Updated April 9, 2019
I’m in the midst of stitching a bunch of things and nothing gets me more inspired to do even more stitching than seeing the great ideas other have come up with.
Here are some:
Take a piece of needlepoint about 6″ x 20″ and make it into a 3-fold clutch purse or wristlet..
Use a belt canvas to make a surround for a tray. You can also use a tray as a picture frame or a picture frame as a tray.
Make your own triptych. Find two related needlepoint pieces the same size and frame them on either side of a mirror and connect the needlepoint to the mirror with piano hinges. Or frame three in a single frame with a mat that has three holes cut in it.
If you like to work on small projects, but don’t need ornaments, make them into coasters. Vice versa if you like ornaments but see some coasters you like, make them into a set of ornaments.
Or mount different sets of them on sticks to make a colorful seasonal centerpiece. There are so many great sets that you can finish this way. Why not make a different set for every season or holiday?
Small bits of needlepoint can also be used to cover barettes. Get barrette blanks at craft stores. Longer lengths could be hairbands.
One of the coolest canvases I’ve ever seen was ages ago at Needlepoint, Inc.. It was for an ottoman. The canvas was in two pieces, a round top and a long piece which would go around the sides. That piece looked like a Moorish doorway with an elaborate design in shades of blue. You were supposed to finish the side with long beaded fringe. The whole thing was custom finished into an Ottoman. Several designers are making hand-painted canvases for these now. It’s one my dream needlepoints.
When you think outside the box for your finishing, lots of possibilities emerge. What’s the coolest finishing you’ve seen?
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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