Needlepoint guides & buying tips
Everything you need to go from your first stitch to your first finished piece: beginner basics, buying advice, and answers to the questions every new stitcher asks.
How to Start Needlepoint: A Beginner's Guide
New to needlepoint? Here's exactly what to buy, which stitch to learn first, and how to avoid the mistakes most beginners make.
Read the guide → Buying GuideNeedlepoint Canvas Mesh Count Explained
10, 13, or 18 mesh? Here's what mesh count actually means and how to pick the right canvas for your project.
Read the guide → Buying GuideNeedlepoint Thread Types: Wool, Cotton, and Silk
What each thread is like to stitch with, how many strands you need for your mesh, and which is kindest to a beginner.
Read the guide → Buying GuideHow to Choose Your First Needlepoint Kit
Pre-printed canvas, hand-painted, or a full kit with thread included? A walkthrough of what to look for.
Read the guide → Buying GuideNeedlepoint Starter Supplies: What to Buy
Our picks for beginner canvas kits, thread, needles, scissors, and finishing accessories, with links to buy.
Read the guide → Beginner BasicsBasic Needlepoint Stitches for Beginners
Beyond the tent stitch: basketweave, half-cross, and a few decorative stitches worth learning next.
Read the guide → FinishingHow to Frame a Finished Needlepoint Piece
Blocking, DIY framing, and when it's worth calling in a professional framer.
Read the guide → FinishingNeedlepoint Finishing: What It Costs and How Long It Takes
What a pillow, stocking, or ornament costs to finish, why the holiday cutoffs fall in spring, and the one thing never to do to your canvas.
Read the guide → Beginner BasicsNeedlepoint vs. Cross Stitch: What's the Difference?
They look similar, but the canvas, stitches, and finished look are genuinely different. Here's how to tell them apart.
Read the guide → HolidayNeedlepoint Christmas Stockings: A Buying & Stitching Guide
Choosing a canvas, mesh count, personalizing with a name, and how a finished stocking gets sewn together.
Read the guide →Ready to see it in person?
The best way to pick your next canvas is still to see the colors and feel the threads in person. Find a needlepoint shop near you.
Find a Shop Near You