Needlepoint - Choosing a Canvas

To properly view this site, javascript must be enabled and Flash version 9 or higher must be installed.
Get the latest Flash player
Susan Battle
Owner, The Point of It All
www.tpoia.com  
202-966-9898

For more than 35 years, The Point of It All has been known across the country for sophisticated, top-of-the-line needlepoint canvases and expert finishing. In 2007, Susan and Christopher Battle took the reins from founder Hyla Hurley. Hyla taught Susan to stitch more than 20 years ago and watched her passion for needlepoint flourish!

The shop features an unparalleled selection of hand-painted canvases by top needlepoint artists including Melissa Shirley, Amanda Lawford, Canvas*Works, Barbara Russell, JP, Julia’s Needleworks, Kathy Schenkel, Silver Needle, Clara Wells, and many, many more. If you are looking for a specific canvas but don’t see it in the shop, we are happy to order it for you. The Point of It All offers classes for children and adults of all skill levels as well as consultations on needlepoint restoration.

We also do a thriving out-of-town business—just because you don’t live in DC doesn’t mean we can’t be your needlepoint shop! You are now able to buy online and have us pull the fibers. Once you have stitched the canvas, we are happy to turn it into a magnificent pillow, beautiful wall hanging, or a fabulous purse. Our finishers are the best in the business!

Needlepoint - Choosing a Canvas

This video will show how to needlepoint and discusses choosing a canvas.

This series: 56,267 views

Print

Transcripts

Susan Battle: Hello! I am Susan Battle, owner of The Point of It All. This video is how to needlepoint and this segment focuses on selecting a canvas. Most canvases are hand painted by artist. So for example, these are shoes and you can see that the artist has painted Dorothy's shoes, red ruby slippers on the canvas. Now this is a purse. So the canvas is painted by an artist and you just start stitching and you can also paint your own canvas and canvas comes in a number of mesh sizes. I am going to demonstrate the three most common meshes and the way you determine that is using a ruler. You count how many vertical lines there are in a one inch segment. So for instance, here this has ten vertical lines in a one inch segment. So this is ten mesh because there are ten hole in an inch.

Now if we take our ruler over here. There are 13 vertical lines in an inch. So this is 13-mesh canvas. Likewise, you count again and there are 18 holes in an one inch segment. So this is 18-mesh. As I said these are -- these are three most basic sizes, but there are a number of other mesh sizes available.

Generally speaking you would use an 18-mesh canvas if you are doing a small intricate project, where you wanted a lot of detail. But if you are doing a geometric canvas and you really don't need that level of detail, a ten mesh would be absolutely fine, and 13 is kind of a middle range, a good basic, basic canvas. I am going to demonstrate on ten mesh because the holes are the biggest and it's easiest for us to see.

In the next segment I will be discussing selecting a needle as well as fiber.

Other Videos

  • How to Make a Framed Silhouette In this video series, studio artist Mary Gallagher-Stout shows you how to make a fun and easy craft for Mother's day.
  • Beading Basics-Herringbone Stitch Terri Gable of Studio Baboo demonstrates beading basics. She includes several basic stitches such as peyote, brick and herringbone and shows how to correct simple mistakes.
  • Paper Piecing at Triple Speed http://www.sewhooked.org I paper piece. A Lot. I design them, I make them, I share them. Want to learn how? Watch my video, check out my website or send me a message! Paper Pieced Quill pattern, Harry Potter inspired, fantasy, fandom and miscellaneous patterns available free for your personal use on my website. Flight of the Bumblebee - http://maksimchmerkovskiy.com/
  • How to Make a Balloon Star Magical balloon dude Dale teaches how to make eleven different balloon animals and shapes. The first clips teach simple skills and then move on to combine techniques to reach more advanced levels.
  • Organizing Postcards You Have Collected From Your Travel Vacations and Others I show you a very easy way to keep those colorful postcard memories together.
  • Insect Collecting In this video series, expert Gary Hevel demonstrates how to start your very own insect collection.