How To Block Needlepoint

When you block needlepoint you stretch it back into the shape it was in before you started stitching it. Oh, wouldn't it be nice if we could spray a bit of water on and stretch ourselves back into the shape we were in before we hit 40 (or 30?...... 20 anyone?).

We digress. You will need to do this in order to finish your masterpiece properly. If you intend to make up your needlepoint into a pillow, then you want a square and not a diamond, so let's learn how to quickly and easily block needlepoint.

Instructions

If you were using a frame (and we won't tell if you weren't), then remove the canvas.

Remember, before you started stitching, you traced an outline of the design shape onto some heavy paper? You did do this, didn't you? Well, remove this from where you stashed it in the pile of old papers in the garage, and lay it flat onto some hardboard or MDF (or any other type of board you can bang tacks or nails into).

Tip. For small projects we actually just use heavy thumb tacks and cork boards. Probably not recommended but we are all about the easy route and it works for us, so it will probably work for you too.

You are now going to dampen your needlepoint by spraying it with clean water from a spray bottle. Notice we said dampen and not saturate!

Lay the dampened needlepoint, good side down, onto the paper you have laid on the board. You now need to match the outline of the canvas to the outline you traced on the paper. This will involve some stretching.

Start at a corner and hammer in tacks or nails all the way around, about 1 inch apart, stretching the canvas as you go to match it up with the drawn outline.

Allow to dry. In other words leave it for several hours.

When dry your canvas should have retained its svelte original shape and be ready for needlepoint finishing. If it is still a little distorted, simply repeat the process. Some large projects especially can distort more and require two goes at stretching.

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