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Archive for the ‘Self Finishing Needlepoint’ Category

Egg-cellent Self-Finishing Needlepoint for Spring!

Explore our Chinoiserie Inspired Egg Canvases and an Easy Self-Finishing Technique

This Spring we are loving the combination of the classic Easter egg with blue and white chinoiserie!

We have several options from which to choose.  These needlepoint egg canvases are beautiful by themselves or stitched as a collection.

One of our favorite quick needlepoint self-finishing options is framing.  This is such a simple process.

First we stitch the main portion of our design.  Then we purchased a frame with a pre-cut mat at our local hobby shop. Open the back of the frame and remove the mat.  Place it on top of your stitched ornament upside down so you don’t accidentally put a mark on the front.

Carefully mark all four corners of the inside of the mat board on the canvas. Remove the mat board and now you can see the area you will need to fill with your background stitch.  Select a color and stitch you like and complete your project. We used Nobuko stitch and DMC Perle Cotton 5 in 906 for a grass-like look.

If you did not stitch on stretcher bars you might need to block your canvas to get it straight before framing.  Cut a piece of art board or mat board to fit inside the frame.  If you don’t want to measure you can pop out the glass and trace it.  Trim your completed canvas with an inch border around the stitched area.  Using acid free art tape, affix the canvas to the art board by taping the unstitched border of the canvas to the art board.  Use a little tension to make sure the canvas will lay flat. Reassemble your frame with the mat and now you have a beautiful framed piece of needlepoint art for your home!


Happy Spring and Happy Stitching!

Hoop Them Up! NeedlePaint’s DIY Christmas Ornaments

12 Days of Christmas 3%22 ornamentsWritten by Peggy Bond

It’s not basketball season, but time to start planning new decorations for Christmas. At NeedlePaint, our 12 Days of Christmas motifs have been resized to be 3-inch Christmas tree ornaments. And, embroidery hoops are a great way to finish them.

The designs are printed on an 18-point canvas of 2 columns and 6 rows. Each row can be cut and each row of 2 worked individually on a scroll frame or stretcher.  When stitching, cover the grey circular boarder to ensure that there will be no unstitched canvas.

Our previous blogs for the 12-Day blocks have suggestions for a variety of stitches that can be used but I found myself using the Continental stitch because of the small size of the ornaments. 

DIY Christmas Ornament Supplies

Supplies for finishing the ornaments are:

• 3-inch bamboo hoops which are available from several suppliers including JoAnn Fabrics, Etsy, and Amazon and in Europe Cloud Craft.

• Fabric for the back side, preferable felt or felted wool. It is best to use a fabric that does not ravel.

• Padding such as quilt batting or polyester stuffing (optional).

• Strung glitter sequins, ribbon, or similar for hanging the ornament.

• Fabric glue.

Stitched Ornament 

Once stitched, cut the ornaments apart leaving them as squares with at least 1 inch of unfinished canvas around each ornament.  It is tempting to trim the finished canvas into a circle, but having the long corners makes it easier to place  evenly around the inner hoop. 

Before hooping the canvas, use the inside of the inner hoop as a guide to cut padding. The padding will give the ornament some roundness and makes affixing the felt backing easier.

Folding back

 Loosen the screw fastener of the outer hoop as far as possible. Position the canvas over the inner hoop. Then put the outer hoop in place and tighten. Turn over the ornament and fold in the edges of the canvas. I found that steaming the canvas helps make it more pliable when trying to get the edges turned to the backside of the hoop and once it dries, it will hold its shape. 

Finished Oranments

 If you are using padding, place it inside the inner hoop on top of the back of the stitched canvas. Then, trace the hoop on your felt backing and cut it out. Glue the felt backing to the outer hoop’s edge, following the instructions of the glue manufacturer. 

I used strung glitter sequins for hangers. I had originally purchased the sequins to glue to the outer hoop but decided that I like the look of the natural bamboo. One could also stain or paint the outer hoop. Many more options out there. Let your imaginations go wild!