Quilted Photo Frame

Showcase your favorite embroidery and photography with a stunning quilted photo frame. Customize the embroidered panels and patterned fabric for different seasons and holidays, and change out with different photos as the years go by.

Supplies & Materials:

Project Needs & Notes

1/4 yard solid-colored quilter's cotton (for embroidered pieces)
1/4 yard print quilter's cotton (for corners and back)
1/3 yard stiff fusible interfacing
1/3 yard cotton batting
Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
Air-erase pen for marking
Rotary cutter and cutting mat
Straight edge
1/2" wide ribbon (for hangers)
Button magnets, hot glue and gun (optional)

Designs Used

For this tutorial, I used the medium and small sizes of the Christmas Wish Poinsettia Border design. Find even more Christmas border designs here.

Finished Size:

9 1/4" x 11" (sized for 5" x 7" photo). These instructions can be used for any size photo. Simply adjust the width and height measurements to fit your photo size.

Gather Materials:

First, prepare the fabric for the top and bottom embroidered pieces.

Using an air-erase pen, draw a rectangle on the solid-colored quilter's cotton that is the width of your photo by 3".

Because I am using a 5" x 7" photo, I will mark a rectangle that is 5" x 3".

If your photo is 4" x 6", mark a rectangle that is 4" x 3".

Measure and mark the center of each side and draw lines connecting the marks.

A hand holding a purple fabric marker draws on white fabric using an Artist's Loft wooden ruler. Purple lines form a rectangle with extended guides on fabric placed on a wooden surface.

A template is a printout of the design, and it's an excellent tool for planning where to stitch. Print a template of the design from your embroidery software.

Place the template within the shape. There should be at least 3/4" in between the outer edges of the design and of the shape.

Light beige fabric with a black and white printed design of three leaves and vines centered inside a roughly drawn rectangle and cross in purple marker.

Start Embroidering:

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, lining up the marks on the fabric with the marks on the hoop.

Attach the hoop to the machine and move the hoop so the needle is right over the center point.

Embroider the design.

Embroidery machine stitching a red poinsettia flower with green leaves on white fabric marked with purple grid lines in a grey oval hoop.

After embroidering, trim the excess stabilizer away from the back.

Fabric with floral embroidery in red, green, and teal thread next to large silver scissors on a white surface. The embroidery includes swirled stems and two flowers.

Use a rotary cutter, cutting mat, and straight edge to cut out the shape.

White fabric piece with colorful floral embroidery including red and pink flowers, green leaves, placed on a green cutting mat with yellow grid lines, next to a rotary cutter and a clear ruler with red grid markings.

Prepare the remaining embroidered pieces by making rectangles that are the height dimension of the photo by 3".

Because I am using a 5" x 7" photo, I will mark a rectangle that is 7" x 3".

If your photo is 4" x 6", mark a rectangle that is 6" x 3".

Embroider the designs, and cut out the pieces.

Four pieces of white fabric with embroidered floral designs featuring red and pink flowers with green leaves and brown swirls, displayed on a wooden surface.

To prepare the corners, cut four pieces of the print cotton fabric to 3" x 3".

Four small square fabric pieces with green background and red, white floral print on a green cutting mat with yellow grid lines, next to a purple rotary cutter.

Assemble the frame.

Lay the long embroidered side rectangles flat with the right sides facing up.

Align the corners on top, right sides together and aligned with the ends of the side pieces.

Pin in place and sew a 1/4" seam along each short end only.

Two pieces of floral fabric with pink, white, and green flowers pinned or folded on a wooden surface. White fabric with colorful floral embroidery is visible underneath. A hand holds one corner of one fabric piece, lifting it to reveal embroidery beneath.

Press the back seam open with an iron.

A close-up of a white fabric strip with pink and teal floral embroidery being ironed with a gray and blue Rowenta iron on a textured black and white surface.

Next, lay the short embroidered rectangles flat with the right sides facing up.

Lay one of the assembled pieces on top of both short rectangles, right sides together. Align as shown.

Pin in place.

Sew a 1/4" seam along the end of the short rectangles and the corner piece, starting at the outer edges and ending 1/4" short of the inner edge.

Press the seams.

Then, add the remaining assembled piece to the opposite ends of the short rectangles following these same steps. The front panel is complete.

Hand holding a piece of green floral fabric being aligned next to white fabric with pink and green floral embroidery on a wooden surface.

Lay the cotton batting flat and place the print cotton fabric on top, right side facing up.

Place the assembled front panel on top of both the print fabric and the cotton fabric, right sides together.

Pin in place and cut through all the layers around the outer edge of the front panel. Also, cut around the inner shape of the front panel.

Sew a 1/4" seam along both outer long sides and one short end (leave one of the short ends open for turning).

Turn right side out; press.

Hand holding a corner of a partially assembled quilted photo frame with floral embroidery and green floral fabric, placed on a wooden surface.

Turn the fabric over to the back and cut 3/8" slits in the back fabric at each inner corner.

Trim 1/4" of the batting around the entire inner shape.

Hand holding scissors cutting the corner edge of a quilted photo frame covered with green fabric featuring red and white flowers, on a wooden surface.

Fold the inner edge of the front panel to the wrong side 1/4" around the edges of the batting and press.

Then, fold the inner edge of the back panel to the wrong side 1/4" and press.

Pin in place and topstitch a 1/8" seam along the entire inner edge of the frame.

Fold the fabric of the open end in 1/4" and press.

Pin in place and top stitch a 1/8" seam along the entire outer edge of the frame.

Also, stitch along the existing seams to quilt in between the shapes.

Hand holding corner of a rectangular quilted photo frame with embroidered pink flowers and green leaves on white fabric, alternating with dark green floral print fabric, on a wooden surface.

To prepare the back, cut a piece of stiff fusible interfacing a bit smaller than the frame.

Align the interfacing with the back side of the frame.

Using a pressing cloth, press three of the sides in place -- pressing about 1" in from the outer edges of the interfacing on both long sides and one end. Leave one end unpressed.

This end will be left open to allow for the photo to be inserted.

White quilted fabric square on a wood surface with patterned binding in dark green, red, and beige colors, held by a hand in the bottom left corner.

To make the frame magnetic, add button magnets to the back corners of the frame.

Add a couple drops of hot glue to the magnets and press them in place.

Bottom view of a rectangular quilted photo frame with four black adhesive felt pads, placed on a wooden surface. A person's hand holds a hot glue gun near one pad.

Or, add ribbon hangers.

Cut small slits in the interfacing on the back of the frame about 2" in from the outer corners and 1/2" in from the outer edges of the interfacing.

Hand tying a yellow satin ribbon through a grommet on the corner of a white quilted fabric photo frame with green and red patterned binding on a wood surface.

Cut 18" lengths of 1/2" ribbon. Thread the ribbon through the slits, form loops and tie the ribbon in a knot.

Tie the ribbon into bows to complete!

Quilted photo frame with embroidered red and pink flowers and green vines on white fabric, floral dark green corner patches, tied with yellow satin ribbons.

Insert the photo inside the frame from the open end.

Quilted photo frame with white fabric panels embroidered with orange flowers and green leaves. Green floral fabric borders and yellow ribbon ties hold the photo insert. Hand holding a photo of three smiling people. The frame is on a wood surface.

Get Inspired:

This gorgeous quilted photo frame can easily be updated for any season or holiday.

Simply choose different patterned fabric, embroidery designs, and your favorite photos.

Quilted photo frame with red and green floral embroidery surrounds a photo of a man dressed as Santa and two smiling children.