Selecting needle for needlepoint

Needlepoint is worked with tapestry needles. Tapestry needles differ from most other types of needle in that they have a blunt tip rather than a pointed one and a large, elongated eye. The blunt tip is essential so that the needle slides smoothly through the canvas holes without splitting the wool or catching the canvas threads whilst stitching. The large eye is necessary, in order the needle to accomodate thick or multiple strands of floss or wool. 

Tapestry needles are sized by number and the bigger the number the finer the needle. The range of sizes goes from 13 (the largest) to 28. The correct size of the needle depends on the canvas gauge and yarn thickness. A small needle should be used on fine-mesh canvases while a thicker needle is used on larger canvas sizes. Accordingly, if a too small needle is used then the wool will probably twist, fray and wear thin, while if a larger needle is used then the needle will probably enlarges and distorts the holes of the canvas.  

Needlepoint canvas types

Needlepoint canvas is a mesh of horizontal (warp) and vertical (weft) threads. There are several types of needlepoint canvases and the most basic feature that distinguishes one type from another is the manner in which the canvas is woven.

 The three most commonly used needlepoint canvas types are the following: 

Canvas mesh sizes

Needlpoint canvas mesh sizes are usually measured in holes per inch (hpi) or in holes per 10cm. Canvas ranges in size from 3.5 to over 30 holes per inch. Rugs and large upholstery coverings would need the larger gauges, whilst fine work requires many more holes to the inch in order to achieve the desired detail. The average size for cushions and chair seats are between 11 and 14 hpi.

Conversion table. 

Needlepoint Canvas sizes
Metric (Holes per 10cm)	Imperial (Holes per inch)
20	5
24	6
28	7
32	8
36	9
40	10
42	10.5
44	11
46	11.5
48	12
52	13
56	14
60	15
70	18
80	20
88	22
96	24

 

Bargello needlework- Flame stitch motif- Beginers tutorial

Traditional Bargello pieces incorporate a series of vertical stitches. The following pattern is one of the most common Bargello, flame patterns with vertical stitches of four threads. The colors are only indicative and you can use the color scheme of your choice. You can also use more colors. 

This project is easy, suitable form beginners in Bargello embroidery.

Bargello needlework- Introduction

The term "Bargello" refers on the one hand to a stitching technique and on the other to the motifs created by using this technique. As a stitching technique, it is a form of countable embroidery, consisting of only upright flat stitches.  

Cushion stitched with Bargello technique

Pillows by New York Furniture & Accessories Jonathan Adler