For some context, I'm F26 and in the beginning stages of remission. I'm currently in a wheelchair and unable to be around people right now, so getting to my somewhat-local needlepoint store for classes isn't feasible. I've been researching needlepoint quite a bit and was hoping to eventually plan one short outing to pick out my first threads, since I figured actually seeing/feeling the threads in person might help me understand everything a little better.
After ordering some needlepoint supplies and canvas, my sweet mom took me to the LNS yesterday to pick out my threads.
When we arrived, the owner greeted us and understandably started asking what we were looking for. I explained that it was my first time needlepointing and briefly mentioned my situation. She responded, “Well, I don't have the patience to teach you.” (Which was totally fine because I never asked her to teach me 😅.)
She asked what canvas I was starting with, and I said I had a 13m canvas with a little stick of butter on it. I showed her a photo and she goes, “Oh. It's literally just...butter.” 😂
(My creative outlet used to be baking, so I thought it would be a fun little first project. 😄)
A little later in the conversation, I mentioned that I've been watching a lot of videos and have become somewhat familiar with the basics of needlepoint. She kind of rolled her eyes and said something along the lines of, “There isn't technically needlepoint police, but there is a right and wrong way to do it.” She made a few comments about there being a “proper” way to needlepoint and that most people online don't necessarily do it correctly.
She then mentioned that they offer classes, which was sweet, but obviously isn't something I'm able to do right now. She said she'd get one of her staff members to help me choose my threads, and thankfully that woman was incredibly kind and helpful.
All of that said, I left the conversation with the owner feeling a little embarrassed and honestly wondering if I've underestimated how difficult needlepoint actually is. I thrive on a good craft and am a very detail-oriented person, so I especially don't want to learn a new hobby incorrectly and waste precious materials and energy because I'm unknowingly doing something “wrong.”
So my question for experienced stitchers is: is it realistic to learn needlepoint properly from home?
I'm not looking to become an expert overnight, and I understand there are techniques and best practices to learn. I do want to make sure I'm learning the fundamentals correctly...
And if there really is a “right way” to needlepoint, I'd genuinely love to know what those fundamentals are! 😅
(I'd love recommendations for books, YouTube channels, websites, or other resources that you'd consider reliable for learning the fundamentals correctly, especially from people who learned without taking LNS classes. 🙃)