A Cheat Sheet of Needlepoint Terms Every Stitcher Should Know

Walking into your local needlepoint shop for the first time can feel a little like stepping into a beautiful new world, one filled with gorgeous canvases, colorful threads, and lots of terminology you may have never heard before.

If you’ve ever wondered:

What exactly is mesh size?

Why are there so many thread options?

What on earth is frogging?

You’re in the right place.

At AW Needlework Designs, we believe needlepoint should feel welcoming and relaxing, never overwhelming. This glossary is designed to give you the confidence to walk into your Local Needlepoint Store (LNS), shop online, or start your first project with ease.

Think of this as your needlepoint beginner cheat sheet.

Mesh Size (Canvas Count)

Mesh size refers to the number of holes per inch in the needlepoint canvas.

This number determines:

• How detailed the design will be.

• What type of thread you’ll use.

• How quickly the project stitches.

Here’s the simple rule:

Smaller mesh number = larger holes

Larger mesh number = smaller holes

13 Mesh

• Larger holes

• Thicker threads

• Faster stitching

• Slightly less detail

Perfect for:

• Beginner stitchers

• Relaxing projects

• Quick stitches

18 Mesh

• Smaller holes

• Thinner threads

• More detailed designs

• Takes longer to stitch

Perfect for:

• ornaments

• belts

• detailed artwork

• monograms

• detailed lettering

A helpful way to think about it:

13 mesh = big pixels

18 mesh = smaller pixels

24 mesh = tiny pixels

If you’re brand new to needlepoint, 13 mesh is a wonderful place to start.

Mono Canvas

There are several types of needlepoint canvas, but mono canvas is the most common.

Mono canvas is:

• made from cotton threads

• durable and flexible

• ideal for decorative stitches

• the standard used for most painted canvases

This is the canvas you will see in most needlepoint shops and kits.

Tapestry Needles

Needlepoint uses tapestry needles.

These needles have two important features:

• A large eye (so thicker threads can fit easily)

• A blunt tip (so the needle slides between the canvas threads instead of piercing them)

This helps protect your canvas while stitching.

Needle Size Guide

Needle size should match your canvas mesh.

Here is a helpful rule of thumb:

At AW Needlework Designs, we typically recommend:

• Size 20 needle for 13 mesh

• Size 22 needle for 18 mesh

These sizes are what you’ll usually find included in our kits.

Stitch Painted Canvas

There are several ways needlepoint canvases can be designed:

• Stitch painted

• Charted

• Printed

• Hand painted loosely

A stitch painted canvas means every intersection on the canvas is painted a specific color.

This means:

• No guessing where stitches go

• Colors are clearly mapped

• Stitching is easier for beginners

Stitch painting takes a lot of time and precision, which is why these canvases are often more expensive, but they create the best stitching experience, especially for beginners.

Thread Options

One of the most fun parts of needlepoint is choosing your thread.

There are so many different types available, including:

• Silk

• Wool

• Cotton

• Metallic

• Velvet

• Sparkly novelty fibers

Some favorites in the needlepoint world include:

For 13 mesh

• Silk & Ivory

• Pepper Pot Silk

• Persian Wool

For 18 mesh

• Vineyard Silk

• Silk Lame

• DMC Perle Cotton

Thread selection depends on:

• The canvas mesh

• The look you want

• Personal stitching preference

Skein

A skein is how thread is packaged when you buy it.

It is:

• Wound together

• Tied into a bundle

• Labeled with color information

When you cut thread from the skein to stitch, that piece becomes a strand.

Ply

Some threads are made up of multiple strands twisted together.

This is called ply.

Examples:

• 3 ply thread

• 6 ply thread

Certain threads allow you to separate the strands to make a thinner thread.

This is helpful when stitching on smaller mesh canvases.

Dye Lot

Thread colors are dyed in batches called dye lots.

Even though the color name stays the same, each batch can have slightly different color variations.

Because of this, it’s always smart to:

buy a little more thread than you think you’ll need

That way you avoid trying to match a dye lot later.

Waste Knot

A waste knot is a common method used to start a thread when stitching.

It temporarily holds the thread in place while you secure it underneath your stitches.

Many stitchers use this method, though there are other techniques for starting threads as well.

Tent Stitches

Tent stitches are the foundation of needlepoint.

They include three common stitches:

Half Cross Stitch

• Uses the least thread

• Provides the least coverage

• Often used for small areas

Continental Stitch

• Medium thread usage

• Strong coverage

• Very common stitch

Basketweave Stitch

• Uses the most thread

• Provides the strongest canvas coverage

• Helps prevent canvas distortion

All three stitches look identical on the front of the canvas, but differ on the back.

Frogging

Every stitcher does it.

Frogging is when you remove stitches after making a mistake.

The name comes from the sound:

Rip it… rip it… rip it…

Like a frog saying ribbit!

Needleminder

A needleminder is a small magnetic accessory that holds your needle when you’re not stitching.

It attaches to your canvas and keeps your needle safe and easy to find.

Once you start using one, you’ll never want to stitch without it.

Blocking

After stitching, your canvas will likely be slightly warped from tension.

Blocking is the process of reshaping the canvas back to its correct square form.

This can be done:

• By yourself at home

• By your needlepoint finisher

Most finishers will block your canvas before completing your final piece.

Finishing

Finishing is the final transformation of your stitched canvas.

A professional finisher can turn your flat canvas into something beautiful and functional like:

• ornaments

• pillows

• acrylic tray inserts

• key fobs

• framed artwork

• stand-ups

• luggage tags

This is when your stitches truly come to life. Self finishing is always an option as well with so many options now available from an easy frame to place your canvas or a simple insert to a key ring charm.  There are so many low cost options, just keep it in mind how you want to finish a canvas when you choose it!

LNS (Local Needlepoint Store)

LNS stands for Local Needlepoint Store.

These shops are the heart of the needlepoint community.

At an LNS you can:

• Buy canvases and threads

• Get help with your project

• Learn new stitches

• Attend classes

• Drop off finished pieces for professional finishing

If you have one near you, support it! They are wonderful resources for stitchers.

WIP (Work in Progress)

WIP stands for Work in Progress.

This refers to the project you’re currently stitching.

Most stitchers don’t have just one WIP…

We usually have several going at once.

Final Thoughts

Learning needlepoint terminology is the first step toward feeling confident as a stitcher.

Once you understand the basics, mesh size, threads, stitches, and finishing, the entire needlepoint world opens up.

And remember:

“Every expert stitcher started as a beginner.”

At AW Needlework Designs, we’re here to help you enjoy every stitch along the way. 

Happy Stitching!

AW