Silk embroideries Su Embroidery Studio sell have been stretched and mounted onto a fabric before shipping. It’s very easy to have them framed, the same as to frame a photograph or print. For details, please refer to article https://www.suembroidery.com/silk-embroidery-framed
Silk Embroidery 'The Kiss' Mounted onto a Fabric
However I did notice that some sellers online selling Chinese silk embroideries without mounting or framing. With the embroidered silk fabric only, it is a big challenge to frame the Chinese embroidery for any framing stores and there are some people have this problem asking for help on the social media platforms.
How to mount Chinese silk embroidery if you only purchase an embroidered silk fabric without mounting or framing?
There are generally four ways to mount a Chinese silk embroidery. I will explain these three ways with their advantages and disadvantages.
1. Mount the silk embroidery onto a wood board with glue. Here is how:
Step One
Prepare a plywood board that is a bit larger than the silk embroidery, 12 to 18cm larger than embroidery painting in width and height.
Step Two
Glue a piece of paper on the midst of the plywood. This step is needed for some traditional Chinese silk embroidery whose background is not embroidered and semi-transparent. The paper is used to prevent viewers from seeing the plywood through the semi-transparent silk fabric. As to the fully embroidered picture, you can omit this step.
Step Three
Put glue on the plywood. Please note only the four sides of the silk embroidery are glued to the plywood.
Step Four
Using a brush spread the glue.
Step Five
Put the silk embroidery on the board. Stretch the embroidery painting on the plywood.
Step Six
Stretch the silk embroidery where there are winkles to make it smooth and solid.
Step Seven
Put a piece of paper on the silk embroidery. Iron the embroidery painting. The ironed embroidery painting is ready for framing.
Advantages: Cost-effective and most framed silk embroideries sold in China and online are mounted this way. The glue is easy to dry. Framing can be done soon after the mounting is completed.
Disadvantages: The glue may damage the silk fabric over time if it is not acid-free. Once the glued silk embroidery gets loose, it is difficult to repair.
Conclusion: Recommended for low quality silk embroideries of simple patterns that are produced in large quantities.
2. Mount the silk embroidery onto a wood board with wheat starch paste.
Mounting the silk embroidery with wheat starch paste is almost the same as mounting with glue. The only difference is that starch paste is not as adhesive as the glue. A thin layer of paste is needed behind the silk embroidery work besides the four borders around the silk embroidery. Please note, only a very thin layer of paste can be used behind the silk embroidery work so the silk embroidery can stick to the board solidly.
Advantages: Totally natural and environment friendly.
Disadvantages: There can be moths and mildew on the pasted parts if not kept properly. The paste is low to dry. The silk embroidery won’t look as bright as it should be if too much paste is used behind it.
Conclusion: It’s not a recommended method as it is out of date. Some Chinese calligraphy works are still mounted in this traditional way.
3. Mount the silk embroidery onto a fabric with melt adhesive.
Stretch the silk embroidery on an embroidery frame. Put the fabric with melt adhesive onto the back of the silk embroidery. Iron the silk embroidery at high temperature. The silk embroidery is stuck onto the fabric smoothly after ironing. Su Embroidery Studio use this way to mount the silk embroidery before we ship it out to our customers. Silk embroideries mounted in this way are easy to get framed, the same as to frame a photograph or a print.
Silk Embroidery 'The Drunken Beauty' Made by Su Embroidery Studio, Stretched and Mounted
Advantages: Acid free and environment friendly. The silk embroidery is smooth and there won’t be creases even after many years. The mounted silk embroidery can be framed soon after mounting.
Disadvantages: High expense. Need a tool to press and iron the silk embroidery which is available only in the mounting shops.
Conclusion: Recommended for high quality Chinese silk embroideries.
4. Attach the silk embroidery onto a board by wrapping the edges.
If you plan to mount your silk embroidery this way, you need to have some extra silk fabric around the silk embroidery, 10 cm at least, to wrap the edges of the board. Use pins to stabilize the silk fabric at the back of the board. You need to stretch the silk embroidery until it is completely smooth without any creases before stabilize it onto the board.
Advantage: Environment friendly.
Conclusion: It requires skills to stretch the silk embroidery and stabilize it onto the board.
Conclusion: Recommended for some decoration panels, for instance the embroidered decoration panels behind the headboard.
by Su Embroidery Studio (SES), Suzhou China
SES is dedicated to Chinese Silk Embroidery Art and High-End Custom Embroidery
Find SES's embroidery work at Chinese Silk Embroidery for Sale.
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