I have never attempted to do my own framing. I wish I would have learned at some point, because professional framing can get very expensive! Also, I have never used a backing, although I saw some others on another topic say that they press on a fusible backing. I may try that at some point to hide the stitching on the back. Sorry I'm not any help...

I have completed a few small framing jobs on my completed cross stitch patterns and follow the You-Tube cross stitch tutorial on framing by a Tara C. Who made the tutorial. It is a 2-3 part series and is really good: I 'pin' my completed projects on acid-free mounting board and do all the finishing as the Tara C. Tutorials show. I use store bought frames currently but DH and I will tackle making our own from this coming fall.

KJM, I saw these on a website a while back and asked the chat room what they knew of them...You could hear the crickets...nobody had tried them, but I don't even remember how long ago that was. :) In my search for info, I ran across a chat room for professional framers discussing them--they had seen the video and were making fun of the tutor using masking tape or sticky tape or DUCT TAPE (YIKES!). They were also discussing that you would never use this method on silks or blends...evidently the teeth are too hard on fabrics. According to a couple of them, the teeth are a nightmare if you goof and have to adjust/straighten the fabric. That's all I remember...but the price on the original website I found was almost $15 cheaper than what you quoted. I returned to that website this morning to check their present cost and they no longer sell the grip-n-frame. Sorry, not much help...but I think their idea is intriguing, just a little pricey to play around with.

If you decide to use these, share your experience, please! I was unable to access the tutorial, but I'm still interested! :)

I have not decided. I just picked up cross stitching after taking a break for a year or so to crochet. I made 5 huge queen size blankets for various people. Picked up cross stitch again just like 2 months ago. In doing so, I went through my stash and pulled out my finished projects that have yet to be framed. I HAVE 9 FINISHED cross stitch projects to clean, iron, back, and frame. Ugh. They are all different sizes and shapes. To have them professionally framed would be very expensive, I would assume. I have to first measure them all to order frames. My hubby was supposed to help me measure them all, maybe make frames for me, but he never did, so they sit in a baggy tucked away. I hope I don't die before I frame them, what a waste it will be. I do know I would like to back them somehow, so the stitching stays better and the back looks pretty.