You finished it. You held the fabric up, smoothed it flat, and felt that rush of “I actually made this.” Now what?
For a lot of beginners, finishing the stitching is the easy part—figuring out how to display or use the finished piece is where things get a little intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. Here are the most popular ways to show off your cross stitch work, from simple to a little more involved.
Step 1: Wash and press your finished piece first
Before you do anything else, give your finished cross stitch a quick hand wash in cool water with a small amount of gentle soap. Rinse thoroughly and lay it flat on a clean towel. Roll the towel up gently to absorb excess water, then unroll and allow to air dry completely.
Once dry, press it face-down on a padded surface (a folded towel works perfectly) with an iron on low-medium heat. This flattens the fabric, evens out the tension, and makes your stitches look their absolute best. Don’t skip this step—it genuinely transforms how a finished piece looks.
5 ways to display your finished cross stitch
Option 1: Frame it like wall art
Framing is the most classic display option. You can use any standard frame that fits your finished piece—no special cross stitch frame required.
Tips for framing cross stitch:
- Center the design on a piece of mat board or foam core and secure it from the back with fabric tape or by lacing the edges together with needle and thread.
- Use a frame with glass if the piece will be in a dusty room, or skip the glass if you want the texture of the stitches to show.
- Simple frames let the stitching be the star—ornate frames can compete with the design.
A nicely framed cross stitch piece looks genuinely beautiful on a gallery wall, in a nursery, or propped up on a shelf.
Option 2: Display it in a hoop
Hoop display is one of the most popular modern ways to show cross stitch. You simply leave (or re-mount) your finished piece in a wooden embroidery hoop, trim the excess fabric around the back, and hang it directly.
How to display in a hoop:
- Mount your stitched piece tightly in the hoop, centering the design.
- Trim excess fabric, leaving about 1.5 inches around the hoop.
- Run a running stitch around the edge of the fabric, then pull the thread to gather the fabric neatly behind the hoop.
- Secure with a knot and add a piece of felt or cardstock to cover the back if you like.
- Hang on a nail or tie a ribbon through the hoop screw for a finished look.
Hoop display is casual, modern, and quick. It also lets you display multiple hoops together in a cozy cluster on a wall.
Option 3: Turn it into a functional item
This is where Jumpseat Therapy kits get really fun. Our luggage tag kits are designed to become actual luggage tags—your finished stitching slides into a clear plastic tag holder and becomes a functional accessory you can use on every trip.
Similarly, our bookmark kits are sized and finished to become real bookmarks, and our keychain kit turns your finished piece into a keychain charm.
There’s something extra satisfying about using something you made. Every time you reach for your keys or grab your carry-on bag, you see your work—and that little moment of “I made that” never really gets old.
Option 4: Give it as a handmade gift
Handmade gifts are genuinely special, and a finished cross stitch is a meaningful one. Frame it in an inexpensive frame, pop it in a gift bag with a handwritten note, and you have a completely unique, one-of-a-kind present. People treasure handmade items in a way they simply don’t with store-bought gifts.
Option 5: Start a finished piece collection
Some stitchers display finished pieces in shadow boxes. Some photograph every finished piece and create a digital album. Some keep a cozy stack of completed projects as a reminder of how far they’ve come. There’s no wrong way to celebrate what you’ve made.
Common finishing questions
Do I need to wash my cross stitch before displaying it?
It’s a good idea—especially if you’ve been handling the fabric a lot. Hand oils and small smudges aren’t always visible while stitching, but washing helps the colors look fresh and even.
How do I get the hoop marks out of the fabric?
Washing and pressing usually takes care of hoop marks. For stubborn marks, dampen the area and press while still slightly damp.
What if my stitches look uneven?
Pressing your finished piece does a lot to even out uneven tension. And honestly—most unevenness is far less visible in a finished, displayed piece than it feels when you’re stitching it. Be kind to your first (and second, and third) projects.
You made something. Show it off.
Every finished cross stitch represents real time and real intention—you chose to make something with your hands instead of scrolling. That deserves to be seen.
Whether it ends up on a wall, in a luggage tag holder, or gifted to someone who’ll treasure it, finishing a project is worth celebrating.
Ready to start your next one? Browse our collection of beginner-friendly, travel-ready kits:
Shop Beginner Cross Stitch Kits
Happy stitching! 🧵✨
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