Life can be frustrating for the beginning stitcher. You can’t find kits at all. The ones you find:
- have poor quality materials
- are too detailed for a beginner
- don’t fit your tastes
- are charted with no design on the canvas
or all of the above.
That puts you in a quandry, do you just find another craft that’s easier to find and more friendly to beginners? NO! You can easily assemble a kit yourself, or your local shop can do so. Having everything together for your project is such a relaxing feeling; you can just start stitching.
Here’s how to create that kit in three easy steps.
- Find your canvas. The ideal canvas for a beginner is small (8″ square or under), stitch painted (1 color per intersection), and on 13-mesh canvas. Most designs these days come on 18 mesh, but pick a larger mesh if you can find it.
- Pick your threads. Your life will be easier if you pick threads that do not need multiple strands. There are many of these from which to choose. With them you just cut them into stitching lengths, thread your needle, and stitch.
- Include some needles. Commercial kits and many shops include needles with every canvas, but always include some extras in your kit. There is nothing worse than wanting to stitch and not stitching because you have no needle (I know.).
With these three things you have the minimum of what you need to stitch a needlepoint canvas. The next five items you may have already but if you don’t include them in your kit. They will improve your stitching life.
- Scissors: A small inexpensive pair is great fore cutting skeins and trimming thread ends. I use 3″ titanium ones with big fingerholes that are around $5 a pair.
- Project Bag: Some shops provide you with drawstring bags, but if not you will want a bag that closes to keep all the parts of your project together. While there are many really nice ones to buy, you can also use plain zippered food storage bags. You might want to keep some extras in your stash for additional projects.
- Stretcher Bars: While there is no rule that says you must not stitch in hand, most stitchers find using stretcher bars is easier and keeps their needlepoint straighter and neater. If you are using decorative stitches you will find them pretty much a necessity.
- Tacks: If you use stretcher bars you will need tacks to attach the canvas onto them. Most shops sell needleworker’s brass tacks that come in storage boxes. One package is enough for many projects.
- Stitching Instructions: If you don’t know how to needlepoint you will want some inexpensive instructions. These can range from a one-page hand-out on Tent Stitch (contact me if you would like a copy of mine.) to books designed for beginners to a large must-have reference such as The Needlepoint Book. You will be glad to have this when you begin to stitch.
That’s it, now you can make your own needlepoint kit and have projects you want to stitch instead of compromising.
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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