I have explored many different ways of framing felt art. For my next exhibition, I want wooden frames to hang on the gallery walls. I know that framing felt art and textiles in this way is controversial but if my textile work is competing with other art I believe it must be framed. Here is an interesting article from the textileartist site on framing. I choose to simply frame with no glass because I wanted the textures of the felt to be highly visible – within the grasp of the viewer.
Getting my felt art professionally framed is not an option as it is just too expensive.
My first secret for framing felt art
The first step is to stretch the felt art across some stretcher bars. I am a big fan of stretcher bars, they are simple to use and come in multiple sizes. Far far more flexible than buying canvases.
I stitch my felt art onto a strong backing cloth and attach the cloth to the stretcher bars or if I have made a felted margin I attach felt piece directly to the stretcher bars. The felt is attached using a staple gun. These are easily bought at DIY stores. When the felted work is attached it becomes a felt canvas.
To give a professional finish, I trim the excess material and cover with self-adhesive sealing tape.
The secrets of making a frame
So now you have a canvas and it needs a frame. Making a frame is fraught with difficulties! The first one being cutting the mitres. So get someone else to cut them for you. You can find a vast range of frames here and get them cut to size!
Next problem is glueing the mitres together. Use mitre glue, suggests my husband. It’s wonderful. He had used it during a kitchen construction project. Well, it is very fast acting but it leaves no room for error and once the pieces touch the joint is made, and can’t be undone. After three stressful frames builds using this technique, I resorted to good old PVA glue.
Glueing is not enough to hold the frame together. It is essential to also underpin the joints. You can get some wonderful underpinning machines, costing thousands. A simple manual underpinner works fine for me.
The secret of attaching the felt canvas to the frame.
I am using L frames. The stretcher bars sit neatly inside the frame and are attached with S clips.
Just mark the positions. Drill a small marker hole, and attach using screws. I am very careful to clean up as a go along. I have had a bad experience were someone else drilled my felt picture to hang it. Weeks later I discovered the felt had wood shavings embedded in it which could not be removed.
To ensure I get the picture central in the frame, I use some homemade spacers simply cut from cardboard.
Hanging your framed felt art
This is simple, just attach two D-rings near the top of the picture. Just one tip, I like to photograph my framed work with it lying on the ground. So take the photographs before you add the D rings then the picture will lie flat.
I am pleased with this technique for framing felt art. The effect is professional and I have achieved it at a fraction of the cost of professional framing.
I am also really delighted that this framed felt art is made using 100% naturally dyed materials!
Els
7 May 2017You’re doing a fine job, lady !!!
(wondering about the self adhesive sealing tape ….
can you show it on Friday ? HA !!! looking forward !)
jane_mercer
7 May 2017Yes I could , but I am sure Haralds sell it. I am also looking forward to Friday very much.
Paula
8 May 2017An inspirational and useful article Jane. The end result is so professional. Thanks for sharing. PS what’s this piece called?
jane_mercer
8 May 2017Thank you for your comments. I am still thinking of a name for this piece. Any ideas ?
Michelle Cullen
13 Jun 2017Your work is lovely ….. great ideas for frame
jane_mercer
13 Jun 2017Thank you for your lovely comment
jane_mercer
10 Jul 2017Thanks Michelle ???
Linda
27 Jan 2019What do you think about using shadow boxes with a glass cover? I just wonder if enclosing behind glass would keep the art from being damaged??
jane_mercer
28 Jan 2019Hi Linda I think shadow boxes work very well and I often use them for small felt pieces as I like the feeling of depth they give . I don’t think damage is a big issue with felt as it’s pretty robust.