Needlepoint canvas is a stiff, open-weave fabric, made of vertical and horizontal fibers
NEEDLEPOINT TUTORIALS
Step-by-step beginner-friendly tutorials for needlepoint, you'll learn everything you need to complete your first needlepoint key fob and how to troubleshoot the most common questions!
INTRODUCTION TO YOUR NEEDLEPOINT CANVAS
When stitching, we are focused on the intersection where the vertical and horizontal fibers meet.
There is an intersection each time a vertical and horizontal fiber meet
FOLLOW ALONG SERIES
GETTING STARTED - ANCHORING YOUR THREAD
There are several ways that you can anchor your thread. We recommend the waste knot to get started, but we encourage you to try multiple methods and see what you prefer!
After threading your needle, tie a knot into the longer end, tail, of your thread. Put your needle through the front of your canvas, 5 or more intersections away from your first stitch, in line with the direction you will be stitching.
Your needle will now be in the back of your canvas, and you can begin at your first stitch. You will notice on the back of your canvas there is a thread that goes from where you placed your knot to where you started stitching. As you stitch, you will be covering up that thread, this anchors your thread. When your stitches reach knot, flip your canvas over and confirm that you have covered that thread. Then you can cut you waste knot off - pull up gently on the knot and cut just below the knot. Your thread is now fully anchored. Repeat as you start each new thread.
CONTINENTAL STITCH
The continental stitch is a tent stitch – a stitch that diagonally covers one canvas intersection and is worked in either horizontal or vertical lines.
Zooming in on the canvas intersection, you can see that there are 4 holes around the intersection.
Think about the 4 holes as top left, top right, bottom left, and bottom right.
Think about the 4 holes as top left, top right, bottom left, and bottom right.
The continental stitch covers the intersection by going from the bottom left to the top right. Your needle will be on the back of the canvas, and come up into the bottom left corner. From the front, your needle will go down into the top right corner.
Moving from right to left, look at the next canvas intersection and repeat the same stitch covering the intersection from bottom left to top right.
Continue this process until you have reached the end of the row.
When you have finished your row of stitches from right to left, you will go down to the next row and stitch left to right.
You will stitch exactly the same, looking at each intersection and going from bottom left to top right.
Continuing until you have reached the end of row.
Repeat that process until you have completed stitching that area or you have approximately 2 inches of thread left.
BURYING YOUR THREAD TO FINISH
When you are finished with your thread – either you have 2-3 inches of thread left, or you have finished stitching that section, it is time to bury your thread – securing it in the back of your canvas so it does not come loose.
When you complete your last stitch, your needle and thread are on the back side of your canvas. Tuck your needle under 4 or more stitches either vertically or horizontally and pull your thread through. Cut the thread close to your canvas being mindful to not snip a stitch.
COMMON "MISTAKES"
I honestly don't love using the word "mistake." I believe every needlepoint rule has exceptions, it is your art - make it how you want it, and no needlepoint mistake is ever too big to be solved.