Pinning:
Pinning is a more common practice for stretching a cross stitch or a needlepoint. This process uses special dress pins, or stainless-steel pins to ensure that the pins are rust resistant
The cross stitch is laid centered onto a piece of foam board, and slowly pinned into the center foam of the foamboard. Stating at the center top, a pin is placed into the fabric, and through the foam center. The next pin is put into the exact opposite location on the embroidery, the bottom center. Next the center left, and finally the center right. This ensures the piece sits perfectly centered on the board. The pins are slowly moved out to the corners of the foamboard, using the same technique of pinning one pin at a time on each edge, starting at the top, and then working to the bottom, the left and then the right. The reason for always working out slowly, and on opposite sides is to ensure that there is no puckering or wrinkles left in the piece at the end of the process. Finally the corners are folded over in a bed sheet fold, and taped using archival acid free tape.