Monthly Project for March, 2005
Suggested Fabrics
Framed Fabric Art
Have you ever seen fabric that looked like art? Ever wanted to get framed artwork that matched the curtains in your room exactly? Guess what? Framing fabric as artwork is really easy. A nice piece of fabric will look like a wonderful oil painting. The slight texture from the threads in the fabric look like a painting on fine canvas. The effect is absolutely stunning. You can choose more than one view from the same fabric for a series of artwork.
Materials Needed
- Any fabric suitable for framing
- Picture frame that goes well with fabric
- Scissors
- Iron
- OPTIONAL - Matching framing mats
Decide What to Frame
This is probably the most difficult step and takes the most time. You should choose a frame that has a style and color that compliments your fabric. The frame should have an opening that best matches the size of the design in the fabric you wish to frame.
Most frames contain a glass and a cardboard backing. Remove these so that you are holding just an empty frame. Slide the frame around the fabric where you think you want to frame. (If you are using framing mats, keep the mat(s) inside the frame to see what your finished product will look like.)
Once you have your frame in place, mark outside the frame with a pencil or quilting marker. This is where you will cut.
NOTE: If your frame is very thin you should mark your cutting line further out than the frame. You want to end up with 1/2 to 1 inch of border to work with.
Prepare Fabric for Framing
Cut out your fabric using the line you marked out with the frame. Iron your fabric nice and flat. Any small wrinkle will show.
Fold over the edges and try placing in frame. Do this with the glass put back in the frame. This step is to double check and make sure you are placing the fabric in the frame correctly. Make any necessary adjustments. If you have the edges correct, press the folds for a sharp finish. It is a good idea to check the folds in the frame before you press the edges because many fabrics will show a crease, even after ironing, and this would show in your framed artwork. You may want to do this step one side at a time or top and bottom together, and both sides together. The idea is to make sure you are framing exactly what you want, and to avoid a crooked picture.
Frame Fabric
Now you can place your fabric in your frame behind the glass. Be sure your glass is clean. Now you can replace the backing to the frame. Be sure that the backing top is the same as the top of the fabric so you don't end up with an upside down picture. The back of the frame should cover the folded edges. No fabric should show on the back side.
Display your Artwork
You can now proudly display your artwork on a wall or a shelf. Step back and admire. Wasn't that easy?