Needlepoint Shops in Chicago and on the North Shore

Three shops, one in the city and two up the North Shore, and between them one is open every day of the week.

Chicago splits neatly into one city shop and two on the North Shore, and they keep almost opposite hours. Third Coast Stitches in Old Town opens at noon and runs to 8pm on Thursdays and through the weekend. The two suburban shops open at half past nine or ten and are shut by five, six days a week.

Between them, one of the three is open every day of the week. It also means the answer to "which one" is usually decided by when you are free rather than where you live.

Chicago

North Shore

The North Shore pair

The Classic Stitch in Winnetka and The Canvasback in Northfield are about ten minutes apart, which makes them a genuinely worthwhile single trip rather than two errands.

The Classic Stitch carries canvases from over a hundred designers and runs a custom design service, with a designer who has been at it more than thirty years. They also publish their own finishing deadlines, which is rarer than it should be.

The Canvasback has been in Northfield more than forty years and holds one of the largest fiber and custom canvas selections on the North Shore, with classes and trunk shows through the year.

Before you go

• Third Coast is the only one you can reach without a car. It is also the only one open on a Sunday, and the only one open past five.
• Do Winnetka and Northfield together. Ten minutes apart, similar hours, and different enough in stock to make the second stop worth it.
• Nothing opens on a Monday except the suburbs. Third Coast is closed Mondays; the other two are open.
• Bring the canvas if you have one. Thread and mesh have to be matched to the specific canvas, and nobody can do that from a photograph. See our thread guide for what that pairing involves.

FAQ

Is there a needlepoint shop in the Loop?

No. Third Coast Stitches on North Wells Street in Old Town is the closest, about fifteen minutes north of the Loop and walkable from the Brown Line.

Which shop is open latest?

Third Coast Stitches, until 8pm on Thursdays. It is also open Saturday and Sunday, which neither North Shore shop is on a Sunday.

Is there a shop in Hinsdale, Naperville, or the western suburbs?

Not one we have been able to confirm. All three shops here are in the city or on the North Shore, so the western suburbs mean a drive either way.

Which is best for a beginner?

Any of them, but go midweek rather than on a Saturday. The Canvasback and The Classic Stitch both open early, and a quiet Tuesday morning gets you far more attention than a busy weekend.

New to needlepoint?

If you are heading to one of these shops for the first time, it helps to know roughly what you are looking at before you walk in.

• How to start needlepoint, for what a first kit actually needs to contain.
• Mesh count explained, for the number on every canvas label.
• Thread types, for the wool, cotton, and silk question.
• Finishing, for what happens after the stitching is done and what it costs.

Shop details were checked in September 2026 against each shop's own listings. Hours change, so please call ahead. If something here is out of date, or your shop is missing, tell us and we will fix it.