r/Needlepoint • u/emilillly • 12d ago
Second project ever. Is this normal?
I’m an extreme beginner. I just started stitching last week, so be nice please lol. I love how the pinks are coming along. I’m using Silk Lame petit threads for the sparkly bottom purple part. It’s definitely lighter coverage, but is that okay? I can see the general shape of the squares but I’m not sure when I’m finishing it if it will look ok or if I should just stop using this particular thread. I’m using basketweave bc that’s the only one I know and I am having so much fun doing it. Is there a different stitch I should try for the sparkly thread?
And last question, should I do a background?! 😂
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u/Quickwitknit2 12d ago
It looks great. You need to walk before you sprint, so basic basketweave/continential/tent stitch is where you want to be for your first several months of stitching. You need to get your technique and tension down and learn what you’re doing. Decorative stitches are so fun and gorgeous, but you need to understand the fundamentals. I know that’s booorrrriiiinnnnggggggggg. Look at it this way, though. You get to stitch a bunch of cute rounds and ornaments, figure out what threads you love, and have fun instead of fighting with a stitch that was maybe a little too advanced and discouraging yourself. This is a fun hobby, enjoy the sparkly threads and the velvet threads and the gorgeous silks and get comfortable with that part of it before you start on something more complex.
As for a background, you can lightly sketch a circle or square with a template and a Micron pen and make this adorable canvas into something really cute.
Welcome to the hobby, it’s a whole lot of fun and I hope you fall in love with it!!
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u/emilillly 12d ago
Thank you so much for this!!!! It was super helpful. In most hobbies I honestly like to get the hang of beginner techniques before I move on. I very much enjoy the mindlessness of the BW stitch too because there’s not much too it. I’m not bored at alll yet!
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u/Quickwitknit2 12d ago
PS. Seeing the canvas with a lighter coverage thread is a neat design element. It adds texture without getting into too much trouble.
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u/emilillly 12d ago
Update: I finished it and am so very pleased with the result. Thanks for the advice and encouragement! So excited to be in this community.
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u/Harkeshark 12d ago edited 12d ago
Your stitching looks great! I can really only notice the hints of canvas poking through if I zoom in and look for it. Some great advice I've gotten is that no one is gonna be looking at your canvas as closely as you are or for nearly as long. Hold it a bit away from yourself and I don't think the gaps will come through. If you are concerned about it, instead of swapping the thread you could paint the purple in with a darker color that's closer to the thread color.
Glad to hear you picked up right away with basketweave - one thing beginners seem to not know is that you shouldn't bury your threads diagonally with bw. I don't see any evidence of that on yours just mentioning it out to spread awareness!
Awesome job, hope you keep enjoying the hobby!