Fiber Talk Canvas #4: Needles: Why You Care What You Use
In Canvas episode #4, we talk about needles, needle sizes, quality, and the role your needle plays in stitching and protecting your threads as you stitch. When buying, purchase top quality needles and several sizes in your arsenal so you can use the best option for your thread and ground cloth. As always, leave your questions/thoughts in the comment section.–Beth, Cindy, and Gary
Note from Gary: After recording, I actually measured the needles I use for needlepoint projects. Turns out I’m using size 22, the proper size for Perle #5 and Watercolors. While my memory may be faulty, I still know how to select the correct needle size.–Beth, Cindy, and Gary
Links:
- John James Needle Guide free download: https://www.jjneedles.com/needles-guide/
- Debbie Rowley’s website, DebBee’s Designs: https://debbeesdesigns.com/
- American Needlepoint Guild: https://www.needlepoint.org/default.aspx
- CyberPointers: https://www.cyberpointers.org/
- Anasazi Spirit (Gary’s project): https://stitchplay.com/anasazi-spirit/
- Poppers (Beth’s project): https://needledelights.com/product/poppers/
- Jeweled Valentine (Cindy’s project): https://www.rainbowgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Jeweled-Valentine.pdf
- Inchies (Beth’s project back project): https://needledelights.com/product/inchies/
- EverTite stretcher bars, Frame Lock corner devices, and tacks: http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Accessories/StretcherBars.html
- Adjust-A-Frame stretcher bars: Download the price list.
Canvas #3: Congress Cloth Pros and Cons
Canvas show #3 focuses on Congress Cloth. We’ve made a change and are now presenting shows by topic rather than including several topics in one show. This should make it easier to choose what you want to watch. In episode #3 we talk about Congress Cloth, its pros and cons, and how it differs from 18-ct. canvas. As always, leave questions/thoughts in the comment section.–Beth, Cindy, and Gary
Links:
- Debbie Rowley’s website, DebBee’s Designs: https://debbeesdesigns.com/
- American Needlepoint Guild: https://www.needlepoint.org/default.aspx
- CyberPointers: https://www.cyberpointers.org/
- Anasazi Spirit (Gary’s project): https://stitchplay.com/anasazi-spirit/
- Poppers (Beth’s project): https://needledelights.com/product/poppers/
- Jeweled Valentine (Cindy’s project): https://www.rainbowgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Jeweled-Valentine.pdf
- Inchies (Beth’s project back project): https://needledelights.com/product/inchies/
- EverTite stretcher bars, Frame Lock corner devices, and tacks: http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Accessories/StretcherBars.html
- Adjust-A-Frame stretcher bars: Download the price list.
Canvas #2: Reading Charts and Using Laying Tools
It’s time for our second Fiber Talk Canvas show. It’s a long one. This month we talk about canvas supply and thread costs. Don’t blame your LNS owner. Then, at the 20-min. mark, we have an extended discussion about how to read charts for those stitches that look so complicated but aren’t. At the 1-hr. point, thanks to listener requests, we do an extended segment about laying tools and how to use them. As always, leave your thoughts and suggestions for future topics in the comment section.—Cindy and Gary
Cindy’s laying tools:
- Island House Needlepoint laying tools
- Merry L Needlework laying tools are sold wholesale only so ask your LNS to order one for you.
Links to items discussed in this show:
- Debbie Rowley’s website, DebBee’s Designs: https://debbeesdesigns.com/
- American Needlepoint Guild: https://www.needlepoint.org/default.aspx
- CyberPointers: https://www.cyberpointers.org/
- Anasazi Spirit (Gary’s project): https://stitchplay.com/anasazi-spirit/
- Poppers (Beth’s project): https://needledelights.com/product/poppers/
- Jeweled Valentine (Cindy’s project): https://www.rainbowgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Jeweled-Valentine.pdf
- Inchies (Beth’s project back project): https://needledelights.com/product/inchies/
- EverTite stretcher bars, Frame Lock corner devices, and tacks: http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Accessories/StretcherBars.html
- Adjust-A-Frame stretcher bars: Download the price list.
Canvas: Thanks to Donna Gotts for Offering Stretcher Bar Fine Points
An email from listener Donna Gotts prompted this second stretcher-bar video. This time we cover some of the finer points of using stretcher bars that can make stitching life more pleasant. If you have other suggestions, please leave them in the comments.–Gary
Links to items mentioned in this show:
EverTite stretcher bars, Frame Lock corner devices, and tacks: http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Accessories/StretcherBars.html
Adjust-A-Frame stretcher bars: Download price list at wetalkfiber.com/canvas
Mounting Canvas on Stretcher Bars
Mounting needlepoint canvas on stretcher bars the first time can be a bit intimidating. In this video, we take you through the process using standard stretcher bars. Once you’ve done it, you’ll see that it’s a rather simple process. If you’re using Ever-Tite or Adjust-A-Frame bars, the process is the same. But don’t tack the corners so the bars will be free to expand. Leave questions if you need help or comments if you want to share tips.
Adjust-a-Frame Stretcher Bars

In our first Fiber Talk Canvas show, we talked about Adjust-A-Frame stretcher bars but weren’t sure if they are still being manufactured. I heard from the folks who produce them and they definitely are still making them. Click on this link to download the price list so you can order them: https://www.wetalkfiber.com/downloads/adjustaframe.pdf.
Introducing Fiber Talk Canvas,
A New Needlepoint Series
This is the first of a new needlepoint series we’re calling Fiber Talk Canvas. The purpose of this video series (there will be a new video on the third Wednesday of each month) is to help people have success with needlepoint. To accomplish this, our focus will be on counted-canvas needlepoint. In our first show we talk about what we hope to accomplish with the series, stretcher bars and getting a canvas ready for stitching, and the projects we are working on as part of the series. All of the projects we are doing are available for free or can be purchased through some retail outlet, i.e., you don’t need to take a class to do them. We hope you’ll find this series informative and that it will prompt you to give needlepoint a try. Please let us know in the comment section if you have questions, suggestions for future shows, and/or ideas for topics you want covered.—Beth, Cindy, and Gary
Links to items discussed in this show:
- Debbie Rowley’s website, DebBee’s Designs: https://debbeesdesigns.com/
- American Needlepoint Guild: https://www.needlepoint.org/default.aspx
- CyberPointers: https://www.cyberpointers.org/
- Anasazi Spirit (Gary’s project): https://stitchplay.com/anasazi-spirit/
- Poppers (Beth’s project): https://needledelights.com/product/poppers/
- Jeweled Valentine (Cindy’s project): https://www.rainbowgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Jeweled-Valentine.pdf
- Inchies (Beth’s project back project): https://needledelights.com/product/inchies/
- EverTite stretcher bars, Frame Lock corner devices, and tacks: http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Accessories/StretcherBars.html
- Adjust-A-Frame stretcher bars: Send email to [email protected] for price list.