Learn How To Finish Needlepoint

Folks with good sewing skills might be interested in learning to finish their own needlepoint ornaments, pillows, stockings and stand ups.

If you want to listen to a fascinating interview with Sandy Higgins, one of the most experienced needlepoint finishers and author of the DIY book on finishing, Sandy's Finishing Touches, go here.

Nancy Lukoskie of FancyWork Finishing is now offering one-on-one classes on how to finish via Zoom.

If you are interested in using professional finishers, go here-
https://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/p/needlepoint-finishers.html
Books and Videos on Finishing
Luckily there are some very good books to help you.  Sandy Higgin's book Sandy's Finishing Touches is a classic.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com/content-product_info/product_id-2220/sandy_s_finishing_touches_revised_2010_edition_by_sandy_higgins.html

Marcia Brown's book Distinctive Presentations is highly praised.  I haven't seen it but she is a professional finisher and for a while sold an extensive (and expensive) series of videotapes on finishing.
http://bindingstitch.com/bindingstitchnews.html

Marcia also teaches finishing in a series of courses taught on Cape Cod.
http://bindingstitch.com/completefinishingcourses.html

I've heard that Pat Mazu's book Finishing 101 is also excellent although it only covers basic finishing techniques.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com/content-product_info/product_id-2883/finishing_101_by_patricia_m_mazu.html

It is worth scouring used bookstores for Katharine Ireys' book, Finishing and Mounting Your Needlepoint Pieces.  I borrowed this book from the library eons ago and seem to remember it had things like finishing rugs and needlepoint golf club covers in it.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com/content-product_info/product_id-2382/finishing_and_mounting_your_needlepoint_pieces_by_katharine_ireyss.html

I also read Hope Hanley's Needlepoint Rugs in the 1980s and found her explanation of how to finish rugs very good.  This is a good book for rug lovers to hunt down.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/177218587/needlepoint-rugs-hardback-book-by-hope?ref=shop_home_active_21

Summer Louise Truswell's finishing book (available in several formats) has good general instructions for finishing.
http://www.lulu.com/shop/summer-louise-truswell/needlework-from-stitch-to-finish/ebook/product-17501291.html

Sandy Higgins book on finishing is a classic.
https://sites.google.com/site/sandysfinishingtouches/my-book

Kelly Starke of StarkeArt is doing a whole series of videos on finishing on her YouTube channel.  Browse them here.

And here is another blocking video.


Stockings and Open Topped Ornaments
Summer Louise Truswell's free tutorial for stocking finishing is fabulous!
http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2008/11/learn-to-finish-miniature-christmas.html

Kristen's online tutorial for finishing a Christmas stocking is helpful.
http://www.kristenrettig.com/2017/11/needlepoint-christmas-stocking-tutorial.html

The Twister Stitcher's video on how to make a Christmas stocking is great.  Vonna Pfieffer is a well known finisher in the counted thread world but her technique is superb and applicable to needlepoint stockings as well as ones on linen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXoxNEkvlQU&feature=youtu.be

This is a good video on open topped lined ornaments and mini sock finishing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbhM76LfWPM&feature=youtu.be

Starke Art has a two part video on small stocking finishing.


 Sue Dulles is a finisher who has posted two nice articles on Finishing Square or Rectangular Ornaments...
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2016/03/10/finishing-ornaments-2-square-or-rectangle/

… and Finishing Shaped Ornaments with Stuffing on her blog.
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/finishing-ornaments-3-soft-ornaments/

Abigail Cecile is a NP designer who trained with the Royal School of Needlework.  She has posted a great article on finishing ornaments on her website, with both a video and step-by-step photo instructions.
https://www.abigailcecile.com/pages/how-to-finish-a-needlepoint-ornament?fbclid=IwAR38ZffC1ZVdPSI2qtW_Yr5jQtRJ8gm3wcbpxbkrzhJSdRisTZcIkphIm8Y

Anna Marie Winter has several nice tutorials on her website.  Here's how to use foam core in finishing an ornament.  She also has a nice explanation of how to float mount pieces, plus advice on steam blocking (second link below).
http://www.annamariewinter.com/pdf/FinishOrnFoamCore.pdf

http://www.annamariewinter.com/tips.htm

Kristen's online tutorial for finishing an ornament is helpful.
http://www.kristenrettig.com/2013/08/mr-bunny.html

Very Basic Ornament Finishing, from Needlepoint For Fun
http://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/how-to-finish-a-needlepoint-ornament.htm

Pamela makes added a beaded trim to an ornament look easy.
https://hokkaidokudasai.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-to-make-beaded-edging.html

Unwind Studio's tutorial on finishing ornaments is quite complete but glue is used.  (Actually most professional finishers use glue on the inside sections.)

StarkeArt has a thorough video on making a boxed ornament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e3Qnj8iID0


Pillows
Needlepoint For Fun has a good tutorial for finishing a pincushion that also works for a simple pillow.
https://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/how-to-finish-a-pincushion-or-small-needlepoint-pillow.htm

Bags
Lisa at Loops in Israel has a Talit bag tutorial that works for a clutch bag, too.

Tube Shaped Nutcracker and Fireworks Standups

Fatima and Ola has a good knife-edged pillow video on YouTube.

Small pillow finishing--

Beanbag Frogs
If you don't want to fill your frog with rice because you worry about bugs, you can use aquarium gravel.  

Candy Canes
StarkeArt shows how to finish a candy cane in this 2 hour+ video.

Accessories
Though not strictly for needlepoint, Carol Andrews' Making Needlework Accessories might be of interest. All these books are currently listed on NewNeedlepoint.com currently.  I know the shop owner but have no financial interest in her sales.
http://www.newneedlepoint.com/content-product_info/product_id-3150/making_needlework_accessories_by_carol_andrews.html

Boxes
Terry Dryden sells a PDF version of her oval box making instructions.  I haven't seen this so I don't know how complete it is when it comes to constructing the box.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/511542610/needlepoint-oval-box-finishing?ref=shop_home_active_1&crt=1

Rachel Kinnison has videos about covering boxes with needlework in her Flosstube Finer Finishing Tips series.
https://ladysrepositorymuseum.blogspot.com/2021/09/new-finer-points-of-finishing-tip-series.html

Framing
Want to frame something yourself? You'll need to lace the stitching to a board of some sort.  Opus Anglicanum has a clear tutorial here.
https://opusanglicanum.wordpress.com/2018/03/25/mounting-on-a-board/
Cording
This video explains how to make cording using Kreinik's Custom Corder, in both one color and two colors and also including a metallic twist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hql-qnaL2T0&fbclid=IwAR1hHcUFGa5EHE2p4XoGz8iaHHCbq064I6XuOo5a-Aug1f7bXzy8AFc61hU

Here is the Kreinik Custom Corder if your favorite shop doesn't have them.
https://123stitch.com/item/Kreinik-Custom-Corder/CC-016726

Many folks prefer the Lacis corder.

Starke Art also has a video on making twisted cord for finishing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vgvHmPGzp8

Easels
If you want to make your own easels, these are easy and cute to display flat backed pieces.
https://thecopperfox.blogspot.com/2017/08/how-to-make-your-own-display-stands.html?m=1

Brick Covers
Starke Art just posted a speeded up video of finishing a padded brick cover on YouTube.  Lots of great ideas here on how to do this from wearing bandaids to protect the fingers to using fishing line and curved needles to assemble.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPNTTk3neM0&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR23ns4LnzNNp5xpZspiXsUxqxkUHXeuW2-U40hrOOZR_66wFMwLbEsUXI4


 Wall Hangings
Abigail Cecile has also done a tutorial (with video) about how to finish a wall hanging with a fabric backing.
https://www.abigailcecile.com/pages/how-to-make-a-needlepoint-wallhanging?fbclid=IwAR10TgXcroniUNVZTwsIG5Ydtrf6pBFL_Jmw3fO1GD_0L1I-EculglRTekc


Finishing Supplies

I buy most of my finishing supplies at the big box craft stores or at Joann's Fabrics but there are other sources if you want something a bit more unusual.

For fabrics, try Britex Fabrics in San Francisco.

Orna Willis sells pieces of Ultrasuede. What she has varies.  Contact her if you need something specific.

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