When you’re first starting out with needlepoint, you can be tempted to just focus on form, stitches, or what your next project will be. But you should also start eyeing some needlepoint tools you just shouldn’t live without!
The first tool that every stitcher needs is a GOOD set of scissors. I am not talking about those large, bulky scissors you grabbed from the junk drawer in your kitchen! Every stitcher needs a pair of sharp, small scissors to really help with his or her stitching. A good clean cut makes all the difference when threading your needle and helping to keep your threads tidy as you stitch through the canvas.
Stretcher bars are a must-have tool, especially for larger projects. Technically speaking, you do not have to have stretcher bars to stitch a piece. However, if you want to create the highest quality stitching possible, stretcher bars are imperative! Stretcher bars keep the tension evenly distributed throughout the canvas as you stitch. If you don’t use them, you will notice that the square-sized project you started with becomes a parallelogram by the time you are finished. This distortion is due to the tension put on the canvas with each stitch. A good finisher can fix the problem, but it takes more time and money – and it’s such an easily avoidable issue! In addition to keeping your piece in the “right” shape, stretcher bars also provide stabilization when you are creating decorative stitches.
A good resource for all stitchers, but especially relatively new stitchers, is a book of stitches. These books are excellent motivation and inspiration for the variety of stitching areas that you will encounter in your project. They can really bring your project to life while teaching you some excellent new stitches!
Finally, we highly recommend a laying tool in your arsenal. Many stitchers are either too intimidated or too bashful to ask what that “stick-looking” tool is that other stitchers use. Laying tools are often a critical help when keeping flat threads like Neon Rays from twisting – but they should be used with any thread that plies in order to keep each individual thread ply even and straight while stitching.
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