A week ago I began mounting some of my embroidered pieces.
This process begins with ironing. It is necessary to iron all the pieces first, using a hot iron and a damp cloth. Then the pieces are left to dry completely.
The next part of the process is the selection of the right mounts for the pieces. Mounts come in all shapes, sizes and types, and I knew I didn’t yet have all that I needed. So, for the moment it was a matter of matching up what I could.
The mounting of each piece I always find a hairy job, even after years of experience. Things can go wrong, and mistakes or careless handling can only very rarely be rectified. First, the mount with two folds is placed centrally over the embroidery on a cork mat, making sure that the embroidery is positioned correctly in the aperture. Pins are then put around the aperture to hold the positioning, and the mount is removed. With the inner part of the mount then uppermost, double-sided tape is placed around the aperture, and the paper lining of the tape removed. The mount is now placed on top of the embroidery, using the pins as guides for the positioning, and pressing down so that the piece will stick fast to the tape. Next, any surplus fabric is trimmed from the piece, and if a backing or padding is being used, this is where it’s added. Finally, the double-sided tape is placed around the edges of the side-panel of the mount that will close over the back of the embroidery. The lining paper is removed, the panel stuck down, and the mounting is complete. All that is needed now is to press the completed cards under heavy books for as long as possible.
The most common mistakes are getting the mount upside-down, putting the tape on the wrong edge, or letting the tape touch any surface that it shouldn’t. The adhesive strength of this tape is such that any wrong or accidental contact will ruin either the mount or the embroidery, or both, so great care is needed.
I spent a morning on this job last week, and half a morning yesterday: I now have 18 cards completed and being pressed. It’s only a beginning, but it feels like progress is being made.
