Basic Needlepoint Stitches

If you are just starting out in needlepoint, or you need a refresher of the basic needlepoint stitches, you have come to the right place. We show you all you really need to know.

And all you really need to know is one stitch. All basic needlepoint stitches look like this on the "good" side of the canvas.

needlepoint stitch

There are three ways of doing what is essentially this one stitch, and they only look different on the "wrong" side of the canvas. We tell you how to do all three because you might interchange them a bit when you are working a project.

Where and How To Start

First, some general advice:

We recommend that you start by stitching the smallest areas of color first. By this we mean the areas on your design that are the most detailed. Sometimes this is hard to define, as with a floral design for example, there may be lots of small design or color areas. Just try to do the smallest areas then work up to the larger areas of color with your basic needlepoint stitches. Most people stitch the canvas color by color (changing to a different color when they get bored!), starting with the smallest areas first.

When you get to larger areas of color, you will get the best results if you use basketweave stitch (instructions for the basic needlepoint stitches are below). Start this stitch in the top right hand corner of the colored area.

When you have patches of the same color that are close to each other e.g. within a half inch, you can carry the thread across to the adjacent area. Needlepoint purists might frown upon this, but we do it all the time and our designs look just fine. It really depends upon how fussy you want to be, and how neat you want the back of the canvas to look. If the color areas are farther than about one half inch apart, you will need to snip the yarn off (having secured it behind some stitches as discussed below) and start again.

Regardless of the needlepoint stitch you are using, start off by securing the thread onto the canvas. Now, a needlepoint purist would tell you never to tie a knot. Thankfully, we are not needlepoint purists and that is why you love us. Knot away we say.

Cut off a length of thread, no longer than, say, 18 inches for learning purposes.
Thread your needle (wetting the end of the yarn always helps the threads stick together so you can achieve this task).
Make a knot at the end of the yarn.
Starting on the "good" side of the canvas, a few holes along from where you will place your first stitch, take the needle down to the "wrong" side. The knot will be visible on the "good" side of the canvas. When you start stitching you will work toward this knot and your stitches will have covered the thread behind and held it in place so it doesn't pull out. When you reach the knot you can snip it off.

How To Secure The Thread When You Have Finished

When you need to change color, or move to a different area of the canvas, or you have used up the yarn and need to rethread the needle, you will need to snip off the thread you have been using. However, you can't just leave it dangling or the stitches will loosen. When you have stitched the last stitch, with the needle on the "wrong" side of the canvas, slide it through the back of 3-4 nearby stitches. This will take the thread behind these stitches and it will be secure. Cut the thread close to where the needle emerges so the canvas looks neat.

Half Cross Stitch

When reading all the stitch guide graphics that follow, you bring the needle up to the good side of the canvas on the odd numbers, and push the needle down to the wrong side of the canvas on all the even numbers.

half cross stitch

Half Cross is not the world's greatest stitch. It doesn't cover the canvas particularly well, but it is easy to learn and good for areas where you are only doing a few stitches of one color. That is why we include it in this tutorial of basic needlepoint stitches.

The defining factor of this stitch is that it has a vertical stitch on the "wrong" side of the canvas. Start at the top left of your canvas or block of color. Work from left to right in a row across the canvas and then return.

Tent or Continental Stitch

Continental Stitch

This stitch covers the canvas well but also tends to distort it. Once again though it's great for working smaller areas and we use it a lot. On the "wrong" side of the canvas you will see a diagonal stitch.

Basketweave Stitch

The Holy Grail of all basic needlepoint stitches. It allows good coverage of the canvas with the least distortion.

You should use basketweave whenever there is a larg(ish) area to be stitched. It is named for the basketweave pattern it forms on the "wrong" side of the canvas. Work this stitch diagonally, starting at the top right hand corner of the area.

Needlepoint Backstitch

Needlepoint backstitch is a very useful surface embroidery stitch to learn. It allows you to outline your design and provides more definition where it is needed. Click here for information about this easy stitch.

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