New to needlepoint? Welcome! If you’ve already started exploring the needlepoint world, you may have noticed that stitchers practically have a language of their own.
Mesh counts, WIPs, frogging, dye lots, LNS…what does it all mean?
Don’t worry—you’ll be speaking fluent needlepoint in no time. We created this beginner-friendly needlepoint glossary to explain some of the most common needlepoint terms you’ll hear while shopping for canvases, choosing threads, learning new stitches, or sending your latest masterpiece off to the finisher.
Needlepoint Canvas Terms
Canvas
The foundation of your needlepoint project! Needlepoint canvas is an open-weave material made up of a grid of intersections. The design you stitch can be hand-painted or printed onto the canvas.
Mesh / Mesh Count
Mesh count refers to the number of canvas intersections per inch. Two of the most common needlepoint canvas sizes are 13 mesh and 18 mesh. 13 mesh has larger holes and typically uses thicker threads, while 18 mesh has smaller holes and allows for finer details and thinner threads. The easiest way to remember it: the higher the mesh count, the smaller the holes.
13 Mesh
A popular canvas size, especially for beginners. The larger holes make 13 mesh canvases relatively quick to stitch and allow you to use thicker fibers.
18 Mesh
A finer needlepoint canvas with 18 intersections per inch. Because the holes are smaller, 18 mesh canvases can accommodate more detailed designs and are typically stitched with thinner fibers.
Mono Canvas
One of the most common types of needlepoint canvas. Each horizontal and vertical thread crosses independently, making mono canvas durable and versatile enough for lots of different stitches.
Stitch-Painted Canvas
A hand-painted needlepoint canvas where the colors are carefully painted onto the individual canvas intersections. This makes it clear which color should be stitched at each intersection and takes some of the guesswork out of following the design.
Stitch-Printed Canvas
Printing is also an emerging option in the needlepoint world. Instead of being painted by hand, the design is digitally printed onto the canvas with the colors aligned to the individual intersections, creating a similar roadmap for the stitcher. Depending on the printing technique, some stitch-printed canvases can require a bit more stitcher interpretation.
Needlepoint Thread Terms
Fiber / Thread
What you use to stitch your canvas! Needlepoint fibers come in seemingly endless varieties, including silk, wool, cotton, velvet, metallics, ribbon, fuzzy fibers, and plenty more. You can stick with one fiber throughout a project or mix different fibers to add texture, shine, dimension, and personality to your canvas. Read our guide to needlepoint threads here.
Needlepoint thread can be packaged in a few different ways, but two you'll see most often are cards and skeins.
Card
A card is needlepoint thread that comes wrapped around a small card. Cards often contain less yardage than a skein, making them great for smaller areas of a canvas or specialty fibers where you may not need a ton of thread.
Skein
A skein is a larger bundle of needlepoint thread that is typically tightly wound or twisted together rather than wrapped around a card. Skeins generally contain more yardage than cards, making them a great option for larger areas or colors you'll use frequently.
One important thing to remember: yardage varies by thread brand and fiber, so it's always a good idea to check how much thread is actually included rather than assuming every card or skein contains the same amount.
Ply
The individual strands that are twisted together to make a thread. Some needlepoint fibers can be separated—or "plied"—so you can stitch with fewer strands depending on the canvas mesh and desired coverage.
Dye Lot
Threads are dyed in batches, and there can be subtle differences in color from one batch to another. Each batch is called a dye lot. If you’re stitching a large area in one color, it’s a good idea to buy enough thread from the same dye lot to finish the project.
Orts
Those tiny leftover pieces of thread you snip off while stitching. Yes, they have a name!
Needlepoint Stitches & Techniques
Tent Stitch
The foundational family of diagonal needlepoint stitches. The two primary tent stitches are Continental, and Basketweave. While they look similar from the front of the canvas, they're worked differently and create different coverage on the back.
Continental Stitch
A basic tent stitch that works well for small areas, lettering, outlines, and detailed sections of a needlepoint canvas.
Basketweave
One of the most important needlepoint stitches to learn. Basketweave is worked diagonally across the canvas and creates a woven-looking pattern on the back. It’s especially useful for larger areas because it provides great coverage while helping reduce canvas distortion.
Decorative Stitch
Anything beyond your basic tent stitches! Decorative needlepoint stitches add texture, movement, dimension, and personality to your canvas. Needlepoint books are a great resource for when you're ready to try out new stitches.
Open Stitch
A decorative stitch that intentionally leaves some of the canvas showing through. Open stitches are especially popular for backgrounds and areas where you want subtle texture without completely covering the canvas.
Compensation
Sometimes a decorative stitch doesn't fit perfectly into the area you're stitching. Compensation means adjusting the stitch so it fits neatly around the edges of the painted design.
Tension
How tightly or loosely you pull your thread while stitching. Consistent tension helps your stitches look even and keeps your needlepoint canvas from becoming overly distorted.
In-Hand
Stitching your canvas without stretcher bars or another frame. Instead, you simply hold the canvas in your hands while you stitch.
Scooping
A stitching technique where your needle moves through the canvas in one continuous motion rather than pulling the needle completely through the front and back for every stitch.
Needlepoint Tools to Know
Tapestry Needle
The type of needle typically used for needlepoint. Unlike a sewing needle, a tapestry needle has a blunt tip that passes through the canvas holes instead of piercing the canvas threads. 18 Mesh Canvases use Size 22 needles and 13 Mesh Canvases use Size 20 needles.
Needle Minder
A small magnetic accessory that attaches to your canvas and gives your needle a safe place to hang out when you're not using it.
Needle Threader
A small tool that helps pull your thread through the eye of your needle. It’s especially useful for thicker, fuzzy, or stubborn fibers.
Stretcher Bars
Wooden bars that connect to form a frame around your needlepoint canvas. The canvas is attached to the bars using tacks, which keeps it taut and can help reduce distortion while you stitch. Stretcher bars are not required to stitch but many stitchers prefer them, it's all a personal preference! Read our guide to stretcher bars here.
Laying Tool
A tool used to help flat or multi-strand fibers lie smoothly and evenly on your canvas. You can use an actual laying tool, or your index finger works just as well!
Stitch Guide
A roadmap for stitching a particular needlepoint canvas. A stitch guide may recommend specific fibers, colors, decorative stitches, and techniques for the different areas of a design.
Needlepoint Kit
A project bundled with the supplies you need to start stitching. Depending on the kit, this typically includes the needlepoint canvas, coordinating threads, and a tapestry needle. If you're a beginner and don't want to figure out which fibers to buy for your first project, a needlepoint kit is a great place to start. Click here to shop beginner kits!
Needlepoint Lingo Every Stitcher Should Know
And now for the important stuff: the words you'll start casually throwing around once needlepoint takes over your life.
LNS
Short for Local Needlepoint Store. Your LNS is where you can shop needlepoint canvases and threads, ask questions, learn new techniques, and attend events.
WIP
Work in Progress. Your WIP is the canvas currently on your stitching rotation. And yes, you're absolutely allowed to have more than one WIP.
Stash
Your personal collection of needlepoint canvases, threads, and projects waiting to be stitched. There is no such thing as too large of a stash. We don't make the rules.
Frogging
Removing stitches after you've made a mistake or changed your mind. Why "frogging"? Because you have to rip it, rip it.
Color Swap
Changing one or more of the painted colors on a canvas to better fit your personal style. Just because the canvas is painted pink doesn't mean you can't stitch it blue! One thing to keep in mind when color swapping: it’s generally easier to swap from a lighter painted color to a darker thread color than it is to go from dark to light. If you stitch a light-colored thread over a darker painted area, some of the darker painted intersections may show through your stitches.
From WIP to Finished Needlepoint
Blocking
Stitching can cause a needlepoint canvas to become slightly warped, especially if you stitch in-hand. Blocking is the process of reshaping the completed canvas before it is turned into its final piece.
Finishing
The magical process that turns your stitched canvas into something you can actually use, display, gift, or wear. Ornaments, pillows, key fobs, belts, clutches, stand-ups, framed pieces, trays—the possibilities are practically endless.
Finisher
The very talented person who takes your completed needlepoint canvas and transforms it into its finished form.
Self-Finishing
Want to skip sending your project to a professional finisher? Self-finishing means turning your stitched needlepoint into its final form yourself.
There are tons of self-finishing products available that make this easier than ever. You can find everything from leather key fobs and luggage tags to jewelry boxes, trays, bags, ornaments, and other accessories designed with an opening where you can insert your finished needlepoint. Self-finishing is a great option if you want to complete a project quickly, try your hand at finishing, or simply want the satisfaction of saying, “Yep, I made the whole thing!”
Ready to Start Stitching?
Needlepoint might have its own vocabulary, but don't let that intimidate you. Like stitching itself, you'll pick it up as you go.
If you're brand new to needlepoint, start with one of our beginner-friendly needlepoint canvases or kits, pick out your favorite threads, follow our how to needlepoint guide, and we'll help you with the rest.
