How to stitch a needlepoint chart

How this chart works

Your pattern is a counted chart. Each square on the grid equals one intersection of your canvas — one tent stitch. The colors and symbols tell you which thread goes where; ignore the grid lines themselves and follow the colored blocks. You don't stitch onto the chart — you read from it onto blank canvas.

This is very doable for a first-timer. Mistakes wipe out: miscounted stitches just get picked out and redone, and there's no wrong place to start once you've found your center.

Your supplies

• Blank needlepoint canvas at your chosen mesh, at least your design's finished size plus about 3" of bare margin on every side (for stretching and finishing).
• A tapestry needle matched to your mesh — ask your shop for the size (a starting guideline; we're finalizing our needle guide).
• Your threads, plus small sharp scissors and a stretcher-bar frame to keep tension even.
• A pencil or fine waterproof marker to mark your center (optional).

Find your center and start there

Fold your canvas in half, then in half again — the corner is the center. Open it up and mark that intersection lightly. On the chart, the center is marked on the top and side rulers (the arrows). Line those up and begin at the center: it's your strongest reference point and keeps the design centered in the margin.

Geometric or edge-heavy designs can also be started from a side — count over from a heavy (every-10) line.

Make the tent stitch

Each cell is a single tent stitch: bring the needle up at the lower-left of an intersection and down at the upper-right, so every stitch slants the same way. Keep the slant consistent across the whole piece.

Stay on track while you stitch

• Work one color at a time — fill every square of one color before switching. Think of it as adding the polka dots, then the next layer.
• Use the heavy lines every 10 squares to count in tens instead of one-by-one, and find a stitched landmark to count from.
• Count canvas threads, not the holes — it's easier to keep your place counting a solid thing than empty space.
• Cross off rows and blocks on your printed chart as you finish them.