The Head Stitch in Charge: Everyday Natalie Jane 🐚🪡🎀
A little chit chat with a dear friend PLUS an exclusive download
For this installment of “The Head Stitch In Charge” I am beyond thrilled to introduce you to one of the kindest (and most fearless) stitchers I have come to know, Natalie. You may know her from Instagram as Everyday Natalie Jane where she shares the darling canvases she is not only stitching but also CREATING for others (and herself of course). Have you seen her Etsy shop?!
Our paths crossed shortly after I began this blog and her super cute designs came across my feed and caught my eye. We started chatting via DM and from there the rest is history. To date, one of the best DMs I have ever slid into….
A self-proclaimed “everyday Jane” Natalie is anything but in my book! I cannot wait for you to hear her story….it’s one steeped in authenticity (and a great color palette).
Always a breath of fresh air to talk with, I was thrilled when she agreed to be featured here and on Instagram live as “The Head Stitch In Charge”.
Natalie was so generous and designed an exclusive canvas for The Finishing School Blog followers which can be found at the end of this post. Super easy to color swap to your liking, customize with initials or numerals, and use threads you probably already have in your stash! . You can access the free download of this exclusive canvas, at the end of this post where I also have a (very) beginner friendly tutorial on how-to chart your own canvas.
As always, thank you for being here and I truly hope you enjoy reading and watching this as much as we enjoyed putting it together!
How and when did you learn to needlepoint?
I've always been into needlework of some kind - knitting, crochet, punch-needling, embroidery, etc.- but nothing stuck with me. For some reason, I would be interested for all of a few months, set it down, and never pick it back up again. I have endless half-knit scarves around my house! Don’t we all!?
I heard some girls at church talking about needlepoint and I thought I'd just look into it some. Next thing I know, I was ordering a kit from Amazon. Plot twist - it was NOT needlepoint. Since I didn't know the difference between needlepoint and cross-stitch at the time, my first project was actually a cross-stitch scene of two bunnies. I love it and keep it as a funny memory now.
So then what was your first official needlepoint project?
After I pieced the puzzle together and realized what I had done was cross-stitch (not needlepoint), I walked into my LNS (Magic City Needlepoint) and the sweetest woman helped me pick out my real first project - the Initial K Studio "Hoppy Easter Y'all". From there, I was self taught with the help of several youtube videos and Needlepoint.com's "How to Needlepoint" videos.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I have about 5 WIPs, but my main focus is a set of Abigail Cecile Christmas monogram rounds as Christmas gifts. For anyone wanting to invest in a set of timeless charts, definitely buy Abigail Cecile's. I have about 6 charts in total and they always make the perfect wedding, Christmas, birthday, whatever gift. They're such a fun stitch too!
What's one project you have in your stash that you have lost steam on #WIPLash?
I'm struggling to finish a 14x14 vintage canvas I picked up on eBay. I love it so much, and it will be such a beautiful art piece in our home, but it sure is taking a while. My issue is that I don't work on it consistently. It's not stitch-painted, so it does require more focus. Some days I just don't have that in me. I did color swap the vase though, and I just know this will be so worth it!
What's one piece of advice you wish you could go back and tell your beginner needlepoint self?
Don't forget needlepoint is an art, and art is subjective. There are a lot of "rules" out there about what's best, what's proper, and what's "right". We shouldn't spend tons of money on projects for our own use just to be told by someone else how we should stitch it, finish it, or use it.
While we should honor the history and the artists behind this incredible craft, do what's best for you!
Let the rules be suggestions and don't be afraid to try something simple, but impactful like a color swap (you can read more about color swapping here and below).
You can watch our full conversation and Instagram LIVE by clicking the button below ⬇️! We really did have the *best* time.
Thank you again, Everyday Natalie Jane for sharing your story with us and for always showing up as YOU - it is precisely what our needlepoint community needs❣️
Download your exclusive The Finishing School Blog canvas chart by clicking below ⬇️ !
🌟 Make sure to check out my entire post on how to chart your canvas (as a total beginner) below!
Questions or comments? We would love to hear from you! You can reach out here on Substack and can of course find us on Instagram: TheFinishingSchoolBlog and EverydayNatalieJane
