Looking for tips with your Christmas Jumper kit click here <=
BLOCKING YOUR CANVAS WHEN FINISHED
There are lots of great ‘How To’s’ on Youtube like this one. Click Here.
TURNING YOUR CANVAS IN TO A CUSHION
Again Youtube is your friend. This video explains it well. Click Here.
THREADING YOUR NEEDLE
Here’s my tried and tested and super easy way to thread your needle with tapestry wool.
just take the wool
loop it over the eye of your needle
slide your needle out, pinching the wool between your fingers
then gentled move your fingers to push the wool through the eye of the needle
And if you’re more of a visual learner I’ve popped a video up here <=
FRAME OR NO FRAME?
First things first, to stitch with a frame or not to stitch with a frame? Well it’s entirely up to you.
Some people prefer to stitch without a frame, if you choose this route then you may notice a little warp in your canvas when you’ve finished. Not to worry this is totally normal and easily fixed by a process called ‘Blocking’. You can find a video on how to do it on my website under the Handy Hints section.
If you do choose a frame then just pop to a search engine and look for ‘Needlepoint Frames’. There are lots on the market and all come with instructions on how to attach your canvas.
THE STITCHES
The kit is worked in tent stitch (half a cross stitch) on 12hpi colour printed canvas. It’s basically like stitchable colouring in, you just need to make sure all your stitches face in the same direction (see below)
‘Casting On’ - for tent stitches
There are lots of ways to get started on your needlepoint. I like the ‘waste knot’ method.
Thread your needle, tie a knot in the end of your length of wool and bring your needle through the front of your canvas about six canvas holes to the right of where you want to start stitching.
You’ll see your knot on the front of your canvas. Then as you are sewing your tent stitches towards the ‘waste knot’ make sure you are going over the thread length from the waste knot showing at the back of the canvas, essentially trapping the thread in.
Then when you’re about a stitch away from the ‘waste knot’ just snip it off. Your wool will be secure and you can stitch away to your hearts content.
‘Casting On’ - for decorative stitches
Thread your needle, tie a knot in the end of your length of wool and bring your needle through the front of your canvas about six canvas holes to the right of where you want to start stitching.
You’ll see your knot on the front of your canvas. Then as you are sewing your first decorative stitches make sure you are going over the thread length from the waste knot showing at the back of the canvas, essentially trapping the thread in.
Then when you’re about a stitch away from the ‘waste knot’ just snip it off, leaving your wool secured.
‘Casting Off’ - for tent stitches
Once you start to run to the end of your wool length (about twice your needle length) by far the easiest way to ‘cast off’ is to run your needle through the back of your stitches, pulling your wool along underneath the stitches for about 2cms. This will tuck your wool securely in to the back of the piece and you just snip off any excess.
‘Casting Off’ - for decorative stitches
Once you start to run to the end of your wool length (about twice your needle length) by far the easiest way to ‘cast off’ is to run your needle through the back of your stitches. With some decorative stitches the back can be slightly loose, in these instances run your needle through the back of your stitches in one direction and then back in the other direction, this will tuck your wool securely in to the back of the piece and you just snip off any excess.
‘Stitch Tension’
You don’t need to pull your wool tightly, just enough to make sure the stitch isn’t baggy. Each stitch should fit snuggly against the canvas. You’ll soon get in to a rhythm with it, it’s very relaxing.
THE WOOL
The wool supplied is the perfect amount to make the kit, plus a bit extra to be on the safe side. It’s also the perfect thickness, so no doubling up is required. Just hold the end of the wool in your finger tip, stretch it to the crook of your arm and then cut a piece. This method should give you the perfect length to stitch with.
Picture Framing
Sometimes it’s tricky to find the perfect fame size for a finished piece. Well look no further!
This fab UK company can make a frame any size, down to the nearest mm.
https://www.frames.co.uk