Everything You Need to Know Before Sending Your Canvas Off for Finishing

One of the most exciting moments in needlepoint is when you place the final stitch in your canvas.

After hours of stitching, watching your design come to life one thread at a time, your project is finally complete. But before your canvas can become a beautiful ornament, pillow, belt, or framed piece of art, it needs one more step.

That step is finishing.

Professional finishers are skilled artisans who transform your flat stitched canvas into a polished, functional piece. But a little preparation on your end can make the finishing process smoother and help ensure the final result looks exactly the way you imagined.

At AW Needlework Designs, we believe the finishing stage is just as important as the stitching itself. Here’s everything you should know to properly prepare your needlepoint canvas before sending it to a finisher.

First Things First: Check That Your Stitching Is Complete

Before sending your canvas off, take a moment to review your work.

Look carefully at the entire canvas to make sure:

          •  all areas are fully stitched

          •  no painted sections are accidentally left uncovered

          •  threads are secure on the back

          •  there are no loose stitches or tails

A finisher’s job is to assemble and complete your piece, not to fix missing stitches. Taking a few extra minutes to inspect your canvas ensures it’s truly ready for the next step.

If You Used Stretcher Bars, You’ve Already Helped Your Finisher

If you stitched your canvas using stretcher bars, you’ve already done something that finishers appreciate.

Stretcher bars keep the canvas:

          •  flat

          •  evenly tensioned

          •  less prone to warping

This means the canvas is often much easier to block and shape during finishing.

While many stitchers stitch “in hand,” using stretcher bars can help keep your canvas square and reduce distortion during stitching.

Either way is perfectly fine, but finishers definitely appreciate canvases that have been kept straight and stable during the stitching process.

Leave Enough Canvas Around the Design

One of the most important things a finisher needs is extra canvas around the stitched design.

This extra margin gives them enough material to properly construct the finished piece.

Most canvases include this extra border already, but it’s important not to trim the canvas too closely to the design.

A good rule of thumb is to leave at least 1–2 inches of blank canvas around the stitching.

This extra space allows the finisher to:

          •  stretch and block the canvas

          •  sew backing fabric

          •  add cording or trim

          •  assemble the finished piece properly

If you’re ever unsure, it’s best to leave more canvas rather than less.

Don’t Wash Your Canvas Before Finishing

Many new stitchers wonder if they should wash their canvas before sending it to a finisher.

In most cases, the answer is no.

Professional finishers are experienced in handling stitched canvases and will determine whether cleaning is necessary during the finishing process.

Attempting to wash the canvas yourself can sometimes:

          •  distort the stitching

          •  cause thread colors to bleed

          •  weaken the canvas

It’s usually best to leave this step to the professionals.

Blocking: What Your Finisher Will Do

After stitching, most canvases are slightly warped or stretched.

This happens naturally as thread tension pulls the canvas in different directions during stitching.

Before finishing, a professional finisher will typically block the canvas.

Blocking is the process of gently reshaping the canvas back into its correct square or rectangular form.

This involves:

          •  lightly dampening the canvas

          •  stretching it into shape

          •  pinning it onto a blocking board

          •  allowing it to dry flat

Blocking ensures that the finished piece looks neat, symmetrical, and professionally polished.

Decide How You Want the Canvas Finished

Before bringing your canvas to a finisher, you should have a general idea of how you’d like the piece finished.

Some popular finishing options include:

          •  ornaments

          •  framed artwork

          •  decorative pillows

          •  belts

          •  bag tags

          •  key fobs

          •  door hangers

          •  acrylic trays

          •  stand-up figures

Your finisher may also offer additional custom options.

If you’re unsure what would look best, many finishers are happy to offer suggestions based on the size and design of your canvas.

Bring Thread Information for Cording and Trim

If you want your piece finished with cording or decorative trim, your finisher may need a way to match the colors used in your stitching.

This can be incredibly helpful for achieving a cohesive finished look.

There are two easy ways to help your finisher with this:

Option 1: Provide Extra Thread

If you have leftover thread from your project, bring it with the canvas. Finishers can often use it to create custom cording.

Option 2: Provide Thread Information

If you don’t have leftover thread, it’s helpful to provide the thread details, such as:

          •  thread brand

          •  color name or number

This allows the finisher to match the trim colors as closely as possible.

Provide Clear Finishing Instructions

When dropping off your canvas with a finisher, it helps to provide clear details about what you’d like.

Information a finisher may ask for includes:

          •  desired finishing style (ornament, pillow, belt, etc.)

          •  trim or cording preferences

          •  backing fabric preferences

          •  orientation of the design (which side is up)

          •  any personalization requests

Some finishers may provide a finishing form where you can write down these details.

The more information you provide, the easier it is for the finisher to create the piece exactly the way you envision it.

Be Prepared for Finishing Timelines

Professional needlepoint finishing is highly specialized work, and many finishers have waiting lists, especially during busy seasons like the holidays.

Depending on the project and time of year, finishing timelines may range from:

          •  several weeks

          •  a few months

          •  or longer during peak seasons

If your piece is intended for a specific event or holiday, it’s always best to plan ahead.

The Final Step in Your Needlepoint Journey

Sending your canvas to a finisher is the final step in transforming your stitching into something truly special.

What started as a painted canvas becomes:

          •  a holiday ornament on your tree

          •  a pillow on your favorite chair

          •  a framed piece of art in your home

Preparing your canvas properly helps ensure that the finishing process goes smoothly and that the final result reflects all the care and creativity you put into your stitching.

At AW Needlework Designs, we believe every stitch tells a story, and finishing is the moment when that story comes to life.

Happy Stitching!
AW