Needlepoint Shops in Chicago and on the North Shore

Ten shops: one in the city, six up the North Shore from Evanston to Lake Forest, two further out in Libertyville and Barrington, and one in Naperville.

One of the ten needlepoint shops we can confirm here is in the city: Third Coast Stitches, in Old Town, about one and a half miles north of City Hall. Six are up the North Shore, from Evanston, about thirteen miles north, where two shops stand about 0.4 miles apart on Central Street, through Winnetka, Northfield, and Northbrook to Lake Forest, about twenty-eight miles north. Two are further out, in Libertyville and Barrington, and one is in the western suburbs: Stitchers Garden in Naperville, about twenty-six miles west.

Between them a shop is open every day of the week, and on Thursdays Third Coast, The Pepper Pot, and Stitchers Garden stay open until 8pm.

Chicago

North Shore

Libertyville and Barrington

Naperville

Which one to go to

In the city, go to Third Coast Stitches, which opens at noon from Tuesday to Friday and runs until 8pm on Thursdays.

For a North Shore morning, go to The Classic Stitch in Winnetka, open from 9:30am, and The Canvasback in Northfield, under two miles west, so the two make one trip. The Needle's Excellency in Evanston is about three and a half miles southeast of The Classic Stitch.

On a Sunday, go to Third Coast, Velvet Stitch House in Evanston, Emily's Stitchery in Northbrook, Little Stitch Shop in Libertyville, or The Pepper Pot in Barrington.

In Evanston, Velvet Stitch House and The Needle's Excellency are about 0.4 miles apart on Central Street, so the two make one trip on a Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, the days both are open.

West of the city, go to Stitchers Garden in Naperville, the one shop on this page in the western suburbs, open until 8pm on Thursdays with a stitch night from 6pm.

If you are new to needlepoint, go to Velvet Stitch House, which says it is designed with beginners in mind and regularly holds beginner-friendly workshops.

For cross stitch as well as needlepoint, go to Little Stitch Shop.

Before you go

• Check the closing day. Third Coast and Little Stitch Shop close on Mondays, The Pepper Pot on Mondays and Tuesdays, The Forest Needle on Sundays and Mondays, The Needle's Excellency on Thursdays and Sundays, Velvet Stitch House on Mondays and Tuesdays, Stitchers Garden on Sundays and Mondays, and The Classic Stitch and The Canvasback on Sundays.
• Book classes ahead. The Canvasback asks for a reservation and payment before any class, and The Classic Stitch takes class bookings by phone, as Stitchers Garden does for private lessons.
• 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 nearest, about one and a half miles north of City Hall.

Can I get to them without a car?

Several of them. Third Coast Stitches is about 0.3 miles from Clark/Division station on the Red Line and from Sedgwick station on the Brown Line. On the Metra, The Classic Stitch is about 0.1 miles from Winnetka station, The Needle's Excellency about 0.2 miles from Central Street station in Evanston, Emily's Stitchery about 0.2 miles from Northbrook station, and The Pepper Pot about 0.4 miles from Barrington station.

Can I learn here as a beginner?

Yes. The Classic Stitch teaches beginners on the first Tuesday and second Saturday of the month, The Canvasback holds small booked classes in continental and basketweave, Third Coast Stitches lists beginner classes too, Velvet Stitch House regularly holds beginner-friendly workshops, and Stitchers Garden gives private lessons to people learning to needlepoint.

Can I stitch with other people?

Yes. The Classic Stitch holds drop-in stitch-ins on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons, Emily's Stitchery lets you use its stitching space for free when no class is on, Little Stitch Shop holds open stitching on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, The Pepper Pot runs free open stitching, Velvet Stitch House holds stitch nights, and Stitchers Garden holds one on Thursdays from 6pm.

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

Yes, in Naperville. Stitchers Garden is on East Ogden Avenue, about three and a half miles northeast of the middle of Naperville and about ten miles west of the middle of Hinsdale. From the middle of Wheaton it is about four and a half miles south, and from the middle of Aurora about eight and a half miles east.

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 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.