Easy Way: How To Finish Back Of Embroidery Hoop Perfectly

What is embroidery hoop backing? It is putting a cover on the back of your finished sewing project in the hoop. Why do people do this? It makes the back look neat and tidy. It also helps protect your stitches. It keeps the fabric tight in the hoop. You might ask, “Can I leave the back open?” Yes, you can, but it’s not the best look, and threads can get caught on things. Learning how to finish the back is a simple step. It makes your hoop art look ready to hang or give as a gift. There are a few ways to do this. Some ways are quite easy. We will look at different easy ways. We will help you secure your fabric in the hoop well. This makes a big difference in how your final piece looks.

How To Finish Back Of Embroidery Hoop
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Learning About Finishing the Back of Your Hoop

When you finish your embroidery project, the front looks nice. You can see all your lovely stitches. But what about the back? It can look messy. There are knots and loose threads. The extra fabric hangs out. A tidy embroidery hoop back is important. It makes your work look complete and professional.

There are good reasons to finish the back:

It Looks Better: A clean back makes your work seem more finished. It shows care in all parts of the project.
It Protects Your Work: Finishing the back covers your stitches and knots. This stops them from getting snagged. It keeps dust and dirt away from the back of your fabric.
It Keeps Fabric Tight: By securing the extra fabric at the back, you help the main fabric stay tight in the hoop. This is key for securing fabric embroidery hoop well.
It’s Ready to Display: A finished back means your piece is ready to hang right away. Or it is ready to give as a thoughtful gift. A neat finish embroidery hoop just makes the whole thing better.

There are many embroidery hoop back methods. Some take more time. Some need sewing. Some use glue. We will focus on easy ways. These methods will help you get a great result without too much trouble. Getting a nice embroidery hoop backing is easier than you think!

Getting Ready to Finish Your Hoop

Before you start covering embroidery back, you need a few things. You also need to get your hoop and fabric ready.

What You Will Need

The exact things you need depend on which method you choose. But here are common items:

Your finished embroidery project still in its hoop.
Sharp scissors. Fabric scissors work best.
A pen or pencil (sometimes needed for marking).
Needle and thread (matching your fabric color or a neutral color).
Fabric glue or craft glue. Make sure it works on fabric.
Optional: Felt or another piece of fabric for backing.

Preparing Your Fabric

The first step for most methods is the same. You need to trim excess fabric embroidery. Look at the back of your hoop. There is extra fabric sticking out around the edges. You need to cut this away.

How much fabric should you leave? It depends on the method.

For Gluing Fabric or Gathering: Leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of fabric all around the hoop edge. This gives you enough to work with.
For Felt Backing: You can trim closer. Leave about 0.5 inches (1 cm) or even a bit less. The felt will cover everything.

Use sharp scissors to cut the fabric. Cut in a circle shape. Cut about the same distance from the hoop all the way around. Try to cut smoothly. Don’t cut too close by accident.

Easy Method 1: Using Felt for Backing

Using a felt circle is one of the most popular ways to finish the back. It is clean and easy. It gives a very nice felt backing embroidery. This method is great for a finishing hoop art back.

Why Use Felt?

Felt is a good choice because:

It does not fray (the edges don’t get messy).
It is easy to cut.
It is soft and gives a nice feel to the back.
It hides everything completely.

What You Need for Felt Backing

Your hoop with trimmed fabric (leave about 0.5 inches).
A piece of felt. The color can match your fabric or be a nice contrast. It should be bigger than your hoop.
Sharp scissors.
Fabric glue or craft glue. Hot glue gun can also work for a fast bond.
Optional: Needle and thread if you want to sew the felt.

Steps for Gluing the Felt Backing

This is often the easiest way to use felt. It uses gluing fabric embroidery hoop shut with the felt over it.

Trim Your Fabric: First, make sure your extra fabric is trimmed. Leave about 0.5 inches (1 cm) all around the edge. This keeps it out of the way.
Make a Felt Circle: Place your hoop on the felt piece. Use a pen or pencil to trace the outer edge of the hoop. This line shows how big your felt circle should be.
Cut the Felt Circle: Use your sharp scissors to cut out the felt circle. Cut right on the line you drew. Try to cut smoothly. A neat felt circle looks best.
Add Glue to the Hoop: Put glue around the outer edge of the back of the hoop. Put it on the wood or plastic edge. Don’t put too much glue. A thin, even line works well. You can also put a bit of glue on the trimmed fabric if you want.
Place the Felt: Carefully place the felt circle onto the back of the hoop. Line up the edges of the felt with the edges of the hoop. The felt should cover the fabric and the back of the hoop.
Press Down: Gently press the felt down onto the glue all around the edges. Make sure it sticks well. You can put something flat and heavy on top for a few minutes while the glue starts to set.
Let it Dry: Let the glue dry completely. The time depends on the glue you use. Check the glue bottle for drying times. Once dry, you have a lovely felt backing embroidery.

Steps for Sewing the Felt Backing

Sewing the felt takes a little longer than gluing. But some people like the look of the stitches. It also feels very secure.

Trim Your Fabric: Trim your extra fabric, leaving about 0.5 inches (1 cm).
Make a Felt Circle: Trace and cut a felt circle the same way as for gluing.
Prepare for Sewing: Place the felt circle on the back of the hoop. Line it up with the edges.
Sew the Edge: Use a needle and thread. Start with a knot on the back (under the felt or on the fabric edge). Sew around the edge of the hoop. You can use a simple running stitch or a blanket stitch.
- Running Stitch: Make small stitches going in and out near the edge of the felt and the hoop fabric.
- Blanket Stitch: This stitch goes around the edge and looks nice. It creates a finished look. Go over the edge of the felt and hoop with your thread.
Go All Around: Sew all the way around the hoop. Keep your stitches even.
Tie Off: When you get back to where you started, tie a knot. Hide the knot under the felt if you can. Cut the extra thread.

Both gluing and sewing felt give a clean covering embroidery back. The glued method is often faster and counts as a very easy way to finish the back.

Easy Method 2: The Gathered Fabric Back

This method uses the extra fabric you already have on your hoop. You pull the fabric together in the middle of the back. It is another simple embroidery hoop back methods. It creates a gathered look on the back.

How it Works

You sew a simple stitch called a running stitch around the edge of the extra fabric. Then you pull the thread tight. This pulls the fabric into the center. You secure it there.

What You Need for Gathering

Your hoop with trimmed fabric (leave about 1 inch).
Needle and strong thread. Craft thread or embroidery floss can work. Choose a color that blends with your fabric.
Scissors.

Steps for Gathering

This method is good for securing fabric embroidery hoop using just the existing material.

Trim Your Fabric: Trim excess fabric embroidery. Leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of fabric around the edge. This is important. If you leave too little, it’s hard to gather. If you leave too much, it can be bulky.
Thread Your Needle: Cut a long piece of strong thread. Thread your needle. Tie a good knot at the end of the thread. A double knot is best so it doesn’t pull through the fabric.
Start Sewing the Running Stitch: Bring your needle up from the back of the fabric near the edge of the hoop. Make a simple running stitch all the way around the edge of the fabric circle.
- Make stitches about 0.5 inches (1-1.5 cm) long.
- Keep the stitches about 0.25 inches (0.5 cm) away from the raw edge of the fabric.
- Go all around the fabric edge. Push the needle through, pull the thread, move over, push needle back down, pull thread. Repeat.
Reach the Start: Sew all the way around until you get back to where you started. Do not tie off the thread yet!
Pull the Thread: Gently pull the thread. As you pull, the fabric edge will start to gather. It will pull towards the center of the hoop back.
Pull Tightly: Keep pulling the thread until the fabric opening is closed in the middle. Pull it as tight as you can. This gives you a tidy embroidery hoop back with the fabric gathered in the center.
Secure the Gather: Wrap the thread tightly around the gathered fabric in the center a few times. This helps hold it shut.
Tie a Knot: Sew a few stitches through the gathered fabric ball in the center. Pull tight and make a strong knot. Make a few knots to be sure it is secure. Cut the extra thread.

This gathered back method is easy and only uses a needle and thread. It is a classic way of covering embroidery back.

Easy Method 3: Gluing the Excess Fabric

This method is very simple. It uses glue to stick the extra fabric down onto the back of the hoop. It is a fast way of gluing fabric embroidery hoop material down for a quick finish.

Why Try This Method?

It is fast.
It uses only glue and the existing fabric.
It gives a flat back, which is nice.

What You Need for Gluing Fabric

Your hoop with trimmed fabric (leave about 1 inch).
Fabric glue or a strong craft glue. Hot glue can work but dries very fast.
Optional: A tool to help press the fabric, like a bone folder or the back of a spoon.

How to Glue Excess Fabric

This method is direct and provides a neat finish embroidery hoop.

Trim Your Fabric: Trim excess fabric embroidery. Leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of fabric around the edge.
Add Glue to the Hoop: Put a line of glue on the inside edge of the back hoop ring. Put the glue on the wood or plastic part where the fabric will be folded over. Work in sections so the glue doesn’t dry too fast.
Fold and Press Fabric: Take the edge of the fabric. Fold it over the hoop ring and press it into the glue. Press firmly.
- You can fold it neatly, making small pleats if needed to get it to lay flat.
- Press with your fingers or a tool.
Continue Around: Add more glue to the next section of the hoop edge. Fold the fabric over and press. Go all the way around the hoop.
Overlap and Secure: When you get back to where you started, overlap the fabric slightly. Make sure all the raw edge is glued down. Add a bit more glue if needed to secure the final piece.
Let it Dry: Let the glue dry completely. Check the glue instructions for drying time.

This gluing method gives a flat embroidery hoop backing that is very tidy. It is a simple covering embroidery back technique.

Exploring Embroidery Hoop Back Methods: A Quick Look

Let’s look at the main ways to finish the back side. We talked about three easy ones.

Method	Materials Needed	Effort Level	Final Look	Notes
Felt Backing (Glued)	Felt, Glue	Easy	Clean, Flat Felt	Hides everything well, very neat.
Felt Backing (Sewn)	Felt, Needle, Thread	Medium-Easy	Clean, Flat Felt	Secure, can add decorative stitches.
Gathered Back	Needle, Thread, Your Fabric	Easy	Gathered Center	Classic look, uses just your material.
Glued Excess Fabric	Glue, Your Fabric	Easy	Flat, Fabric Fold	Quickest method, can be slightly bulky.

All these embroidery hoop back methods help you achieve a tidy embroidery hoop back. The best one for you depends on what materials you have and the look you want. For a very neat finish embroidery hoop, felt is often chosen. For pure simplicity using what’s there, gathered or glued fabric are great.

Tips for a Perfect Finish

No matter which of the embroidery hoop back methods you choose, here are some tips for the best result when finishing hoop art back:

Use Sharp Scissors: This makes trim excess fabric embroidery much easier and neater. Dull scissors can make jagged edges.
Choose the Right Glue: If you are gluing fabric embroidery hoop, use a glue meant for fabric or crafts. Make sure it dries clear. Test it on a scrap of fabric first if you are unsure. Hot glue is fast but can be lumpy. Liquid fabric glue gives you more time to work.
Trim Correctly: For gathering or gluing fabric, leaving enough fabric (about 1 inch) is key. For felt, leaving less (about 0.5 inches) is fine. Don’t cut too close!
Pull Tightly (Gathered Method): Make sure you pull the thread very tight when gathering the fabric. This makes the center bundle small and keeps the fabric secure.
Press Glue Firmly: When gluing fabric embroidery hoop fabric down, press the fabric firmly into the glue. This helps it stick well. Use a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe away any glue that squeezes out.
Let Glue Dry Fully: Give the glue plenty of time to dry before you touch or hang the hoop. Rushing the drying time can make the glue fail.
Consider Fabric Type: Thicker or stiffer fabrics might be harder to gather neatly. They might work better with the gluing method or felt backing. Thin fabrics gather very easily.
Match Thread/Felt Color: For sewing the gathered back or sewing the felt, choose thread that matches your fabric. Or use a neutral color like white or grey. For felt, choose a color that looks good with your project. This helps make a tidy embroidery hoop back.

Taking a little extra time on these steps will make a big difference in your embroidery hoop backing.

Adding Extras to Your Finished Hoop Back

Once you have your tidy embroidery hoop back, you can add more touches. This is part of finishing hoop art back.

Labels: Sew or glue a small fabric label onto the embroidery hoop backing. You can write your name, the date, or the name of the piece.
Hangers: Some people add a ribbon loop to the top of the hoop for hanging. You can attach this before adding the felt or securing the gathered fabric.
Padding: For a very special piece, you could add a thin layer of batting under the felt backing for a slightly padded feel.

These little touches make your finishing hoop art back even more special. They show that every part of the piece was thought about.

Keeping Your Finished Hoop Clean

Now that you have a lovely neat finish embroidery hoop back, you want to keep it that way.

Dusting: Use a soft brush or a lint roller gently on the front and back to remove dust.
Storing: If you are not hanging it, store it in a clean, dry place. You can put it in a clear bag to keep it clean.
Handling: Try to hold the hoop by the wood or plastic frame. Avoid touching the embroidery or the fabric back too much.

A well-finished and cared for piece will last a long time. Your embroidery hoop backing protects your hard work.

In Closing: A Tidy Back Completes the Art

Finishing the back of your embroidery hoop is a small step. But it makes a big difference. It changes your project from ‘almost done’ to ‘completely finished’. Whether you choose felt backing embroidery, a gathered fabric back, or the glued fabric method, you are creating a tidy embroidery hoop back.

Learning these simple embroidery hoop back methods means your finishing hoop art back will always look great. Your stitches are protected. Your fabric is securing fabric embroidery hoop nicely. Your piece is ready to hang or share. It shows the care and effort you put into your craft.

Don’t skip this step! Making the back look neat is part of making the whole piece beautiful. Give one of these easy methods a try. See how much better your hoop art looks with a proper embroidery hoop backing. You’ll be proud to show off both the front and the neat finish embroidery hoop back!

Frequently Asked Questions About Finishing Hoop Backs

How much fabric should I leave around the edge before finishing?
Leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) if you plan to gather the fabric or fold it over and glue it. If you are using a felt circle to cover the back completely, you can leave about 0.5 inches (1 cm) or slightly less.
What kind of glue is best for gluing fabric to the hoop?
Look for fabric glue or a strong craft glue that works on fabric and wood/plastic. A permanent fabric glue is ideal. Make sure it dries clear. Hot glue works fast but can be thick.
Can I use something other than felt for the backing circle?
Yes, you can use another piece of fabric that doesn’t fray easily. Cotton, linen, or a knit fabric could work, but felt is popular because the edges stay clean without needing special finishing.
Does the gathered fabric method work for all fabrics?
It works best for medium-weight cottons or linens. Very thick or stiff fabrics might be hard to pull tight and might create a bulky center. Very thin fabrics can be prone to tearing if pulled too hard.
How do I hide the starting knot for the gathered back stitch?
Start your running stitch by bringing the needle up from the back side of the fabric near the hoop edge. The knot will be on the back. When you pull it tight, the knot will be hidden within the gathered fabric bundle in the center.
Can I remove the finished backing later?
If you sewed the backing on, yes, you can carefully cut the stitches to remove it. If you used glue, it will be harder to remove. It might damage the fabric or the hoop if you try to pull it off.
My hoop back is still a little messy after gathering. What can I do?
Make sure you pulled the thread as tight as possible. You can add a small circle of felt or fabric over the gathered center bundle and glue or sew it down for an extra neat look.
How do I make sure the felt circle is the right size?
Trace the outside edge of your embroidery hoop onto the felt. Cut along that line. This makes the felt circle the same size as the hoop diameter, covering the back edge well.