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Needlepoint: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
BreezesTreezes
Fall is in the air and the leaves are starting to blow! Stitch the Breezes through the Treezes pattern in continental stitch on 12-count canvas in your favorite falll colors.
Origami Bird
The ancient art of paper folding, known as Origami, inspired this needlepoint pattern featuring a bird against a decorative background.
Happy Thanksgiving
Welcome your Thanksgiving guests by stitching this needlepoint greeting. It can be worked in tent stitch, or decorative stitches.
Pear Trio
Three perfectly ripened pears await your needle, wool and canvas. Stitch using traditional tent stitches, or be daring and use an assortment of pretty – yet easy – decorative and textured stitches.
Santa Pattern
Get a head start on the Holidays by stitching the Santa needlepoint pattern! The project works up quickly in link continental stitch on 12-count canvas.
Classic Alphabet
Select your monogram from this set to stitch in the center of the Monogram Frame needlepoint pattern.
Needlepoint Introduction
Needlepoint, a form of counted-thread embroidery, is worked in a variety of stitches in wool, cotton or silk over a canvas or fabric mesh, one stitch at a time.
Tent Stitch
Tent Stitch refers to a family of needlepoint stitches, and is used to work the design area, or to fill in the background of the canvas.
Continental
The most commonly used needlepoint stitch is the Continental Stitch, and is often referred to as the “tent” stitch. This stitch is worked diagonally over one intersection of canvas mesh.
French Braid
The French Braid needlepoint pattern is perfect for cleaning out your scrap basket, as any number of colors can be used. Color combinations of your choosing are also possible.
Dreidel Petite Four
Stitch a Dreidel Petite Four for the Holidays.
Daisy Chain
This is a pretty project worked using only the [link url=http://needlepoint.about.com/od/stitchdiagrams/ss/Continental.htm]continental stitch[/link] . The chart is worked in quadrants, making it an ideal project for a beginner to learn how to follow a charted design.
Interpreting A Canvas
Working with textured and decorative stitches allows you to add drama to an otherwise ordinary needlepoint pattern. But, there are some things you should keep in mind before taking the first stitch on your prepared canvas.
Basketweave
The basketweave stitch is from a member of the tent stitch family of needlepoint stitches. It is also one of the most common stitches used for needlepoint background areas.
Monogram Frame
Stitch this pretty leaf border to frame a Classic Monogram.
Toy Soldier Ornament
Stitch a Toy Soldier needlepoint ornament. This project works up quickly and can be completed in 5 hours or less. Because it is small, it's a perfect project for stitchers on the go.
Asian Maple
Celebrate Autumn by stitching this Asian Maple in full color.
Swedish Ornament
Work a simple ornament in mosiac stitch to give it an unusual textural quality.
Working a Complicated Design
Working a complicated, multi-color needlepoint pattern is easy by using this method.
Tree Petite Four
I've added another needlepoint petite four pattern to the collection. Stitch and sew a Christmas Tree petite four, or the companion Halloween Pumpkin or Birthday Balloons versions. This miniature project is quick to stitch using the full-color chart. It can also be worked in counted cross stitch.
Valley Tulips
A quick and easy 2-piece beginner needlepoint project using four different stitches: [link url=http://needlepoint.about.com/od/stitchdiagrams/ss/Continental.htm]continental[/link], satin, French knots and straight stitches.
Primavera
This pattern was inspired by Mexican folk embroidery. Worked in the colors of Spring - Primavera. It is comprised of a center square surrounded by a coordinating floral border, which can be used togther or separately - it's like having 2 patterns in one.
Satin Stitch
Satin Stitch is a decorative stitch that can be used anywhere on a needlepoint needlepoint canvas to make an element stand out, or to highlight desired areas in a project. It's also very easy to work.
Holiday Stars
The Holiday Stars needlepoint pattern features a block of 9 stars on a neutral background. It works up quickly in tent stitch and would make a perfect Holiday gift.
Leaf Stitch
The Leaf Stitch is a realistic-looking decorative stitch used to stitch leaves or leaf-like shapes on a canvas.
Needlepoint Frames and Stands
Link to web sites featuring stands for working needlepoint.
Salamanca
The Salamanca Needlepoint design is an easy, yet very pretty project suitable for the beginning needlepoint stitcher. The design is worked from a full-folor chart in two basic stitches: [link url=http://needlepoint.about.com/od/stitchdiagrams/ss/Continental.htm]continental stitch[/link] and straight stitch.
halloweenp4
Stitch and sew a Pumpkin petite four in needlepoint. This miniature project is quick to stitch using the full-color chart. It can also be worked in counted cross stitch. This is a sister project to the Birthday Needlepoint and Christmas Tree Petite Fours.
Leaf Wreath
Here's a project for an unusual round pillow top featuring a wreath of brightly-colored leaves.
Ducky-A-Gogo
Stich an adorable trio of yellow ducky pull toys to make an adorable pillow or framed picture for the nursery.
Blocking
A finished needlepoint canvas will often be slightly warped when worked in a needlepoint frame, or very warped when worked in the hands. Here you'll find insructions for re-shaping your canvas.
Blue Danube
Stitch this waltz-inspired needlepoint design in 3 classic shades of blue against a pure, white background using continental stitch and basketweave stitch.
Mosaic Stitch
The Mosaic stitch and reversed Mosaic stitch are textured, decorative stitches worked in small blocks. They're perfect for background areas and borders, or for filling large pattern areas.
Needlepoint Blocking Board
A blocking board is a lightweight, pinable board with a fabric covering that has been printed with a grid of squares. The grid is used as a guide for squaring the canvas during the blocking process.
Scotch Stitch
The Scotch stitch and reversed Scotch stitch are textured, decorative stitches worked in blocks. They're perfect for background areas and borders.
Felicity Hall
Meet Needlepoint Designer Felicity Hall of the United Kingdom
BirthdayP4
Stitch the Baloons Birthday needlepoint pattern and then sew it into a 3-dimensional shape. It makes a perfect gift and is quick to stitch using the full-color chart. It can also be worked in counted cross stitch.
Half Cross Stitch
The Half Cross Stitch is very familiar to any cross stitcher, but it is also used extensively in needlepoint. On the front side of the canvas, Half Cross Stitch looks nearly identical to the Continental Stitch, having one diagonal stitch worked over every intersection of canvas mesh.
Hungarian Stitch
The Hungarian Stitch is a textured needlepoint stitch used to fill in large areas and borders of a needlepoint design.
Ice Cream Sticks
Stitch a colorful batch of ice creams on a stick that look almost good enought to eat.
How to Use the Patterns
The needlepoint patterns on this site are provided free of charge, but may need a little massaging in order for them to be easier to view and work with. Here you'll find tips for using the patterns.
Needlepoint Suppliers
Every stitcher needs a stash! Even if you don’t have a needlecrafts shop in your area, you can still get your hands on quality needlepoint supplies through mail order (snail mail) or online catalog sources.
Pink Hearts
Stitch a Valentine decor piece for your home, or as a gift. The project works up quickly in long stitch, with a touch of Hungarian stitch around the borders. A matching medallion pattern is also included.
Persian Yarn
Persian yarn is also referred to as Persian Wool and is the most popular type of yarn used in needlepoint. It consists of 3 plies of yarn twisted together, which can be easily separated or combined to reduce or increase the weight (thickness) of the thread. One ply of Persian yarn is equal in thickness and weight to crewel yarn.
FantasyFish
Stitch a Fantasy Fish swimming in a seaweed sea using bright shades of yarn. It's stitched on 10 Holes-per-inch canvas using worsted weight yarn or wool and is a perfect beginner project.
Random Long Stitch
Random Long Stitch is a textured needlepoint filling stitch worked in varying lengths.
Grace's Pinks
Floral patterns were a favorite of needlepointers past. The Grace's Pinks needlepoint pattern features a swirling floral wreath inspired by classic needlepoint design, and is worked in [link url=http://needlepoint.about.com/od/stitchdiagrams/ss/Continental.htm]continental stitch[/link] and [link url=http://needlepoint.about.com/od/stitchdiagrams/ss/NPBasketweave.htm]basketweave stitch.[/link]
Needlepoint Blocking
A finished needlepoint canvas is often warped or stretched after completion. Blocking helps return a warped canvas back to its original shape and size.
Brick Stitch
The brick stitch is a simple decorative stitch that adds a nice bit of texture to a needlepoint project.
Oval Bubbles
Stitch this simple Oval Bubbles needlepoint pattern in just 6 bright, funky colors.
Tall Ships
Ahoy there, fellow needlepointers! Aye, mate, here be a nautical-themed pattern with a handsome rope border. Stitch the Tall Ships needlepoint pattern fer yer favorite sailor!
Basic Pillow
Many needlepoint projects can be stitched into beautiful accent pillows. In this section you'll find instructions on how to sew a needlepoint pillow with well-formed corners.
Menorah 2009
Stitch a needlepoint Hannukah Menorah pillow top with glowing candles in continental stitch for the Holidays.
Needlepoint Yarn and Wool
Stitches worked in yarn and wool on a canvas ground are used to create a needlepoint project. There are many different types of yarn, wool and decorative threads that can be used, but tapestry yarn is most common.
Narrow Piping
Piping adds a nice finish to any project. It's easy to stitch to a needlepoint project by following these basic guidelnes.
Canvas
Needlepoint canvas serves as the foundation of your needlepoint project. It is the support structure onto which the design is built using colored threads.
Skeins & Hanks
Working with large skeins and hanks of needlepoint yarns can be a tanglesome affair. Here you will find tips to tame the savage beast.
Conversion Chart
These are charts printed by various manufacturers that list tapestry wool colors and their equivalents from other manufacturers. This is handy if you need to make a substitution in a project. If a project calls for “Brand X” but your local needlecraft supply only carries tapestry wool from “Brand Z”, use the .
Needlepoint Needles
Tapestry needles have a blunt point and an large eye and are used to stitch a design on needlepoint canvas.
Using a Threader
Ditch the lick 'em and stick 'em approach to threading your tapestry needles. Needle threaders come in various shapes and sizes, and make threading any needle quick and easy.
Easter Egg Petite Four
Continue adding to your needlepoint Petite Four collection by stitching the Easter Egg pattern.
Bordeaux
Stitch a Glass of Bordeaux to go along with its sister pattern, the Glass of Chablis, to celebrate wine-making season.
Cross Stitch
Cross Stitch is very familiar to any cross stitcher, but it is also used in needlepoint as a decorative, textured stitch.
Stretcher Frame
Frames used in needlepoint are referred to as scroll frames and stretcher frames. They are used to keep the needlepoint canvas taut, freeing both of your hands to stitch, and reduces canvas warping and stretching which makes blocking your finished canvas easier. The tighter the canvas is stretched in the frame, the easier the needle passes through the holes in the canvas. Embroidery hoops can be substituted for smaller projects.
Tapestry Wool
Tapestry wool consists of four plies of yarn twisted together, which cannot be separated. Because the plies cannot be separated, this type of yarn is normally worked on larger mesh canvas (#10 up to #14). Tapestry wool is softer than Persian yarn, so it is best to work with lengths of yarn no longer than 18-20 inches to prevent fraying and wearing down of the yard while stitching,
Tapestry Needles
Tapestry needles have blunt, rounded tips with larger eyes than crewel or embroidery needles, which are necessary to accommodate the thicker yarns used in needlepoint. The blunt tips pass easily through needlepoint canvas without catching on the mesh itself. These needles come in various sizes and selecting the needle size depends entirely on yarn size. The rule is: finer the yarn, the smaller the needle; the bulkier the yarn, the larger the needle.
Long Stitch
Long Stitch is similar to Satin Stitch and is used to fill large areas of canvas.
American Needlepoint Guild
The American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the art of needlepoint. Membership is open to all stitchers, regardless of skill level, and provides educational opportunities in the form of workshops, seminars, and local ANG chapters.
Needlepoint Canvas
Canvas forms the foundation of every needlepoint project. It is available in different styles, colors and mesh counts.
Book Review Gordon Tapestry
Jill Gordon's Tapestry Collection (Published by Merehurst).
Decotrims
Decorative trims add pizzaz to needlepoint projects and come in a wide variety of styles, types and colors.
In-the-Ditch
Finishing your needlepoint project often involves machine or hand sewing. In this area you will learn how to stitch in the ditch for a professional-looking finish.
Needlepoint Pouch
Stitch a finished needlepoint canvas into a handy, lined pouch. You can use them as purses, totes, or create smaller pouches to hang on a doorknob, as ornaments, or unique gift bags.
Waste Knot
Knots are a no-no in needlepoint. A waste knot is a temporary knot that is used to start a length of needlepoint yarn. It is covered with stitches and clipped away after stitching.
Mono Canvas
A type of needlepoint canvas that has single vertical and horizontal threads, which are woven but not interlocked. This means that the stitches can move, making mono canvas the perfect choice for objects that will be subjected to uneven pressure and use, such as chair cushions and bench covers as this canvas has “give”. Projects in mono canvas should be worked in a stretcher frame, as this canvas has a tendency to distort.
Needlepoint Yarn
While canvas is the base of a needlepoint project, yarn is the “paint” with which the pattern is created. The most common yarns used for needlepoint are tapestry yarn, Persian yarn, and crewel yarn. Other types of yarns and threads can be used as well including 6-strand embroidery floss, pearl cotton, monofilaments, rug yarn and knitting yarns – even ribbon.
Penelope Canvas
A needlepoint canvas that has a double mesh, with two vertical and horizontal threads woven together to form the canvas, instead of one. A single stitch is worked over both threads of the canvas, and can be worked over a single thread where greater detail is needed in a desired area.
Finishing
This is the final step in the needlepoint process, where the finished canvas is transformed into the intended object. For example, a corded edge and a backing would be sewing to a pillow front, and the item stuffed for use.
Interlock Canvas
A popular type of needlepoint canvas that has a single horizontal thread, and two finer vertical threads that wrap and twist around the horizontal thread to create a locked mesh at the intersections (hence the name “interlock”). Projects worked on interlock canvas tend to have less distortion after stitching due to the locking of the mesh. Also, stitches stay where you put them, unlike mono canvas where the stitches can move due to the intersections not being connected or "interlocked."
Mesh
The term “mesh” refers to canvas sizes, or holes per inch. As an example, 14-mesh canvas has 14 holes – or openings in the canvas – per inch. Mesh size is often abbreviated using the pound (#) symbol, such as #14 for 14-mesh canvas.
Needlepoint For Beginners
If you are new to needlepoint, this page features articles, tips and techniques to help get you started. In no time at all you will be creating beautiful needlepoint projects by learning just a few basics.
Royal School of Needlework
The Royal School of Needlework is the international center for embroidery teaching based at Hampton Court Palace in south-west London. Their mission is to teach, practice and promote the art of hand embroidery to the highest standards, within both historical and contemporary design contexts.
Book Review Glorafilia NPC
Needlepoint Guide Review of The Glorafilia Needlepoint Collection book, by Jennifer Berman and Carole Lazarus (Published by David & Charles).
Book Review Fassett GloriousNP
Needlepoint Guide Review of Glorious Needlepoint, by Kaffe Fassett(Published by Sterling).
Chablis
Stitch this fun Glass of Chablis and its sister pattern, the Glass of Boreaux, to celebrate wine-making season.
Needlepoint - StepBySteps
An index of StepBySteps for the Needlepoint guide site.
Ply
Most yarns used in needlepoint consist of more than one strand or “ply.” These strands can be separated into individual plies and used as a thinner yarn, or combined with other plies to make a thicker or multi-colored yarn.
Masking Tape
Standard 1-inch wide masking tape is used to cover or bind the raw edges of the needlepoint canvas and serves 2 important purposes - it prevents fraying at the edges of the canvas and it stops your yarn from snagging the edges of the canvas when working the design.
Sizing
Sizing is a product used to make needlepoint canvas stiff, giving strength to the canvas and allowing the stitches to pass easily through the holes in the mesh.
Needle Threader
These are small tools with a thing, flexible wire on one end used to help you thread your tapestry needle. It works by threading the end of the yarn into the wire, and then passing the wire through the eye of the needle. These are handy to have as it makes threading the needle a breeze (and has the added benefit of keeping yarn fluff off your tongue, which is common to the lick-and-stick method of needle threading).
18th Century Needlework
Amelia Peck of the Department of American Decorative Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art has written an excellent thematic essay on American needlework from the 18th century.
Book review Berlin Work
Needlepoint Guide Review of Berlin Work: Samplers & Embroidery of the Nineteenth Century,(Published by Lacis).
TNNA
The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) is an international trade organization representing retailers, manufacturers, distributors, designers, manufacturers' representatives, publishers, teachers and wholesalers of products and supplies for the specialty needlearts market.
World of Needlepoint
The World of Needlepoint is an offshoot of the The Needlepoint Group and The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) and offers stitchers and needlepoint enthusiasts as place on the web to find information on the history of needlepoint, supplies, and new products.
Book Review Victorian NP
Needlepoint Guide Review of Victorian Needlepoint, by Beth Russell (Published by Collins & Brown).
National Academy of Needlearts
The National Academy of Needlearts is an organization devoted to the advancement of embroidery as an art form. Its goal is to uphold the highest standards in the needlearts by providing excellence in education to all those interested in furthering their embroidery skills as teachers, judges, artists, designers, authors, and technically proficient embroiderers. Established in 1985, this organization provides numerous educational opportunities for needle artists.
Book Review Fruits of Earth
Needlepoint Guide Review of Fruits of the Earth; Flowers and Fruit in Needlepoint, by Hugh Ehrman(Published by Simon & Schuster).
Book Review Casa Lopez
Needlepoint Guide Review of Les Petits Points de Casa Lopez, by Sophie Pelletier and Bernard Magniant-Lopez (Published by Armand Colin).
Book Review G.Ultimate Coll.
Needlepoint Guide Review of Glorafilia's The Ultimate Needlepoint Collection,(Published by Bulfinch).
Book Review Medieval NP
Needlepoint Guide Review of Candace Bahouth's Flowers, Birds and Unicorns: Medieval Needlepoint,(Published by Abrams).
Book Review PFN
Needlepoint Guide Review of A Passion for Needlepoint, by Hayat Palumbo(Published by Rizzoli NY).
About - Needlepoint Buyer's Guide
Find Guide reviews, top picks, and advice you can use before you buy.
Needlepoint in America
Marcy Brown of the the ANG's online chapter known as Cyber Pointers has written an article on the History of Canvaswork in America.
Crewel Yarn
A fine, wool yarn that cannot be separated into plies. It is most often used in Petite Point on fine-mesh canvas, or Crewel surface embroidery.

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