I love both cross stitch and needlepoint. I’m just finishing the fourth needlepoint Christmas stocking for my four grandchildren. The hand painted canvasses are very expensive, but you end up with an heirloom level piece. It takes me most of a year to make each one, but worth it. They are full coverage with no bare canvas showing through and I use silk and cotton floss and metallic threads. Pearl cotton can work, but not much color choice, so you can switch to your regular cross stitch thread stash and work out how many thread strands to use for the canvas mesh count you are using.
I knew you would like it! I felt much the same way. And there's so much you can do with it. So many ways to create. Counting, painted, freeform. If you use congress cloth, you can use regular floss, if you use plastic canvas you can use super saver yarn and make 3-D objects easily. Resources can be hard to find (though I've made one or two and hope to make more), I think a lot of that is simply that the best ones are vintage books from the 70s and 80s. It kind of fell out of favor, so there's not as much out there in easily searchable form. Though every video like this helps to change that and bring it back into the light!
I have a cheap embroidery/ needlepoint kit from Amazon sitting in my craft stash. I am excited to try it but I totally know I don’t have time to add another obsession of crafting to my collection. Lol I recently started doing latch hook kits again which are another nice easy craft project that can be done mindlessly. I did them as a child and it is a nice break from cross stitch projects because I feel more accomplished when I finish a latch hook kit.
OH NO I'm sorry! But also, it's kind of the same craft really, no major new skills to learn from what I can tell. So does it REALLY count as a problem? 😂
I love how that turned out! I don't really understand the difference between embroidery and needlepoint, but I love embroidery as well as cross stitch!!❤ I definitely want to try crewel, bargello, and hardanger... all the things in the future! 😂
Yes, i to love needlepoint and cross stitch and embroidery too. :) That is what i love about needlepoint you can change the color of floss to your liking so cool. :) And it is quite forgiving. :) You keep up great work on all projects you are awesome and so great. :) Have a great year and project on. :) Do what feels comfortable to you i switch from summer season to wintertime season, like summertime. I do needlepoint and cross stitch and embroidery and with some floss, i make cute granny square book markers with small beads on bottom to give it a bit of light weight for books or a bible, color in adult coloring books too, because it's too hot to mess with yarn for crocheting. I am obsessed with granny squares love them, or knitting and latch hook rugs, wintertime is for those crafts. :) Love watching your videos so clear and so awesome too. :) Hugs t.g. :)
I've only just started needlepoint myself and came to a very unusual realization. Since I don't have easy access to the recommended needlepoint canvas or thread necessary, I tried out the next best thing: 14 count Aida cloth and embroidery floss (American style). It seems to work just fine as long as you follow some of the same rules of cross stitch. Keep tension on your fabric as best you can, start from the middle when possible, and use less than the usual 6 threads in a strand. I haven't really noticed any issues with this method, except that on some of the stitches you can see the fabric behind them. That being said, I do love the project you made and would love to see even more. And I hope your bowl turns out as well. Good luck!
Very nice! Just want to add that even with stretcher bars and thumbtacks, you will find your fabric losing its stiffness and tension. It’s often necessary to re-tighten partway through the project.
So glad you liked it and your first project is finished and I of course haven't finished mine. I honestly never thought about using the q snap. I just got the wooden frame. Maybe you could do a video on all of the different types of needlework there are.
I always enjoy your exuberant foray into any project but this one was special. On the one hand nothing you said as a beginner was inaccurate, but it’s also true everything you said has 14 more scenarios 😂. And even tho you’re a beginner it’s like you opened to chapter 14 of the Needlepoint Master Class and plunged in. Probably 85% of needlepointers never get to all the “specialty” stitches you whacked out on the first go. And most rely on painted canvas, color key charts and one of the variations of tent stitch for their entire needlepoint life. I truly fear that you might be bored to tears with a still life floral cushion cover done in tapestry wool and 11 count mono 😂😂. For a truly DELICIOUS look at needlepoint check out Kaffe Fassett. You’ve been warned. Love you and your channel to bits. PS I’m also a cheapskate crafter and do mostly kits I find on eBay, or counted needlepoint on blank canvas. Painted canvasses are $$$$.
Haha yep that sounds about right, daresay I've barely scratched the surface. But I was just too excited to NOT make a video about it 😂 Knitting is often a bit like that too, I keep meeting people who never really venture beyond the real basics (which is fine, they're happy, it's all good!) but there was me diving into a lace shawl about a month into learning. I'm just overconfident that way 🤷♀️ You know what's weird? I have NEVER even thought to trawl ebay for craft kits! That's such an obvious thing to do, honestly embarrassed for myself right now. But I know what I'll be getting up to tonight, thanks for the inspiration lol.
@TheGiddyStitcher the expensive mostly happens when you start buying other specialty threads or painted canvas instead of doing counted patterns. It can also be more difficult to do your own finishing. But it is doable.
I love this! it's so fun to find something that reinvigorates your passion for a craft! I've started English Paper Piecing and I am obsessed! Still cross stitching a ton too, but it's just so fun to change gears a bit! Thanks for sharing Michelle!
That's exactly it, something new just really brings back the mojo! One of my Mastodon friends just got into EPP and I've never really been tempted before but watching her learn has admittedly had me thinking about it. The internet was a mistake 😂
My grandmother who I inherited/learned all my crafting from was all about the needlepoint. She sewed, embroidered, cross stitched, did crewel, felt ornaments, plastic canvas, knitting, crochet, latch hook. Basically every fiber craft imaginable other than spinning and weaving. But needlepoint was her go to in her later years and we have probably 40 large (like 24”x36”) canvases she did in the last 20ish years of her life. She got a lot of her stuff as kits from a US catalog called “The Stitchery” they also do a lot of cross stitch kits. I did just check and they will ship outside the US though not sure how much shipping and/or customs would run you.
Thank you, I'll definitely check them out! It seems like I'm not the only one who struggles to find this stuff so maybe once I'm an expert I can come back with a roundup of the best places to shop :D Your grandmother sounds amazing!
Needlepoint does look much faster than cross-stitch! It's so nice to see you enjoy a new craft, I obviously want to find a Christmas needlepoint pattern now and try it for myself! 🤭 I couldn't help but notice the LOTR needle minder and it made me very happy to see you using it hehe 🥰
We may have to compare notes on places to buy patterns because it's surprisingly hard to find stuff. But ooh I bet you could do Christmas stockings really fast with needlepoint...new idea just hatched...
@TheGiddyStitcher Not sure about nowadays, but Herschnerr used to have heirloom needlepoint stocking kits or patterns for the holidays. It's been ages since I got that catalog, but I'm sure there's some library book with old patterns. You could also just take an existing sewing pattern that allows for a wide band at the top of the leg, and work that over waste canvas.
I haven't done as much needlepoint as I would like, never seem to get around to it. However I am here for a vibes based approach, which is how i handle weaving. All vibes, very little maths.
So, this lugana question has quite a confusing answer unfortunately. It is just evenweave, but if it's Zweigart brand then they give each count a different name. Lugana specifically is their 25 count evenweave, I think from memory? The confusing part is that other brands then use the name lugana too, but not necessarily to represent the fabric count they just sort of use it at random. Long story short, best just to think of it as evenweave lol. With evenweave fabrics, the stitches come out very square so (unless it has an actual design on the fabric), which way up it is shouldn't matter. They do have a front and back, although it can be so hard to tell the difference it almost doesn't matter. Usually I'll look at the selvedge to figure out what's front, or have a quick look and see if one side has any imperfections then use the other side as my front, if that makes sense. That was a bit of a ramble but I hope I managed to answer something in there somewhere 😅
First, check out the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. That, and the Sewing version I got from my mom, have been the core of my multi-crafting journey for 35yrs 😍 I started with crochet & needlepoint way back as a kid, since plastic canvas and acrylic yarn were cheap. Only reason I moved to cross-stitch was because tapestry wool and canvas (1-strand mono or 2-strand penelope) were only available then in specialty shops, and were quite expensive. Pre-cut rug yarn was a thing, but the mini skeins of 2 or 3ply wool were each about 4x what a whole ball of Red Heart might be. Your terms and stitching are perfectly fine 😄 Generally you want to go for full-coverage, which is where half and filler stitches come in, but that's for projects that'll be stuffed or backed. Marking your canvas with a colorsafe fabric marker is also quite handy for orienting yourself. The book above has techniques, tools, and tips as well as stitches and patterns. I've done a lot of projects in plastic or waste canvas, and you can mix some of the needlepoint techniques with cross-stitch on high-count Aida or linen. Or experiment with pulled-thread techniques (Hardanger) or blackwork, but using the canvas as a gridded base. Cross-stitch is itself just one needlepoint stitch after all!
Furiously making notes, here, thank you for the pointers! 😄 Got my eye on a full coverage next, so it'll be interesting to see how that compares when I get into the trenches of filling in all those tiny gaps. It's definitely expanding my embroidery stitch repertoire in general, and to a certain point I guess you can just mix and match and not even care about what label to slap on it!
@TheGiddyStitcher Indeed! It's much like how knowing crochet can help expand your knitting abilities (edges & borders, picking up dropped stitches, etc). Full coverage is likely why they asked for more perle cotton strands in the pattern you did. Unlike cross-stitch, you may want extra fluff / girth, esp on sts like bargello, where all the stitches are parallel. Puffier yarn obfuscates the vertical lines of the canvas, and lets the colorful peaks & troughs dominate. But it doesn't necessarily have to be an all-over pattern either - that's partly where some folks use painted canvas, with needlepoint used as embellishment for key design areas. Personally, I think we've got some really lovely fabrics available these days via the internet, so feel free to experiment with some of your existing cross-stitch stash, and try out some more small needlepoint projects (mug cozy?) to see what you like. There are some needlepoint shop YT channels too, esp UK-based. Might wanna check those out 👍 Have fun!
I first did needlepoint as a child probably 50 years ago and have always liked it, but I am really frustrated, as you found, but the lack of patterns and information. I consider them essentially the same hobby and would assume if someone enjoyed one, they probably do the other. However, cross stitch definitely dominates (which I found really weird when I first got into it, because I thought needlepoint was for serious needle work and cross stitch was for kids. However, I also thought needlepoint perhaps wasn't as popular because it gave rather angular results, whereas you can sort of fake curvature with cross stitch.) It was only after finding an old book on needlepoint that I discovered there were all those other stitches! Everything I'd ever seen had been tent stitch, full coverage. So, yes, I'd love to do more needlepoint, but opportunities are few.
It is a real shame, but some kind commenters have given shop recommendations so I'll check those out and maybe can come back one day with a "places to get awesome needlepoint patterns" list :D I'm with you though, they're so close they may as well be the same craft, really glad I branched out from just making the little crosses! I feel that way a bit about knitting and crochet too, even though they're technically quite different they occupy the same "yarn stuff" hobby space in my head.
Could you please provide the link or search term you used to generate the list of patterns at 1:23? I searched all over Pinterest and couldn't find anything nearly as interesting as this. Also, many of those appear to be bargello rather than needlepoint, unless you are using those terms interchangeably. Back in the day (way before you were born), needlepoint was my gateway drug for needlework. I did it for years before I decided to try this crazy new thing called counted cross stitch. That was 40 years ago and I've never looked back, but you're tempting me. (Enabling seems to be contagious.) However, it would need to be a great pattern, and I haven't found anything that inspires me yet.
Obviously I'm not speaking with any kind of authority here, but from what I gathered it seems like bargello is technically a type of needlepoint stitch? That could be way off, haha, like I said it was kind of hard to find specifics 😅 I definitely have seen a lot of people refer to bargello as a craft unto itself as well so it's probably just one of those blurred lines. I think the image search was for "geometric needlepoint patterns" because they're my favourite kind, not all of the results are going to be accurate but it did definitely turn up a couple I wanted to click on! Sorry not sorry for the enabling 😉
Show us your finish. Hand painted canvas are so expense that’s why I started cross stitching lol. But I still makeneedlepoint Christmas stockings Good luck
@@jamieteb-b7q I agree about the expense of painted canvases. I buy blank canvas and do “counted needlepoint”. Check out books by Kaffe Fassett, Jill Gordon, Beth Russell etc etc
I'd never even *heard* of the painted canvas option until reading some of these very informative comments! Although if they're expensive, that's me out anyway lol. Funnily enough I'd just been chatting to a friend about the possibility of needlepoint stockings, good to know that's a thing! :D
You need to speak to Morti about her Textured Treasures kits stock. I have a kit to do, but was avoiding paying out for stretcher bars - I may need to steal your qsnap method If you want to be able to sit in front of Star Wars (good choice) and just stitch you might like slow stitch. I’ve been doing it for a year now and it’s very relaxing. Give me a shout and I’ll point you at some channels, or I’m thinking of doing some videos myself.
You said give as gifts. I never know how to gift my finished projects other than framing it. Any other ideas of how to gift crosstitch/needlework pieces?
Honestly this is something I struggle with as well, it's part of why I chose this pattern because it makes something practical and useful. I've also considered turning cross stitch finishes into something like a cushion, but then you're hoping it goes with the recipient's taste. It's hard, most people only have so much empty space on the wall!
Loads of options, but it depends on your budget, patience, and for some things the availability of resources. Pincushion pillows and tree or shelf ornaments are popular for small pieces, but you can also applique needlework onto just about any sort of home decor item, from the classics like pillows & place settings to modern stuff like microwave toppers and desk items.
This was fun! And timely. I won't go into details but I just got some mono canvas to play around with a bit of needlepoint, for an addition to my cross stitch, too! I have done some in the past but not much or lately. You inspired again! And , yes, Sarah Homfray is a WONDERFUL teacher. One thing I do not like about needlepoint is It does seem to me much harder to "finish" myself to a successful state, I can do lots of things with linen and Aida but canvas is ...unwieldier. My cheapskate or thrifty idea this time: I had never used a frame but decided to try some sort, BUT wasn't sure I wanted to invest even a little in an experiment! I had these foam squares used for blocking needlework. You wet fabric and pin work to foam squares to block it. Anyway I have several of them but never used but one at a time. So I cut out the middle of one of the foam squares so there's a foam frame left, got cheap quilt tacks, and for under $4 i have my frame. Ha. Not sure how the tension will last. So yay for new stitchy adventures !
All I have to say about this video is...it's not clickbait if it's true! 😂
I love both cross stitch and needlepoint. I’m just finishing the fourth needlepoint Christmas stocking for my four grandchildren. The hand painted canvasses are very expensive, but you end up with an heirloom level piece. It takes me most of a year to make each one, but worth it. They are full coverage with no bare canvas showing through and I use silk and cotton floss and metallic threads. Pearl cotton can work, but not much color choice, so you can switch to your regular cross stitch thread stash and work out how many thread strands to use for the canvas mesh count you are using.
I knew you would like it! I felt much the same way. And there's so much you can do with it. So many ways to create. Counting, painted, freeform. If you use congress cloth, you can use regular floss, if you use plastic canvas you can use super saver yarn and make 3-D objects easily. Resources can be hard to find (though I've made one or two and hope to make more), I think a lot of that is simply that the best ones are vintage books from the 70s and 80s. It kind of fell out of favor, so there's not as much out there in easily searchable form. Though every video like this helps to change that and bring it back into the light!
That was a really great explanation of the differences between the two crafts. Thank you for sharing. :D
I love needlepoint and cross stitch! Your project is beautiful and I would love to share my counted canvas projects with you.
Super Easy Barely an Inconvenience!!!!!!! and in a PITCH video for Needlepoint!!!! I'm here for it !!!!
You get me :D
I have a cheap embroidery/ needlepoint kit from Amazon sitting in my craft stash. I am excited to try it but I totally know I don’t have time to add another obsession of crafting to my collection. Lol
I recently started doing latch hook kits again which are another nice easy craft project that can be done mindlessly. I did them as a child and it is a nice break from cross stitch projects because I feel more accomplished when I finish a latch hook kit.
I had always wondered what the difference was between cross stitch and needlepoint. Maybe I will try it someday.
HAVE MERCY ON ME . I cannot start another hobby!! Fiber craft is the ultimate trap
OH NO I'm sorry! But also, it's kind of the same craft really, no major new skills to learn from what I can tell. So does it REALLY count as a problem? 😂
I love how that turned out! I don't really understand the difference between embroidery and needlepoint, but I love embroidery as well as cross stitch!!❤ I definitely want to try crewel, bargello, and hardanger... all the things in the future! 😂
Yes, i to love needlepoint and cross stitch and embroidery too. :) That is what i love about needlepoint you can change the color of floss to your liking so cool. :) And it is quite forgiving. :) You keep up great work on all projects you are awesome and so great. :) Have a great year and project on. :) Do what feels comfortable to you i switch from summer season to wintertime season, like summertime. I do needlepoint and cross stitch and embroidery and with some floss, i make cute granny square book markers with small beads on bottom to give it a bit of light weight for books or a bible, color in adult coloring books too, because it's too hot to mess with yarn for crocheting. I am obsessed with granny squares love them, or knitting and latch hook rugs, wintertime is for those crafts. :) Love watching your videos so clear and so awesome too. :) Hugs t.g. :)
I've only just started needlepoint myself and came to a very unusual realization. Since I don't have easy access to the recommended needlepoint canvas or thread necessary, I tried out the next best thing: 14 count Aida cloth and embroidery floss (American style). It seems to work just fine as long as you follow some of the same rules of cross stitch. Keep tension on your fabric as best you can, start from the middle when possible, and use less than the usual 6 threads in a strand. I haven't really noticed any issues with this method, except that on some of the stitches you can see the fabric behind them.
That being said, I do love the project you made and would love to see even more. And I hope your bowl turns out as well. Good luck!
Well done. I do a lot of needlepoint and I finished that candy bowl. You shouldn't have any problems.
Very nice! Just want to add that even with stretcher bars and thumbtacks, you will find your fabric losing its stiffness and tension. It’s often necessary to re-tighten partway through the project.
Oh, booo 😅
So glad you liked it and your first project is finished and I of course haven't finished mine. I honestly never thought about using the q snap. I just got the wooden frame. Maybe you could do a video on all of the different types of needlework there are.
I always enjoy your exuberant foray into any project but this one was special. On the one hand nothing you said as a beginner was inaccurate, but it’s also true everything you said has 14 more scenarios 😂. And even tho you’re a beginner it’s like you opened to chapter 14 of the Needlepoint Master Class and plunged in. Probably 85% of needlepointers never get to all the “specialty” stitches you whacked out on the first go. And most rely on painted canvas, color key charts and one of the variations of tent stitch for their entire needlepoint life. I truly fear that you might be bored to tears with a still life floral cushion cover done in tapestry wool and 11 count mono 😂😂. For a truly DELICIOUS look at needlepoint check out Kaffe Fassett. You’ve been warned. Love you and your channel to bits. PS I’m also a cheapskate crafter and do mostly kits I find on eBay, or counted needlepoint on blank canvas. Painted canvasses are $$$$.
Haha yep that sounds about right, daresay I've barely scratched the surface. But I was just too excited to NOT make a video about it 😂
Knitting is often a bit like that too, I keep meeting people who never really venture beyond the real basics (which is fine, they're happy, it's all good!) but there was me diving into a lace shawl about a month into learning. I'm just overconfident that way 🤷♀️
You know what's weird? I have NEVER even thought to trawl ebay for craft kits! That's such an obvious thing to do, honestly embarrassed for myself right now. But I know what I'll be getting up to tonight, thanks for the inspiration lol.
Sending this out to friends…..loving the inclusion statement You made about embroidery…..plus your energy ALWAYS gives me a boost….
Congrats on your new hobby, I also enjoy needlepoint…..just gets to be pretty expensive! Either way it’s still fun😮
Oh no don't tell me it's expensive, I prefer to remain blissfully ignorant at least for a little bit 😅
@TheGiddyStitcher the expensive mostly happens when you start buying other specialty threads or painted canvas instead of doing counted patterns. It can also be more difficult to do your own finishing. But it is doable.
I love this! it's so fun to find something that reinvigorates your passion for a craft! I've started English Paper Piecing and I am obsessed! Still cross stitching a ton too, but it's just so fun to change gears a bit! Thanks for sharing Michelle!
That's exactly it, something new just really brings back the mojo! One of my Mastodon friends just got into EPP and I've never really been tempted before but watching her learn has admittedly had me thinking about it. The internet was a mistake 😂
The Needlepoint Book by Jo Christensen is a great resource.
Thank you for the recommendation!
I was about to write this too❤
Great video! I learned Needlepoint stitches from Sarah Homfray embroidery. She's on TH-cam, LOADS of brilliant How To videos.😊
Yes she's been recommended a couple of times now, definitely seems like a great resource! Thank you :)
My grandmother who I inherited/learned all my crafting from was all about the needlepoint. She sewed, embroidered, cross stitched, did crewel, felt ornaments, plastic canvas, knitting, crochet, latch hook. Basically every fiber craft imaginable other than spinning and weaving. But needlepoint was her go to in her later years and we have probably 40 large (like 24”x36”) canvases she did in the last 20ish years of her life. She got a lot of her stuff as kits from a US catalog called “The Stitchery” they also do a lot of cross stitch kits. I did just check and they will ship outside the US though not sure how much shipping and/or customs would run you.
Thank you, I'll definitely check them out! It seems like I'm not the only one who struggles to find this stuff so maybe once I'm an expert I can come back with a roundup of the best places to shop :D Your grandmother sounds amazing!
Needlepoint does look much faster than cross-stitch! It's so nice to see you enjoy a new craft, I obviously want to find a Christmas needlepoint pattern now and try it for myself! 🤭 I couldn't help but notice the LOTR needle minder and it made me very happy to see you using it hehe 🥰
We may have to compare notes on places to buy patterns because it's surprisingly hard to find stuff. But ooh I bet you could do Christmas stockings really fast with needlepoint...new idea just hatched...
@TheGiddyStitcher Not sure about nowadays, but Herschnerr used to have heirloom needlepoint stocking kits or patterns for the holidays. It's been ages since I got that catalog, but I'm sure there's some library book with old patterns.
You could also just take an existing sewing pattern that allows for a wide band at the top of the leg, and work that over waste canvas.
I do several fiber crafts and love needlepoint but had to quit cross stitch because of sight problems.😂
I haven't done as much needlepoint as I would like, never seem to get around to it. However I am here for a vibes based approach, which is how i handle weaving. All vibes, very little maths.
So, this lugana question has quite a confusing answer unfortunately. It is just evenweave, but if it's Zweigart brand then they give each count a different name. Lugana specifically is their 25 count evenweave, I think from memory? The confusing part is that other brands then use the name lugana too, but not necessarily to represent the fabric count they just sort of use it at random.
Long story short, best just to think of it as evenweave lol.
With evenweave fabrics, the stitches come out very square so (unless it has an actual design on the fabric), which way up it is shouldn't matter. They do have a front and back, although it can be so hard to tell the difference it almost doesn't matter. Usually I'll look at the selvedge to figure out what's front, or have a quick look and see if one side has any imperfections then use the other side as my front, if that makes sense.
That was a bit of a ramble but I hope I managed to answer something in there somewhere 😅
I gave up cross stitch in 2019. I still miss it. However i do have one needle point that I want to try. Thank you ❤
Sorry you had to give up cross stitch, I hope you do get round to trying needlepoint as it's similar enough to maybe scratch that itch :)
First, check out the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. That, and the Sewing version I got from my mom, have been the core of my multi-crafting journey for 35yrs 😍
I started with crochet & needlepoint way back as a kid, since plastic canvas and acrylic yarn were cheap. Only reason I moved to cross-stitch was because tapestry wool and canvas (1-strand mono or 2-strand penelope) were only available then in specialty shops, and were quite expensive. Pre-cut rug yarn was a thing, but the mini skeins of 2 or 3ply wool were each about 4x what a whole ball of Red Heart might be.
Your terms and stitching are perfectly fine 😄 Generally you want to go for full-coverage, which is where half and filler stitches come in, but that's for projects that'll be stuffed or backed. Marking your canvas with a colorsafe fabric marker is also quite handy for orienting yourself. The book above has techniques, tools, and tips as well as stitches and patterns.
I've done a lot of projects in plastic or waste canvas, and you can mix some of the needlepoint techniques with cross-stitch on high-count Aida or linen. Or experiment with pulled-thread techniques (Hardanger) or blackwork, but using the canvas as a gridded base. Cross-stitch is itself just one needlepoint stitch after all!
Furiously making notes, here, thank you for the pointers! 😄 Got my eye on a full coverage next, so it'll be interesting to see how that compares when I get into the trenches of filling in all those tiny gaps.
It's definitely expanding my embroidery stitch repertoire in general, and to a certain point I guess you can just mix and match and not even care about what label to slap on it!
@TheGiddyStitcher Indeed! It's much like how knowing crochet can help expand your knitting abilities (edges & borders, picking up dropped stitches, etc). Full coverage is likely why they asked for more perle cotton strands in the pattern you did. Unlike cross-stitch, you may want extra fluff / girth, esp on sts like bargello, where all the stitches are parallel. Puffier yarn obfuscates the vertical lines of the canvas, and lets the colorful peaks & troughs dominate.
But it doesn't necessarily have to be an all-over pattern either - that's partly where some folks use painted canvas, with needlepoint used as embellishment for key design areas.
Personally, I think we've got some really lovely fabrics available these days via the internet, so feel free to experiment with some of your existing cross-stitch stash, and try out some more small needlepoint projects (mug cozy?) to see what you like. There are some needlepoint shop YT channels too, esp UK-based. Might wanna check those out 👍 Have fun!
I first did needlepoint as a child probably 50 years ago and have always liked it, but I am really frustrated, as you found, but the lack of patterns and information. I consider them essentially the same hobby and would assume if someone enjoyed one, they probably do the other. However, cross stitch definitely dominates (which I found really weird when I first got into it, because I thought needlepoint was for serious needle work and cross stitch was for kids. However, I also thought needlepoint perhaps wasn't as popular because it gave rather angular results, whereas you can sort of fake curvature with cross stitch.) It was only after finding an old book on needlepoint that I discovered there were all those other stitches! Everything I'd ever seen had been tent stitch, full coverage. So, yes, I'd love to do more needlepoint, but opportunities are few.
It is a real shame, but some kind commenters have given shop recommendations so I'll check those out and maybe can come back one day with a "places to get awesome needlepoint patterns" list :D
I'm with you though, they're so close they may as well be the same craft, really glad I branched out from just making the little crosses! I feel that way a bit about knitting and crochet too, even though they're technically quite different they occupy the same "yarn stuff" hobby space in my head.
Could you please provide the link or search term you used to generate the list of patterns at 1:23? I searched all over Pinterest and couldn't find anything nearly as interesting as this. Also, many of those appear to be bargello rather than needlepoint, unless you are using those terms interchangeably.
Back in the day (way before you were born), needlepoint was my gateway drug for needlework. I did it for years before I decided to try this crazy new thing called counted cross stitch. That was 40 years ago and I've never looked back, but you're tempting me. (Enabling seems to be contagious.) However, it would need to be a great pattern, and I haven't found anything that inspires me yet.
Obviously I'm not speaking with any kind of authority here, but from what I gathered it seems like bargello is technically a type of needlepoint stitch? That could be way off, haha, like I said it was kind of hard to find specifics 😅 I definitely have seen a lot of people refer to bargello as a craft unto itself as well so it's probably just one of those blurred lines.
I think the image search was for "geometric needlepoint patterns" because they're my favourite kind, not all of the results are going to be accurate but it did definitely turn up a couple I wanted to click on!
Sorry not sorry for the enabling 😉
Show us your finish. Hand painted canvas are so expense that’s why I started cross stitching lol. But I still makeneedlepoint Christmas stockings Good luck
@@jamieteb-b7q I agree about the expense of painted canvases. I buy blank canvas and do “counted needlepoint”. Check out books by Kaffe Fassett, Jill Gordon, Beth Russell etc etc
I'd never even *heard* of the painted canvas option until reading some of these very informative comments! Although if they're expensive, that's me out anyway lol. Funnily enough I'd just been chatting to a friend about the possibility of needlepoint stockings, good to know that's a thing! :D
I adore needlepoint. I find the things I create are more long term treasures and less tchotchkes.
I can definitely see that! There's something so elegant about it (I mean, probably not my attempt, but in general lol)
I know I have been on this planet for 62 years and just started needlepoint.
You need to speak to Morti about her Textured Treasures kits stock. I have a kit to do, but was avoiding paying out for stretcher bars - I may need to steal your qsnap method
If you want to be able to sit in front of Star Wars (good choice) and just stitch you might like slow stitch. I’ve been doing it for a year now and it’s very relaxing. Give me a shout and I’ll point you at some channels, or I’m thinking of doing some videos myself.
Watch the really early Evertote video. Caroline did a lot of needlepoint back then and recorded a it. Ps she also loves knitting socks!
FYI: Caroline did those videos on her “off the grid needlearts” channel.😊
Thanks both, will definitely check it out :)
You said give as gifts. I never know how to gift my finished projects other than framing it. Any other ideas of how to gift crosstitch/needlework pieces?
Honestly this is something I struggle with as well, it's part of why I chose this pattern because it makes something practical and useful. I've also considered turning cross stitch finishes into something like a cushion, but then you're hoping it goes with the recipient's taste. It's hard, most people only have so much empty space on the wall!
Loads of options, but it depends on your budget, patience, and for some things the availability of resources. Pincushion pillows and tree or shelf ornaments are popular for small pieces, but you can also applique needlework onto just about any sort of home decor item, from the classics like pillows & place settings to modern stuff like microwave toppers and desk items.
This was fun! And timely. I won't go into details but I just got some mono canvas to play around with a bit of needlepoint, for an addition to my cross stitch, too! I have done some in the past but not much or lately. You inspired again!
And , yes, Sarah Homfray is a WONDERFUL teacher.
One thing I do not like about needlepoint is
It does seem to me much harder to "finish" myself to a successful state, I can do lots of things with linen and Aida but canvas is ...unwieldier.
My cheapskate or thrifty idea this time: I had never used a frame but decided to try some sort, BUT wasn't sure I wanted to invest even a little in an experiment! I had these foam squares used for blocking needlework. You wet fabric and pin work to foam squares to block it. Anyway I have several of them but never used but one at a time. So I cut out the middle of one of the foam squares so there's a foam frame left, got cheap quilt tacks, and for under $4 i have my frame. Ha. Not sure how the tension will last.
So yay for new stitchy adventures !
I 100% thought cross-stitch and needlepoint were the same thing. Guess I am not doing the same craft as my Grandmother, lol
I mean honestly they're close enough, you're both embroidering!
Look up patterns by Lorene Salt. They're gorgeous!
Ooh will do, thanks!