onto curtains or drapes to add a touch of elegance and uniqueness to your windows. Coordinate the embroidery colors with the room's overall color scheme for a cohesive look.
Customize lampshades by embroidering designs onto the fabric. Whether it's a single motif or an all-over pattern, embroidered lampshades can add a soft and artistic touch to your lighting fixtures.
Create embroidered wall hangings using hoops or dowels. Embroider quotes, abstract designs, or natural elements like flowers and leaves. These hangings can add texture and visual interest to your walls.
Protect your furniture while adding a touch of embroidery by making embroidered coasters. Stitch colorful patterns or monograms onto fabric or felt and then attach them to cork or felt backings for stability.
Elevate your table setting by embroidering designs onto cloth napkins. Choose a theme to match the occasion or your dining room decor.
Use embroidery hoops as frames for your embroidered designs. Hang them on the wall as standalone pieces or group them with various embroidery designs.

4. Make a Wearable Item

Consider using your finished embroidery to embellish a wearable item, such as a shirt, jacket, or bag. Sew and iron the embroidered piece onto the fabric, ensuring it is securely attached. This way, you can showcase your work wherever you go and add a touch of creativity to your wardrobe.

Embroidery can also be used to create unique and beautiful clothing items. You can use your embroidery pieces to make jackets, hats, scarves, and more. Use the correct type of fabric and batting to ensure your clothing items will last.

5. Sell Your Work

You can employ your embroidery skills to make some money on the side. There are several ways to do this. The Etsy site is a great place to start, as they focus on handmade items. Similar sites include Storenvy, Folksy, and Zazzle. Alternatively, create a website or blog to showcase your work. You can also sell your work at craft fairs or local markets.

When selling your work, ensure the pieces are of the highest quality. It would be best to have a portfolio of your best work so potential buyers can see your capabilities. Additionally, research the market and find out what types of embroidery projects are most popular and in demand.

6. Gift Your Embroidery

If you're proud of your embroidery skills, consider giving your finished piece as a gift to someone special. You can make them handkerchiefs, pillowcases, or even framed embroidery pieces.

When gifting embroidery pieces, ensure you know your recipient's tastes and interests and try to create something you know they'll love. Additionally, ensure the pieces are properly packaged and labeled so they can be enjoyed for years. For example, frame it, turn it into a wall hanging, or incorporate it into a useful item that suits the recipient's taste and preferences. Handmade gifts are often cherished and appreciated.

Conclusion

Embroidery is a timeless craft that can create stunning works of art. Remember to choose appropriate fabrics, threads, and stitches for your embroidery projects to ensure they withstand everyday use. With embroidery, you can infuse your pieces with a personalized, handmade touch that reflects your creativity and style. So get creative and have fun!