Needlepoint woes

[JB183244D]

Hi Guys/Gals,

I had a very fussy (her words) customer bring in a piece of needlepoint for mounting & framing, she stated that she wanted all the pattern of the material in line and square to the moulding when it was in the frame, so far so good?

When she brought it in and I examined it, it was already bent like a banana along the edges where the thread had been pulled in so tightly, originally I was going to bond it down to a piece of board in the hot press, however I'm now considering using stretcher bars, my problem now is that if I try to square up the material on stretchers I'm worried it may tear it at the tightest point.

Has anyone else out there had the same problems and if so is there an alternative method.

Thanks

Mark

[Roboframer]

Needlpoints normally come out of shape and can be teased back in to shape by blocking i.e. dampening from the back and then pinning square on a board and allowed to dry, there's even a machine you can buy. Sometimes it may take 2 or 3 attempts.

Google 'blocking needlepoints' or do a search here or on The Grumble.

[Nigel Nobody]

Mark,
Getting the lines straight should be a high priority anyway. There are occasions when this is not possible due to the way a piece of needlework has been sloppily stitched or where the various tensions have been applied when stitching.

Lacing will generally enable the lines to be made straight if it is at all possible.

Please don't bond any needlework to anything? Remember, if you can't reverse it, don't do it!