How To Make A Bobbin Frame
Bobbin frames are charming and add so much personality to a gallery wall. The only problem? The price tags, especially on larger sizes, are a little hard to swallow.
But did you know that you can easily make your own? It’s one of the easiest projects I’ve tackled– you just need a frame, some half wooden beads, glue, and paint. Most of the “work” is just waiting for things to dry.
This article walks you through everything you need and the steps to make one yourself.
Supplies You’ll Need
Picture frame (I used this 16×20 frame– it’s a 2 pack)
Half wooden beads (see notes below on the right size)
Glue (see notes below on type)
Primer & paint
Spray polyurethane (if you want a lacquered look)
A note on the half wooden beads
There are several sizes available for half wooden beads, so you’ll want to make sure you get the right ones for your frame.
I used this 16×20 frame and two bags of these half wooden beads. I used the 15mm ones for this project, but you’ll want to make sure you get the right size for your specific frame.
This is the leopard print and I got it in the 16×20 size, though there’s also a smaller 11×14 one and a larger 28×36 print.
A note on the glue
You’ll want to base the type of glue that you use on your specific frame material. While hot glue works on a variety of materials, I didn’t use it because I find that hot glue doesn’t last as long.
I used Gorilla Glue 2 Part Epoxy because the frame is plastic and the beads are wooden. I wanted to make sure that whatever we used worked with both materials. You could use plain wood glue if your frame is wooden, but you wouldn’t want to use that on plastic.
How Much Does This Cost?
A handmade bobbin frame on Etsy will run you $40+ for a small size and well over $100 for a larger one. The DIY version costs a fraction of that — especially if you already have paint and primer on hand.
I made two frames for $46 total ($23 each) using beads (~$10/pack), glue (~$6), and frames ($30 for two). Thrift stores are a great source for frames if you want to keep costs down further.
How To Make A Bobbin Frame
And now for the tutorial! It’s a bit lengthy because I wanted to cover every detail to make sure your project is successful.
Step 1
Gather Your Supplies
You won’t need your paint yet, but go ahead and grab your frame, beads, glue and a paint brush for gluing if you are using one. Set everything out on a protected work surface. I typically use a flat cardboard box for this. We have plenty of those lying around!
Step 2
Test The Layout
Before you get to gluing, you’ll first want to test out how the wooden beads will fit on the frame. This will prevent any issues when you are in the middle of gluing– like realizing your beads don’t quite fit! You should be able to add a little bit of space between each if you find that your beads are falling either a bit too short.
For the 16×20 frame I used 35 15mm beads on the long side and 27 on the short side.
Step 3
Glue The Wooden Beads
The next step is to glue the wooden beads on the frame. It’s as easy as it sounds!
If you are using 2 part epoxy or another glue that needs mixing or some sort of preparation first, you’ll want to start there. But once the glue is ready you can get to work!
Start with one side and glue all the way across before going to the next. Unless you are using glue that dries pretty quickly (ex. Superglue or hot glue), you’ll be able to move the beads around a bit after placing them.
I did this with each side after getting all of the beads on there. This allowed me to space them out correctly so that the beads went perfectly from end to end. It took about 5 minutes per side to glue and straighten as needed.
If using 2 part epoxy, plan to mix a new batch of glue for each side. The kind I used started to dry after 5 minutes and you could really tell the difference between fresh glue and ‘old’ glue. I’d use about a quarter-size amount for each batch and had plenty left in the package after the project was complete.
Let the glue dry completely before going to the next step.
Step 4
Prime The Frame
After the glue is dry and your beads are set, put a coat of primer on the frame.
We just used a regular paint brush for this but ideally you would use a paint sprayer. Not only are paint sprayers super fast, but they also don’t leave any brush strokes.
Step 5
Paint The Frame
Once your primer dries you’ll want to put two to three coats of paint on the frame. Allow for drying time between each coat.
I used Farrow & Ball’s Breakfast Room Green for this project. We used it in the playroom so I already had an open can. However, I have purchased several of their small sample cans for other projects like this. Their samples are the Estate Emulsion version of their paint and are $8.50 each.
I have found that other paint companies (like Sherwin Williams) don’t give you their actual paint in samples. Instead they sell ‘sample’ paint that doesn’t have the staying power of their regular version. I love that I can get a mini pot of a great Farrow and Ball color for a small project like this DIY bobbin frame.
You could also use spray paint on the bobbin frame, but I liked the idea of choosing the exact color I wanted and not just what was available in spray format.
Step 6
Spray Polyeruthane (optional)
If you want a lacquered bobbin frame, add a coat or two of spray polyurethane on it after your paint dries. I didn’t do this for ours because I love the matte look of Farrow and Ball paint. But spray poly can also make it look great! This is typically what you see if buying one off of Etsy.
Step 7
Add Your Art & Hang
After the paint dries you are ready to hang your new bobbin frame! Just add your art and pick a great place to hang it. I get so proud when I see mine and hope the same for you!