So what is Needlepoint versus Cross Stitch? 

Needlepoint is defined as wool on canvas, with the stitch techniques being normally single diagonal stitches (tent, basketweave or half cross stitch) using wool onto open canvas, from 3 to 14 count.  Jacqui's designs are a hybrid of both Cross Stitch and Needlepoint

Wool + canvas + cross stitch = Supersize Stitches.  

Why?  Because cross stitch is Jacqui's favoured stitch, and wool is quicker and easier to stitch.  But some of her customers you prefer more traditional cross stitch bases - and some prefer to stitch in a traditional Needlepoint way - as it is quick!

You can complete any of Jacqui's cross stitch patterns on needlepoint canvas if you prefer to stitch with this method. 

Use:

10 point canvas + 4 ply tapestry wool - to get the correct coverage

Remember 10 stitches = 1 inch or 2.53 cm - so refer to the stitch units to work out how big or small your finished work will be.

Refer to our HOW TO CROSS STITCH TUTORIAL on starting and finishing off you stitches, as it is the same method.  But the stitch choices are as follows..

Half Cross Stitch is literally half a cross stitch..  and the other 2 stitches are completed as follows:

TENT STITCH:

This is a quick and easy stitch to do and is very effective in all areas of the tapestry.  This stitch covers the canvas well but also tends to distort it. Once again though it's great for working smaller areas and we use it a lot on finer needlepoint kits (14hpi) for detail areas. On the "wrong" side of the canvas you will see a diagonal stitch.

BASKET WEAVE STITCH:

This is perfect for stitching large colour block areas as it keeps the stitches locked and less likely to skew the finished work.  The name comes from how the back of the canvas looks when complete.