FOR BEGINNERS
Your First Stitch Starts Here
If you’re new to needlepoint, welcome — you’re in the right place.
Needlepoint can look complicated at first, but you don’t need to know everything to get started. You don’t need fancy tools, flawless stitches, or any prior experience. You just need a place to begin.
This page is designed to walk you through the basics with simple explanations and short videos you can follow along with at your own pace. Think of it as a roadmap you can come back to anytime.
Take it slow and don’t worry about getting it perfect. Needlepoint is meant to be creative, relaxing, and fun — and you’ll learn more as you go.
Do more of what you love
Needlepoint 101
If you’ve never done needlepoint before, this is the best place to start. Needlepoint is a form of embroidery worked on an open-weave canvas using a needle and thread.
Designs are typically hand-painted (or sometimes printed) on the canvas, and you fill them in stitch by stitch, following the design as a guide. There’s no single “right” way to stitch, and that’s part of what makes needlepoint so approachable.
Before jumping in, I recommend watching this short Needlepoint 101 video to get familiar with the basics and how everything fits together.
Your First Stitch: Continental
Continental stitch is usually the first stitch people learn in needlepoint, and it’s a great place to start.
It’s a simple diagonal stitch that works well for almost any part of a design. Once you’re comfortable with continental stitch, you can stitch an entire canvas using just this one stitch.
If this is your first time stitching, focus on keeping your stitches consistent rather than perfect. Slow and steady is exactly right.
Your Next Stitch: Basketweave
Mistakes happen in needlepoint, to beginners and experienced stitchers alike.
A seam ripper is one of the most useful tools you can have. It allows you to carefully remove stitches without damaging the canvas, so you can fix an area and keep going.
If you ever notice a stitch facing the wrong direction, a color you want to change, or an area that just doesn’t look quite right, it’s okay to take a step back and undo a few stitches.
Fixing Mistakes
Continental stitch is usually the first stitch people learn in needlepoint, and it’s a great place to start.
It’s a simple diagonal stitch that works well for almost any part of a design. Once you’re comfortable with continental stitch, you can stitch an entire canvas using just this one stitch.
If this is your first time stitching, focus on keeping your stitches consistent rather than perfect. Slow and steady is exactly right.
Finishing 101
If you’re new to needlepoint, the idea of finishing can feel confusing, or even intimidating. The good news is, you don’t need to figure this out right away.
Finishing simply refers to what happens after you’re done stitching. This could mean turning your canvas into a pillow, ornament, framed piece, standup, or something else entirely.
Typically, there are three main ways people get their needlepoint finished:
- Through a local needlepoint shop (LNS). Many shops offer finishing services or can coordinate finishing for you.
- By working directly with a finisher. You can find qualified, reputable finishers through Instagram, online search, or word of mouth.
- By learning to self-finish. Some stitchers choose to finish pieces themselves by taking an in-person class at their LNS or enrolling in online courses.
There’s no right or wrong option. It often depends on the piece, your budget, and how hands-on you want to be.
You’re Ready to Start
If there’s one thing to remember, it’s this: you don’t need to know everything to begin needlepoint.
You’ll learn by stitching, making mistakes, and fixing them. Every project builds confidence, and every stitch helps things click a little more.
Bookmark this page and come back to it anytime, whether you’re starting your very first canvas or just need a quick refresher.
Most of all, remember that needlepoint is meant to be relaxing and fun!
What you need to start
Canvas
Select from our variety of beginner-friendly canvases.
Threads
Thread recommendations based on your design.
Needle
We’ll guide you to the right needle size.
Scissors
A good pair of scissors goes a long way.