Nuts about Needlepoint » questions

Adding Your Signature to Needlepoint

Janet Perry — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:50:35 +0000

Jane recently asked me for ideas for “signing” her needlepoint, as she has not found a good way to do this.

It’s a problem many stitchers face, myself included. I can think of four ways to approach this. The last two approaches are taken from the art world. The pictures throughout are not taken from needlepoint pieces, but from other kinds of art.

Design your own label to put inside or behind the piece

One it to make it as unobtrusive as possible. The best way to do that is to write the information on a piece of cloth and sew it to the BACK of the needlepoint. This would be on the inside of the pillow or behind the needlepoint and the back of the picture. People wouldn’t see it, but the information would be preserved.

If you do want it on the face of the needlepoint, there are two other ideas. The first is also unobtrusive. Use a thread a shade or two darker than your background thread. Make your initials and the year in Tent Stitch. Tent Stitch around it in the background color to make a box and put your background stitch around this little box. It won’t show very much.

Another thing is to do something like the red “chops” or seals you see on Chinese paintings. Once again use your initials and the date, but this time stitch them in red. You might want to play around a bit to find a good-looking design). once stitched, enclose the chop in a thin red border. This does not need to go in the lower right corner as a signature would, but can go wherever it would make sense in the design.

Whistler's butterfly signature

A final way is to develop some kind of symbol and use that as your signature. My favorite painter, Whistler, used a butterfly for most of his career, even for letters. It took many forms, can be found anywhere in the piece and often is almost invisible. A stylized element like this can be a great way to sign your work.

However you chose to do it, signing your work allows others to know whose hard work went into the piece.

Replacing the Old Needlepoint on a Footstool

Janet Perry — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:03:12 +0000

I recently got asked about how to replace the covering on a footstool. It isn’t a hard process and this makes for some lovely needlepoint.

Here’s how to do it:

There are three steps to this process, neither particularly hard.

The first step is to measure the footstool. Do you still have the old top? If you do measure the length and width with the top on, so you know how much padding there is. Detailed instructions on how to do this can be found on All about Needlepoint.

Your measurement plus about 1/4″ all around will be the finished size of the stitching. Mark that shape onto your canvas with something like an Extra Fine Sharpie or, better, a Pigma Micron marker. Let dry overnight.

The second step is to stitch the needlepoint. You have tons of options here, but I’d like to suggest three.
1. Repeat the original pattern if you can find it.

2. Do a Bargello pattern, they are easy, can be done in colors to match your decor and are traditional for footstools. I have a book on Bargello, Bargello Revisited, available on Amazon, with over 30 different patterns, many of which will scale for a large piece. There are also more patterns and ideas in my eProject, Maple Leaf Rag and here on the blog. To find those, look at the category Bargello. Be warned though, there are many posts there. You can also check out the list of free Bargello patterns at All about Needlepoint.

3. Find a vintage needlepoint pattern you like. On my blog, I’ve been recharting designs by Anne Orr, who was popular in the 30′s-50′s, so her patterns have a vintage look. You find them under the category vintage needlepoint.

Once you have stitched the needlepoint, block it and use it, as you would fabric, to cover the footstool. You can do this yourself. Instructions to do this with a screw on top are at the end of the same All about Needlepoint article. eHow has detailed instructions for recovering round footstools and on using tacks to do this process. You need to use this method for any footstool where the top is not easily removable.

Vintage Crafts – Bargello Needlepoint with a Hook

Janet Perry — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:41:47 +0000

Over the weekend I got a query from Bob who wanted to know if I had heard of a craft he had done in the 70′s. He wrote After many years, I’ve become interested in needlepoint again, but can’t seem to find the type I enjoyed so much. The result looked like bargello, but I believe it used a needle with a hook rather than tapestry needles. Might you know what form of embroidery this is? The results (still have some pillows) were beautiful and not too difficult to do. Thanks in advance for any info you might provide. I don’t remember this, and it’s not latch hooking or rug hooking. I’m hoping one of you do. If you have ideas or resources, leave a comment. Thanks heaps! Related posts:What technique have you always wanted to learn? Arts & Crafts Tree – Stitch Guide Sneak Peek Bargello Coasters Vintage Four-way Bargello More Freeform Bargello Related posts:

My Answers to the Needlepoint Survey

Janet Perry — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:28:30 +0000

I promised I’d answer these today. Don’t forget to add your answers to the original post.

How long have you been doing needlepoint?
>> Almost 40 years, since 1970.
Do you consider yourself a beginning, intermediate, or advanced stitcher?
>> Most likely advanced, although there are many techniques I avoid doing.
Do you do other kinds of needlework?
>> Nope, just needlepoint, although I have done many others in the past.
What kind of needlepoint projects do you do most often?
>> It seems like mostly I stitch models, but when I stitch for myself, I love Bargello, and needlepoint influenced by quilt design.
What is your dream needlepoint project?
>> My dream needlepoint is sort of like my dream car, something I’d love but will never get. It’s a set of Bargello seats for dining room chairs. Not only wouldn’t I have the time or energy to do them, they wouldn’t go with my Oriental dining room. But I’ve wanted some since I was 17.
What kind of features would you like to see on this site?
>> If I can think of them, or you want them, I’ll add them.
What would you like to see less of?
>> Ditto here.
What kind of projects would you like to see on this site?
>> I’m hoping to get some small projects up soon.
What types of thread do you use most often?
>> It goes in spurts, since I’m addicted to all things thread. But right now I am loving Crescent Colors’ Belle Soie and Floss.
What types of designs do you prefer (geometric, floral, holiday, etc.)?
>> geometric, especially those derived from quilts.
What other forms of needlepoint (bargello, petit point, blackwork, etc) do you do?
>> Yes, I’ll do almost anything, except petit point. I can’t use a magnifier because of eye problems and I can’t see the canvas.
What is(are) your favorite needlepoint book?
My favorite stitch dictionary is The Needlepoint Book, I have two copies. My favorite book of all-time is Elsa William’s Bargello. But I’ve made more projects from Needlepoint from Great American Quilts than from any other book.
Who is your favorite needlepoint designer?
I work with lots of designers, and love them all. But I would say that the person who is most like me is Kelly Clark. We may have been born at different times, in different states, but it’s like we were separated at birth.
Who is your favorite needlepoint teacher?
There are too many to name.

Painting Light Canvas to Cover It with Dark Threads

Janet Perry — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:23:05 +0000

Marilyn wrote:
Hello:
I wonder if you will be so kind as to help me.
I have a wonderful hand painted needlepoint canvas that I wish to alter a bit by painting over some of the lighter areas. I do not know what kind of paint to use and thought you might send me in the right direction. As you know, stitching over a light area with dark threads sometimes show through and we needle pointers will not settle for less than perfection.

Marilyn –

The proper paint to use when painting a canvas is acrylic paint. While many canvas designers use artist’s quality paint, for your purpose you can use the paint you buy in craft stores from around $1.

You also don’t need to use really great brushes. Canvas is quite rough and eats up brushes. You didn’t say if this was a large area, but if it is, you might think about using a foam brush. These give good results.

You will need to think the paint a little, so that it is the consistency of cream. You also need to use very little paint on the brush, otherwise it clogs the holes. I brush off most of the paint on paper before I work on the canvas.

If your purpose is to color the canvas so that “needlepoint dandruff” doesn’t show through, then pick a color close to or lighter than the color of the thread. It does not have to be a perfect match, it just needs to be in the same color family. The flecks show because the white of the canvas is such a strong contrast to the color of the thread. If the flecks showing through are in the same color family, even if they are lighter than the thread color, your eye will blend them.

While canvas designers strive to get a nice even coat of color, since you are doing this for yourself, you don’t need to be so picky. The color can be uneven, just make sure you have painted everything in the area you want to cover. Be sure there are no clogged holes. If a hole gets clogged, blow the paint out of it BEFORE it dries.

If you want more information about painting, many of the tips from designers, check out the FAQ entry on the ANG site.

What technique have you always wanted to learn?

Janet Perry — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 14:33:49 +0000

I have always wanted to learn Japanese embroidery. It’s so beautiful and I love the colors so much. However, I’m almost certainly doomed to failure in this for many reasons: 1. I have dry skin and always have rough cuticles — bad on silk 2. I am terrified of sharp needles — I even sew on buttons with tapestry needles & who does that. 3. I’m a leftie and so the twist in many silks becomes untwisted when I stitch. Oh well, at least I can admire from afar. Related posts:Want to Learn (or Learn More) about Needlepoint? Try CyberPointers Peppermint Twist Bird Stitch Guide Learn Some Needlepoint with These Outstanding Videos Start of Long & Short Stitch Tutorial Gold Leafing on Canvas – Try a New Technique Related posts: