Creating Smooth Curves and Circles: The Movies

Elizabeth Brooke has started posting tutorials on her Instagram account, and I've linked to two of them that are particularly relevant for those who are frustrated because their circles and curves on needlepoint canvas look jagged.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTO5uQyEarB/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTJsQ69ERXQ/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 27, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Great Stitches for Clothing, Hearts, Backgrounds, Circles and Flower Petals (plus a Star and a Brick)

Quail Run has posted a neat stitch and stitch diagram for the one they used for a hatband and collar on their Pilgrim turkey.  Since they are starting to post stitch diagrams for all sorts of things, I thought I'd gather them in one place.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1153806046774798&set=a.635108881977853

It's a double brick stitch variation, and not too difficult to do when stitching black on black like the hatband Mr. Turkey wears.  Gives his starched collar a nice look, too.

Quail Run has also posted a diagram for Ribbing Stitch, which is perfect for a knitted item.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1158088719679864&set=a.635108881977853

Next, the shop has posted two lovely heart stitches.

https://www.facebook.com/QuailRunNeedlework/posts/pfbid0dsGeCYRYipCDh4hHc35Tar33V9Jzwan9TQZEnvUf3sD6tYgRxzKTQArhESnWBSPNl

This simple background stitch will go fast.  It is an open stitch but you can add a tiny upright stitch over the empty canvas thread to take care of that.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1168822438606492&set=a.635108881977853

Here are stitch ideas for round spaces.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1179302014225201&set=a.635108881977853

Flower petals are next.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1181770873978315&set=a.635108881977853

And here is a star diagram, easily made larger if needed.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1186038726884863&set=a.635108881977853

Bricks are great made from Mosaic Stitch.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1197797579042311&set=a.635108881977853

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 22, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Poppy Monk Tackles Round Areas in Needlepoint

Poppy Monk's latest essay is about stitching round items on needlepoint canvas.

https://poppymonkneedlepointkits.com/blogs/the-5-minute-needlepoint-blog/needlepoint-stitch-ideas-for-round-objects

I've noticed that when you tent stitch a round area that the left side often looks ragged because of the way tent stitches slant /.  You can counteract this by doing a \ on top of the outside edge, turning a tent stitch into a cross stitch.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 19, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Learning To Create Perfect Padded Satin Stitch Circles

If you ever wanted to create a nice round circle on your canvas with padded satin stitch, Anna Scott has a lovely short tutorial on her website.
http://annascottembroidery.blogspot.com/2019/08/doodle-stitching-going-dotty-on-satin.html

Anna mostly does crewel on linen but if you use a sharp needle, you can replicate her circles on needlepoint canvas.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 21, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Stitch Circles

Needlepoint.com has written a nice article with ideas for stitching circles.  Of course they are promoting their classes that include some of the tips they mention but it's still a good read.  After all, circles are hard to do well on the grid of needlepoint canvas.
https://needlepoint.com/blogs/needlepoint-know-how/tips-and-ideas-for-stitching-round-objects-in-needlepoint?goal=0_6eed0b10d5-9847a637f4-579725333&mc_cid=9847a637f4&mc_eid=3a360cb48b

Other ideas:

Couch a spiral of thread working from the center out
Use any stitch you want and then cover the jagged edge with an outline of stem stitch
Cut out a fabric circle (Ultrasuede or felt work well) and stitch it to the canvas with tiny stitches in a matching color.
Cover the circles with round sequins or paillettes or spangles

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright  May 11, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tent Stitches Without Jagged Lines

Last week I got a nice note from Marj who has an alternate method of making a diagonal row of tent stitches look less jagged. She simply runs a thread underneath the row once she makes it. It's like doing trame except you put the underlying thread in after you do the top stitches.

Marj learned this technique from Marion Scoular's book "Advice is...." Apparently, Marion's mother taught her the technique. Always listen to Mom!

I don't own this book, having only seen it once and that copy was for display only. Guess I'll add it to my Christmas wish list.

http://www.needleartworks.com/dsgnr/mss/mss3.htm

Thank you, Marj!

By the way, anyone interested in learning more about stitching curves and circles on NP canvas might enjoy reading the late Mary Duckworth's article about this, reprinted on the ANG website from the 1978 Needle Pointers where it originally appeared.

http://www.needlepoint.org/Archives/Circles.php


Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow