Lesson Three: Evergreen
Not just for the holiday season....
Shortly after I began needlepointing, I discovered the ever joyful Le Point Studio.
Complete with pretty branding details (I love their font) and a commitment to spreading the joy of needlepoint, Le Point Studio is a down right charming business. Abby (the artist and founder) caters to everyone in the needlepoint community – “from beginner (yes even kids) to enthusiast” and strives to create pieces that are classic, whimsical and destined to be heirlooms for many a year to come.
I saw Le Point’s Evergreen Wreath canvas when Abby showed the finished product on her Instagram complete with a small loop at the top of the wreath which allowed for the use of different interchangeable ribbons, depending on the season. My novice-needlepointing mind was blown and I immediately went to the website to order it.
It was sold out the time and I added myself to the canvas restock notification on her website. I wanted the “full kit” option for two reasons:
1.) I had absolutely no clue how much fiber I would need
and
2.) I wanted the ribbon selection Abby herself had hand-selected.
Although I wanted the canvas in my hands ASAP, I knew this beauty would be worth the wait….and it sure was. When the full kit option was re-stocked, I ordered it immediately and was thrilled when it was finally in my hands. Every single detail of what I received was so lovingly thought out and I couldn’t wait to start stitching.
I started stitching this special piece in mid- November 2021, when we were full swing into all things holiday and it was so fun stitching something “in-season”. If you haven’t yet stitched a piece that vibes with the season you are in – I highly recommend it!
It was right after the Thanksgiving holiday in 2021 that our entire household (my husband, our then 1 year old, and my 7 month pregnant self) came down with COVID and it hit us hard. I was already experiencing some third-trimester insomnia and each night, I would work on stitching this wreath. Stitching this canvas, paired with a Hallmark movie, really helped me relax and took my mind off how awful I felt, during a quarantine-roller coaster of a time. I don’t have any “during” pictures from when I stitched this piece (aside from being sick, the idea for this blog came after this had been stitched), but every time I look at this pillow, I am reminded of that little slice in time.
It serves as a permanent reminder to be grateful for my health, the health of my family and the precious time we spent together quarantined, shortly before we became a family of 4.
Canvas: “Evergreen Wreath” by Le Point Studio (12 mesh)
Fibers: Appleton Tapestry Wool (*Since I purchased the full kit option, all of the fibers were included and cut for me so I am not certain how much exactly I used).
Stitches Used: Basketweave (and some Continental for the wreath details – see Notes to Self)
Finish Type: Pillow (inset with self-welt) with ribbon loop for interchangeable bow use
Fabric Used: I used a textured green plaid that reminded me of a pillow I had seen at a Ralph Lauren store when I was in college. Although the exact fabric I used is no longer available, I am linking some similar options as well as others that recently caught my eye.
*I purchased 2 yards for the finishing to ensure no surprise shortages for the finisher.
Le Point has a beautiful selection of finishing fabrics that they now offer with so many beautiful options for this canvas.
High Performance Fabric helps ensure durability
I love this texture !
How sweet would this pink ticking stripe be?!
Ribbons:
Navy stripe, red stripe and tartan ribbons from Le Point Studio.
Pink ribbon I used
Thin black velvet ribbon I used
The ribbon possibilities are endless with this canvas...j'adore!
Finishing: LME Redesign *See “Notes to Self”
Monogramming: Anni B Monogramming
Project Started: November 2021
Project Completed: December 2021
Notes to Self:
Although this canvas only has two colors in it, it did take me longer to stitch than I thought it would. Here are a few of my key takeaways from stitching this beauty:
1.) Stretcher Bars and Tacks: This is a larger canvas and using these stretcher bars and tacks made things much easier for me when it came to physically handling this canvas. These are the exact ones I use. The stretcher bars also made it super easy to clip my booklight on (for all the late night stitching).
Most of all, using the stretcher bars kept the canvas shape. Sometimes when stitching, your canvas will distort depending on the tension and stitches used. As a result, before finishing, if your canvas has shifted in shape your finisher may require “blocking” which is a technique used to stretch your canvas back into its original shape.
2.) Stitching with Wool: Since this was my first time using Appleton Tapestry Wool, it took a little to get used to the texture, but it really yielded a beautiful finish and did not get lumpy for me when I used it (wool threads have a tendency to do this sometimes). I stitched the wreath part of this canvas first and I do wish I would have stitched the background first. Doing so would have made it easier to anchor the wreath fibers when I stitched them and would have made visually crisper branches on the canvas (in my opinion).
3.) Finishing & Fabric: A word to the wise, if there is the option to order a sample or swatch of the fabric, do this first! I initially wanted to do a velvet fabric but after going through the countless samples I had ordered, I ended up 86’ing the velvet idea as none of the colors or textures seemed to be just right. Truth be told, I am so glad I did.
When selecting my fabric, I consulted with my finisher first and ordered extra fabric at her recommendation, since she was making the cording. I showed her the image Abby had shared on her Instagram for the added loop for swapping out ribbons and this ensured we were on the same page. When in doubt, over communicate.
I was absolutely thrilled with the finished product and love the ability to swap out the ribbons as the mood strikes me. It really is the best way to add your own spin to a timeless piece.
One last finishing detail that was not lost on me…the expert alignment of the plaid pattern on this pillow. My finisher reminded me that most of the time when you look at a pillow, you are looking down at it while you are standing up so the pattern placement at the top matters! I so appreciate how these stripes look from an aerial view and would have not paid too much attention to this had it not been pointed out to me.
As always, thank you so very much for being here and for allowing me to share my story with you. If you know someone who may find this publication interesting, I’d be honored for you to share it with them.
Are you stitching or have you stitched this canvas? I’d love to see it! Let me know here or over on Instagram.
Until next time….
xoxo,
Emily
So gorgeous!!!