Ask a Finisher: Do I Need Extra Rows on My Ornament?
Stork Needlepoint Canvas by Stitch Style, available at Stitch-Style.com and at LNS nationwide
One tricky part of stitching a needlepoint canvas is knowing whether you need extra rows for finishing. Extra rows refers to any stitched area outside of the painted design, and whether you need them depends entirely on your canvas. Clear as mud, right?
Canvas: “Benjamin Bear” by Thorn Alexander, Distributed by KCN Designers
In this Ask a Finisher post, we break down exactly when you can skip extra rows (simple shapes, thicker special shapes, and 3D designs) and when you absolutely need them (skinny areas narrower than your pinky, and white canvas peeking out between painted sections). We also cover the gray area in between, like when painted details or edge beading call for a row or two of extra insurance.
This post walks through why extra rows matter for a clean needlepoint finish, how they affect structural integrity on narrow shapes, and why 3D needlepoint finishes should never get extra rows at all.
If you've ever wondered if you should add extra rows, or you want to stitch with the finished piece in mind from the start, this one is for you.
Head over to The Needlepoint Finishing Club on Substack to read the full breakdown (plus a bonus video with more examples from the stash).