This is the third giraffe I stitched this year. It's from a kit by nmi. The original design had this giraffe and the words "A father is someone you look up to -- no matter how tall you grow..."

I decided to leave the words off my stitchery. I just like his crazy grin and wanted to highlight the giraffe.

Though this was simple cross-stitch on 14ct white aida (nothing special there), there were two aspects of this project that were new to me.

First, for quite some time I've done my own needlework framing. But I've always had to buy ready-made frames, usually in standard sizes. I wanted to learn to cut my own molding and make my own frames. So I began by looking at catalogs that specialize in picture framing. I learned about precision mitre boxes and fine tooth saws. But the price — ouch!

So I stopped by a hardware store on a fact-fining mission and talked to the guy in the tool section. I explained what I wanted in the way of a mitre box and saw. I told him about my previous trials with cheap mitre boxes and the rough edges they left on my frames.

He pointed me to this Stanley precision mitre box and saw. And the price was only around $40! That was so reasonable that I bought it on the spot. It was very simple to put together and use. It's nice because it locks into position at several angles, including the much needed 45º for standard frames. It also has a fence and pegs that hold the molding steady while you're sawing. And the molding sits on the base in a way that as you saw through it, the blade does not end up cutting through the mitre box (like the cheap plastic one I had).

I decided to use some frames I already had at home and some I bought from a thrift store to practice my sawing technique. I just pried the old frames apart and cut them to a new, shorter dimension. Then I sanded the cut and glued and stapled the corners together. Finally I spray-painted the frame gold to match my other framed giraffes, and added a fixative so the paint wouldn't flake off.

The second technique I tried on this piece involves the "matting" I used. As you can see, my frame is not much bigger than my finished stitchery. But I wanted to add a black mat because I add a touch of black to each of my finished giraffes. But how could I make a mat that narrow?

Ribbon! I bought a spool of 3/8" wide black grosgrain ribbon at Wal-Mart. I simply cut two lengths and two widths. But how to attach them? Should I sew them to the fabric? Should I adhere them to the frame?

First I tried double-sided tape. I cut a strip of tape about 2-1/2" long, then cut the strip lengthwise in quarters. I tried to attach the tape to the lip of the frame. Well, the tape did not want to stick to much of the painted surface. And where it did stick, it ended up peeking up over the edge of the frame. That didn't work!

Next I tried a using a glue stick along the lip of the frame. The ribbon did not want to stick to the glue, either.

Back to the tape. This time I cut the strips of tape as narrow as possible — about 1/16" wide. Then instead of trying to adhere the tape to the lip of the frame, I carefully placed it along the edge of the ribbon. It stuck! Then I tucked the ribbon into the lip of the frame ... and it held in place. I knew I only needed a gentle hold, because once the stitchery was laced to foam core and placed in the frame, the pressure of the stitchery would hold the ribbon securely.

I really like the effect of the grosgrain ribbon used as a mat. It gives a nice clean edge. And think of the possibilities! You can vary the width of the ribbon. Or use two layers of ribbon, one a bit wider than the other to mimic double-matting. Or how about ... Polka-dotted ribbons ... Multicolored ribbons ... Picot-edged ribbons ... Strips of tiny pom-poms ... Interesting cording ... Mat board plus ribbons ... It really gets my creative juices flowing!

Stitched February 21 - March 13, 2005

Pattern name:	Giraffe (#704)
Designer:	nmi / NeedleMagic Inc
Stitch Count:	23 x 85
Fabric:	14ct white aida
Floss:	cotton
Original Cost:	Approx. $3.00 on an auction site

NeedleMagic, Inc.
Richland, PA  17087
USA

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