Basics on How to Needlepoint
Needlepoint is a craft form that allows you to make designs on fabric using a needle and thread or yarn. There are a variety of options for needlepointing, from creating large decorative tapestries to adding small embellishments to existing projects. Once you learn the basics on how to needlepoint, you can apply those skills to several different types of projects.
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Needle and Canvas
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Needlepointing traditionally involves using a canvas fabric. The fabric already has small holes in it, making it easy to measure your stitches and plan your work. The fabric resembles a grid; when you read a pattern, you compare the grid on the pattern to the grid on your canvas. Some needlepoint canvases have larger grids than others. When you select a needle, you have to match the size of the needle to the size of the grid. In general, a larger needle size number corresponds to a smaller canvas mesh size number. The idea is to be able to pass the needle through the mesh of the canvas without disrupting the mesh itself too much.
Yarn and Thread
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You use yarn or thread to create a design on fabric in needlepoint. If your canvas has large mesh, you can probably use yarn to make your design; this will result in thicker and larger stitch patterns. For a smaller mesh, you might use thread such as embroidery floss to make more detailed and delicate stitch patterns with a smaller needle.
The general rule of thumb is to cut a length of yarn that is approximately 18 inches long as you work. Because passing the yarn in and out of the canvas mesh causes the yarn to wear slightly, it is better to use shorter lengths like this to lessen the amount of wear on each strand.
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Starting a Project
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When you begin a needlepoint project, it is best to start with the smallest and most detailed areas of the design first. Use small stitches and carefully copy these designs onto your fabric, then move on to the larger sections of color next. Some people also like to work outward from the center of the needlepoint design so that it will always be easy to find your place in a project.
Basic Stitches
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In general, you want to make short stitches across one small grid square on your needlepoint canvas. When you begin a needlepoint, insert the needle with yarn or thread from the top to the bottom of your canvas, a few stitches away from your intended starting point. Lay the extra yarn across the top of your canvas toward where you will start; when you make your first few stitches, make them over this extra yarn to secure it in place and hide it behind the pattern.
Bring your yarn up from the bottom of the canvas and down through the top to make one stitch. Start in the bottom left corner of a grid cross and finish in the top right corner. This will give you a diagonal stitch to fill in an area of your pattern. Continue to make stitches like this to cover the desired area.
Finishing
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Finish a needlepoint piece with blocking. To block a needlepoint canvas, spray it gently with water and stretch it back to its normal size, pinning it in place on a soft surface such as a blocking board, foam board, mattress or ironing board. Allow it to dry and it will hold its shape. Then you can sew it onto a pillow or frame it as you like.
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References
- Photo Credit joy stocking image by Karin Lau from Fotolia.com
