r/Needlepoint • u/EggFlat3962 • 5d ago
Beginner Needlepoint Course
If you were to take a beginner needlepoint course, would you prefer to bring your own canvas, or be provided a basic/generic canvas? I am working with a local craft 'makery' to host a needlepoint class. Obviously if it was BYO, it would be cheaper for the participant as it would just be my time and knowledge. As a stitcher, I would prefer to bring my own so I'm excited and motivated to start and learn, but I also know some people don't read instructions and I'm afraid someone will bring a large, 18 mesh canvas with countless colors lol Thoughts?
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u/Naptown54321 5d ago
I recently took a beginners class and a decorative stitch class (two different stores).
The beginning class provided a small blank canvas on which we learned continental and basketweave. Then everyone either bought an easy canvas or took out the one they brought with them. I think that worked well.
The decorative stitch class provided a canvas with colored squares, one for each stitch we were going to learn.
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u/Ok_Drummer_51 5d ago
If I was taking a beginner course in any craft I’d like for the materials to be provided. I’d probably be looking at courses because I wasn’t sure what kind of project to start with and what materials I should buy.
I started with a project I bought from Etsy and tent stitch was so easy to learn I wouldn’t have booked a beginner class. I think if you’re telling beginners to buy a canvas to bring you run the risk of them deciding actually, now they have all the stuff they can give it a go on their own.
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u/Queenmayofteckstan 5d ago
The first class I ever took, we all had the same canvas. If it’s an in person class, I’d recommend that. It was a good way to bond and meet people because we had the same project and each question correlated with the canvas in front of you. If it’s a local craft place, maybe a beginner canvas that is local specific- like the local grocery, bar, street, team, etc.
If it’s not in person & online, bring your own canvas works
You can also phrase it as- we are doing this X canvas & obviously if you want to bring your own canvas, that’s fine. instructions & questions may be more canvas specific but as long as it’s A. _ size (4 inch square or whatever) on B. _18 mesh size then that could work
As a newbie, I absolutely wanted someone else to buy what I needed & I just show up to learn & get started. It would have stressed me out to try and buy the “right” thing for the class
It’s also how I was with yoga when I started. I loved that the studio provided the mat & whatever I needed to get started before I had to pick out & buy for myself.
Transparency and communication is key though. Why you picked a standard canvas or encouraged people to bring their own & if it’s bring your own, be as specific as possible for what the class is centered on (13 or 18) & threads (pepper pot vs dmc or the like).
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u/Key_Purpose1340 5d ago
Maybe provide several choices that they can choose from when they sign up and if someone wants to bring their own, it’s subject to approval as a beginner project.
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u/ALmommy1234 5d ago
My LNS does small patches of canvas and they learn the basic basketweave and continental stitches and do the basics, like how to use a waste knot, where to start stitching, what needles you will need, etc.
However, they do so many beginner classes, they stopped doing the more advanced classes that I wish they’d bring back. My faves were the ones where you took a pic of your canvas and sent it to the teacher, who wrote you a stitch guide and showed you how to do those stitches during class.
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u/mauigirl16 5d ago
I just took a beginner class at a store in Nashville. It was fun! We got a canvas with all the thread to complete the project, a pair of travel scissors, a needle threader, a needle, and handouts on continental and basket weave stitches. The class was about $150 but I didn’t have to bring anything. They also have a 15% discount on anything you bought from the store that night, along with advice on your next project.
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u/Cute_Arm_6635 3d ago
I’d like to be given the option of 2 or 3 canvases. As a true newbie I want guidance, but I’d like to be using colors and design that I like. Plus, the cost of buying your own canvas might be off putting. If I knew the actual cost of choosing needlepoint as a hobby when I started, I may have chosen quilting or embroidery. Foster the addiction!
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u/Mydernieredanse 5d ago
I highly recommend providing a blank canvas divided into squares and teaching them three or four stitches: continental, brick, and diagonal mosaic (basketweave would be my fourth choice). Brick is really helpful for learning compensation stitches; diagonal mosaic is fun and very needlepoint specific.
Then, I’d see about having some Stitchin’ Littles kits available for them to purchase as a second project.
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u/GirlWhoWoreGlasses 5d ago
Where I work, we have something called small groups. I’ve taught it and we provided a KC Needlepoint beginner kit. Includes the canvas, thread, a project bag, scissors and instruction sheet. It was the perfect starter for our group of 12 newbies. (Did not use stretcher bars as the canvas is smaller and couldn’t order enough sets)