Embroidery Hoop Felt Backing

Finish your beautiful embroidery project right in the hoop by sewing on felt backing to cover your stitches.

Following these simple steps:

Step 1: Cut circle from felt backing

Seperate the inside hoop, place on felt and trace around the outside of the hoop. Cut out the circle and set aside.

Step 2: Arrange in the hoop

Make sure you have finished all embroidery stitches before preparing your hoop for felt backing. Arrange the fabric in the hoop and tighten to ensure your project is taut and in the way you want it to look. Trim excess fabric to a 1-1/2 inch margin.

Step 3: Gather the fabric

Thread your needle with a length of embroidery floss or all purpose sewing thread, and leaving a 3-inch tail, sew a running stitch around the circle about 1/4 inch in from the edge of the fabric. Make your running stitches about 1/4-1/2 inch in length.

Sew completely around the circle, remove the needle. Gently pull the ends of the thread. The fabric will start to gather towards the center. Keep pulling slowly and gently, adjusting the folds toward the center as necessary, until the fabric lies flat. Tie the two ends in a simple knot to secure.

Step 4: Apply the felt backing

Place the felt circle over the gathered fabric, lift felt on one side and bring the needle through the fabric and under the felt so the knot is hidden. Using a blanket stitch (see stitch guide) begin to sew the felt to the fabric placing the needle through the felt and fabric, pull the needle out and repeat around the entire circle. Tie off at the end and cut off remaining thread.

Enjoy your finished embroidery project!