Can I finish an embroidery hoop without glue?

Yes. Gather the fabric with a running stitch, then sew a felt circle to the gathered edge with a blanket stitch or whipstitch. You can take it apart later, and no glue touches the embroidery.

How much fabric do I leave around the hoop?

About 1 inch past the hoop for hoops of 5 to 8 inches, and about ¾ inch for small 3 or 4 inch hoops. That is enough to gather over the inner ring without bulk.

What glue should I use on an embroidery hoop?

Craft glue or fabric glue on the back of the inner ring and the gathered fabric. Keep glue away from the front of the embroidery, and let it dry flat before hanging.

Should I wash embroidery before framing it in a hoop?

Rinse it if you used a water-soluble pen or stabilizer, then let it dry completely and press it face down on a towel before framing.

How do I hang hoop art?

Tie a ribbon or twine loop through the hoop screw, or hang the hoop on a small nail by the screw. For a wall of several hoops, keep the screws at the same height.

How to Finish an Embroidery Hoop: 4 Ways to Back Hoop Art

Q: How do you finish the back of an embroidery hoop?

Re-hoop the piece with the design centered, trim the fabric to about 1 inch past the hoop, sew a running stitch around the edge and pull it tight so it folds over the inner ring. Then glue or blanket-stitch a felt circle over the back.

To finish the back of an embroidery hoop, re-hoop your finished piece with the design centered and the screw at the top, trim the fabric to about 1 inch past the hoop, sew a running stitch around the edge and pull it tight so the fabric folds in over the inner ring. Then cover the back with a felt circle, either glued on or sewn on with a blanket stitch. It takes 15 to 30 minutes and makes hoop art look finished from both sides, ready to hang or give.

TL;DR

Center first: put the design straight in the hoop, screw at the top, fabric tight.
Trim: about 1 inch past the hoop for a 5 to 8 inch hoop, ¾ inch for a small 3 or 4 inch hoop.
Gather: a running stitch in strong thread around the edge, pulled tight.
Back: felt glued on (quickest), felt sewn on (no glue, reversible), a card circle, or left open.
Hang: from the hoop screw with ribbon or twine, or on a small nail.

Four ways to finish the back

Method	Time	Glue?	Can you take it apart?	Best for
Glued felt	About 15 min	Yes	No	Wall art, ornaments, quick gifts
Sewn felt (blanket stitch)	About 30 min	No	Yes	Heirloom pieces, baby gifts
Card or felt over card	About 20 min	Optional	Yes, if not glued	Large hoops that need a firm back
Open back	5 min	No	Yes	Practice pieces, pieces you may re-hoop

Before you start

Rinse out any water-soluble pen or stabilizer and let the fabric dry completely. Both methods are in how to transfer an embroidery pattern to fabric.
Press face down on a folded towel, so the stitches stay raised.
Check the back for long loose ends and weave them in. See how to start and end embroidery thread.

Step 1: Re-hoop and center the design

Put the inner ring under the fabric and press the outer ring over it, with the screw at the top, in line with the center of the design. Pull the fabric smooth and tight all round, checking that the design is straight, then tighten the screw firmly. A wooden hoop can be painted or wrapped in ribbon before this step if you want a colored frame.

Step 2: Trim the fabric

Turn the hoop over and trim the fabric to an even margin all round: about 1 inch past the hoop for hoops of 5 to 8 inches, and about ¾ inch for small 3 or 4 inch hoops. Use sharp scissors and keep the blades well away from your stitches.

Step 3: Gather the edges

Thread a needle with strong thread, such as doubled sewing thread or 3 strands of floss. Sew a running stitch about ½ inch in from the cut edge, all the way round. Pull the thread so the fabric gathers in over the back of the inner ring, spread the gathers evenly and knot it firmly. On a large hoop you can also lace the edges across the back, side to side, like a shoe, to pull them flatter.

Step 4: Add the back

Glued felt

Trace the inner ring onto felt and cut the circle just inside the line, so it does not show from the front. Spread craft or fabric glue around the back of the inner ring, over the gathered edge, press the felt circle on and leave it to dry flat. If any felt shows past the hoop, trim it.

Sewn felt

Cut the felt circle the same way. Pin it over the gathered fabric and sew it to the gathered edge with a blanket stitch or a small whipstitch all round. No glue touches the embroidery, so you can take it apart later.

Card back

Cut a circle of card the size of the inner ring and slip it in behind the gathered fabric before you cover it with felt, or use it on its own. It keeps a large hoop flat and firm and stops the fabric sagging over time.

Open back

Simply trim and gather, and leave it. It looks tidy enough for a practice piece, and you can re-hoop the fabric any time.

Felt circle sizes

Hoop	Trim fabric to	Felt circle
3 in	¾ in past the hoop	Just inside 3 in
4 in	¾ in past the hoop	Just inside 4 in
5 to 6 in	1 in past the hoop	Just inside 5 to 6 in
7 to 8 in	1 in past the hoop	Just inside 7 to 8 in, card behind it

The easy rule: trace the inner ring and cut a hair inside the line.

Hanging and gifting

Tie a loop of ribbon or twine through the hoop screw, or hang the hoop on a small nail by the screw. A note on the felt back, with a name and the date, turns it into a keepsake. Small hoops make lovely tree decorations; see embroidery hoop Christmas ornaments for designs and sizes.

When a hoop is not the right frame

Some embroidery is better sewn into something you use. A stitched panel can become the front of an Envelope Cushion, the cover of a Needle Book or the outside of a Zipper Pouch. Embroider the fabric first, then cut and sew the piece. The Sewzy app has step-by-step photos for each pattern, so you can see where your stitched panel will end up. Our needle book guide shows one.