10+ Ways to Finish Your Embroidery Hoops

There is nothing wrong with a natural wood embroidery hoop, but with a few craft supplies you can really make them stand out. Some supplies you already have on hand. Here are several ways to finish your embroidery hoops to give them a boost of personality.

Wrap It Up

Ribbon
Use double sided sticky tape to adhere a coordinating piece of ribbon onto the outside of the hoop. Add a dab of tacky glue by the fastener to make sure it holds well.

Fabric
This method is perfect for me. I have lots of fabric! The finished product is really cute too.

Fabric Wrapped Embroidery Hoop by Love the Blue Bird

Yarn
You could do a similar look as above with yarn instead. I used this method on some Christmas ornaments a few years ago. While cute, this method takes some patience.

Give It Some Color

Paint
Using acrylic or spray paint will allow you to match your hoop to the fabric or thread that is being showcased. The bright colors that Fynes Designs used really make the hoop art pop.

Summer Inspired Embroidery Hoop Art, Copyright 2014 Fynes Designs

Stain
I used some Rust-oleun stain on these three hoops…. From left to right, Weathered Gray, Dark Walnut, and Ebony. Each one took several coats but hardly any time at all.

Dye
I couldn’t actually find an example of an embroidery hoop that has been dyed, but you could color them just like you would any other piece of wood. Kojo Designs used RIT to dye her clothespins.

Dyed Wooden Clothespins , Copyright 2011 Kojo Designs

That’s My Letter dyed her wooden blocks with food coloring. This method is cheaper than the RIT, and you probably already have a set of the gel food colors in your pantry. The downside is that you paint the color on, whereas you can let the hoops dye themselves in the RIT.

Other Fun Methods

Mini Pom Poms
Flamingo Toes embellished these little ornaments with mini pom poms. How fun!

Chalk Hoop Ornaments, Copyright 2014 Flamingo Toes

Crochet
I’m still a beginner when it comes to crochet, but I’d like to give this one a shot. This tutorial is from Sew Chatty.

Crochet Hoops, Copyright 2013 Sew Chatty

Finishing the back of the hoop

Add felt with a blanket stitch
I like this tutorial from Sew Mama Sew. It gives a nice clean finish and would help you practice hand sewing skills (if you need them, like me).

How to Finish + Frame Embroidery, Copyright 2014 Sew Mama Sew

Give it some depth
This method from Maximum Rabbit Designs adds a second circle and stuffing which gives a puffy finish to the front of the hoop.

How to frame your embroidery in a hoop, Copyright 2010 Maximum Rabbit Designs

How to frame your embroidery in a hoop, Copyright 2010 Maximum Rabbit Designs

Add a decorative fabric
And last, but not least, this method uses a second piece of fabric to finish off the hoop but it a different way than above. This method looks easier and faster than the other two.

DIY Tutorial : Framed Embroidery Hoops, Copyright 2011 Lova Revolutionary

DIY Tutorial : Framed Embroidery Hoops, Copyright 2011 Lova Revolutionary

Whatever methods you choose will surely bring that boring wood frame to life.♥