How to Choose Materials for Needlepoint

Make sure you have all the necessary materials on hand before you start your needlepoint project. You'll find that most materials are the same as those used for embroidery and other forms of needlework.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Embroidery Scissors
• Embroidery Yarns
• Needlepoint Canvases
• Needlepoint Kit
• Needlepoint Patterns
• Baskets
• Dressmaker Shears
• Embroidery Floss
• Embroidery Frames
• Embroidery Hoops
• Masking Tape
• Measuring Tapes
• Rug Yarns
• Tapestry Needles
• Tapestry Yarns
• Masking Tape
• Plastic Containers
• Rulers
• Baskets

1. Refer to your needlepoint pattern instructions for recommended materials. If you have chosen a kit, make sure that the materials that are supposed to be included are accounted for.

2. Choose a needlepoint canvas. A canvas fabric can be made of either natural (cotton, linen, silk) or synthetic (plastic) fibers.

3. Choose a canvas that is either single-threaded (mono canvas) or double-threaded (Penelope canvas).

4. Choose single-threaded, even-weave canvases for most projects. The threads are woven evenly, but are not attached. This structure allows for the proper "give" for items such as seat cushions or pillows. Single-threaded, interlock fabrics are joined where the threads intersect.

5. Choose a yarn that is appropriate to the canvas mesh. The mesh is the number of threads per inch. The fewer threads per inch, the thicker the yarn required. You will often use more than one strand, or ply, at a time when stitching a project.

6. Use the appropriate tapestry needle size for your canvas. Use needles with larger numbers for small-meshed canvases and smaller-numbered needles for large-meshed canvases. For example, use a #18 needle on 12-mesh canvases and a #22 for 18-mesh canvases.

7. Keep your work mounted in an embroidery hoop or frame. The canvas will be kept firm, which will allow you to lay your stitches more evenly. A hoop or frame will also help prevent distortion of your canvas.

8. Make sure that you have a small pair of embroidery scissors on hand to cut yarn. Keep a pair of dressmaker shears on hand, as well, in case you need to trim or cut your needlepoint canvas.

9. Use a basket or a large plastic container to store your project materials.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose natural fiber canvases for most projects. Plastic canvases are used for rigid items such as box covers or coasters.
• Use a ruler or tape measure to determine the threads per inch of your canvas if the fabric is not labeled.
• Use single-threaded, interlock canvas for small items that will not see much wear and tear and that will not be worked much. Once this fabric is distorted, it will not regain its shape like even-weave canvas will.
• Experiment with different yarns on a scrap of your chosen canvas until you are satisfied with the coverage given.
• Choose yarns in the colors recommended in the pattern instructions, or substitute other color schemes that appeal to you.
• Bind the edges of your canvas with masking tape to help prevent the edges from fraying or unraveling.