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The good news about needlepoint is that there are only a few tools you need to get started. The more you start stitching, you might want to add in a few other accessories as you figure out what works best for you. Local needlepoint stores are a great place to browse accessories and stitch clubs are wonderful for getting to see what other people use and love.
Below are some of my tried and true favorites!
Sharp scissors
A good pair of scissors is essential for needlepointing. If you have a mom or grandmother who stitched or sewed, you likely remember a pair of special scissors that were never used to cut anything other than thread or fabric. Same rules apply here! Have a dedicated pair of embroidery scissors used only for needlepoint to ensure they stay sharp for as long as possible. My favorites are these sweet rabbit scissors from Bohin and these chic, classic ones from Gingher.
Tapestry needles
Needlepoint uses tapestry needles, which are blunt tipped needles with a long eye. They come in many sizes, but I like to use a size 22 for 18 mesh canvases and a size 20 for 13 mesh canvases. I always include a needle with each canvas you order from my website! One bit of advice, use a new needle each time you start a new project. The natural oils from your hands can tarnish needles over time and the last thing you want is for your thread to look streaky or dirty.
Needle minder
A needle minder is a magnet you can attach to your canvas. I love them because they help me keep up with my needle when I pause stitching to get more thread or when I’ve got to get up to make dinner! I designed three needle minders: the Queen of Hearts, the Pink Nutcracker, and the Green Nutcracker. These are especially helpful when using stretcher bars too.
Snag Nab It
This little tool is so underrated, and once I discovered it there was no turning back! A Snag Nab It is the perfect tool to elevate your stitching and make it look tidy. If you caught the end of a thread into your stitching, take the end of the Snag Nab It and push through the front of the canvas to the back to pull the rogue thread with it.
Ort dish
While it may seem excessive to say an ort dish is a must have stitching accessory, once I realized it made my little pile of snipped thread tails stay together instead of all over the house it became a necessity! I love this one for its beauty and function. Plus it makes a wonderful gift for a fellow stitcher, especially paired with a pack of needles and fresh scissors!
Needlepoint Notepad
If you’re anything like me and always have several projects in the works, a needlepoint notepad is such an elevated way to stay organized. It gives you a place to track the threads you’ve used, jot down start and finish dates, and easily reference details from past projects. Think of it as both a diary of your needlepoint journey and an archive of all of the beautiful pieces you’ve stitched over time.
Water Erasable Marker
I love this tool for charting out monograms, dates, or names on my needlepoint projects! If you make a mistake you can gently dab a damp cotton swab to erase the ink. You can stitch over the markings as well. This is a great tool to use with the Hot Air Balloon Bear, Rocking Horse, and Love Letter canvases, which come with an alphabet chart to customize them!
Micron pens
These pens are the best if you need to add an outline to your canvas! The fine point makes marking on needlepoint canvas easy and the archival ink is less likely to smear or transfer to your thread.
Seam Ripper
Mistakes happen! Your needle tarnishes and you notice dirty spots on your white thread. Your compensation on decorative stitches is off. You just changed your mind about a color. Gently use a seam ripper to help remove unwanted stitches. Just be careful to avoid ripping the canvas!
Needle threader
Using a threader makes stitching so much speedier! There are tons of different kinds out on the market, but I prefer simple ones like these. Buy one pack and have extras on hand or share with some stitching friends.
Neck lamp
Good lighting is essential for stitching, and while I would love to stitch the days away, most of my stitching is done at night. It may not be the most glamorous, but I love using this neck lamp. No batteries required, it charges with a USB cord so it’s perfect for travel too!
Decorative stitch books
I’m so glad to offer free mini stitch guides and decorative stitch charts to help you get started on your projects. I also love learning new stitches, and I’ve found the following books to be extremely helpful: Stitches To Go is a great book for beginning decorative stitches. Lone Star’s Grab and Go Stitches is another great foundational book for decorative stitches. For ribbon work, I recommend The Seasons in Silk Ribbon Embroidery.
Stretcher bars
There seem to be two camps in needlepoint: Team Stretcher Bars and Team Stitch in Hand. I recommend you try them both to see which you prefer. If you are going to try to self-finish your canvases, one benefit of using stretcher bars is eliminating the need to block your canvas. They also help if you’re using decorative stitches as the bars will hold the canvas taut so that your stitches are not distorted.
While the only necessary tools are needles and scissors, I hope you learned about some other helpful accessories. Most I learned about from other stitchers and I’m always eager to hear what works for other people!
