Behind the scenes
Our Needlepoint Finishing Process
Ever wondered what happens between the last stitch and the finished pillow on your sofa? Here is how a canvas moves through the Cheryl's Needlework Finishing studio.
Consultation & estimate
Every piece starts with a conversation. You describe the canvas and the finished piece you imagine - pillow, ornament, purse, stocking, stand-up - and we agree on fabrics, linings, trims and timing, then confirm an estimate before any work begins.
Blocking & pressing
The stitched canvas is gently wet-blocked and pressed so the stitching is squared and lies perfectly flat. A true canvas is the foundation of a true finished piece - corners meet, seams sit straight and the design reads cleanly.
Assembly & shaping
Seams are sewn by hand, panels are joined, and the piece takes its shape: the box of a purse, the tube of a stocking, the octagon of a stand-up. Weighted pieces such as stand-ups, bricks and bean bags are built over forms with glass-sand or weighted fill.
Cording, fringe & trim
Edges are finished with hand-made twisted cording - often in two or three colours - plus fringe and specialty trim. Cording is made for your piece, not bought off the shelf, so it always matches the canvas.
Backing & lining
The piece gets its second skin: silk dupioni or checked dupioni linings for purses and stockings, ultrasuede for bags and cases, velveteen for the backs and bottoms of stand-ups and bricks. Pockets - including monogrammed pockets - and closures such as magnetic snaps are added here.
Final details & delivery
Tassels, charms, sequins and beads, names and dates, hanging loops and hardware, a final press - then careful packing and shipping back to you or to your needlepoint shop, ready to use, wear or gift.
A note from the bench
Finishing is finishing, whatever it is done to. When we want a change of pace from canvas work we will study the edge finishing on a modern watch case instead - if you want to follow that rabbit hole, the RM 055 pages at richardmillereplica.io are the ones we keep on the short list.
Start your piece
Have a canvas at the last stitch? Tell us what you would like it to become.