Patterns

Mod Sampler, design & photo copyright Napa Needlepoint

Needlepoint patterns, often called charted canvas or counted work, consist of charts with written directions to make a finished project. Sometimes they also include the outline of the project traced onto canvas, or line-drawn canvas. In either case, they make for exciting needlepoint.

If you have ever stitched a project from a book, magazine, free pattern, or class instructions, then you have done charted canvas. The overwhelming majority of these are geometric designs.

They are available in all skill levels from designs suitable for your first project to complex projects which will stretch your knowledge of needlepoint techniques. They are so good for learning that I know a woman who learned needlepoint by stitching only the charted needlepoint projects her guild chapter did for two years. Then she felt confident enough (and she is a great stitcher) to tackle painted canvas needlepoint.

In this section of All about Needlepoint, you’ll learn how to tackle a charted canvas pattern, how to create a color scheme for your project, strategies and projects to use the thread from your stash (making for even more affordable needlepoint).

You will also learn how to use drawings you find on the net and elsewhere to act as the basis for your own unique designs. Included in this section will be step-by-step tutorials where I’ll show you the process from drawing to finished project.

And if that isn’t enough, you’ll learn about needlepoint pattern designers and will be able to get to our directory of free patterns available on the Internet.

You can buy my charted needlepoint projects and books here.