A fun way to finish needlepoint is to make a weight, Depending on your need and the finishing they can hold needlepoint frames, open books, or cookbooks.
Frameweights can be just about any shape. Weights for books are usually long and skinny.
In this article we’ll talk about what you need to finish them.
Weights
All of these need to be heavy in order to hold the book or frame in place. To do this you’ll need to have some kind of weight. Years ago beans or rice were often recommended. Today these are avoided because they can attract bugs.
Better is something that is heavy but non-edible. Rolls of coins make great choices. Loose coins can work as well, but you will need to keep them in a plastic bag to corral them.
My favorite weight is ceramic pie weights, pictured above. Unless you are making many weights the smaller package works great. Make sure you get the smaller ceramic ones, not pie chains, which are difficult to cut. Larger weights may not keep your needlepoint smooth.
Clean rocks, pebbles, or even sand can be used for your weights, but be careful as these can have bugs or debris.
Whatever you use, think about placing it in a plastic bag to keep it contained and in one place. If you are not using any traditional stuffing, you might be able to skip this.
Do I Need Stuffing as Well?
That depends on how you will use your weight. Bookweights of all kinds need to weigh down facing pages, so their weight needs to be either at each end or even throughout. Most of the time they will not have stuffing.
Frameweights do not need to spread their weight, so they can have stuffing. In addition they do not need to be stuffed hard but can be more like a beanbag or stuffed animal.
Fabrics
It’s essential for all weights that the fabrics use be very tight. Tightly woven heavy fabrics, Ultrasuede or pleather are excellent choices. With these as backing you can use any filling.
When you are making a cookbook weight there is a second important consideration: exposure to wet things. War=ter can ruin needlepoint. Because of this only use oilcloth or vinyl as the back of the weight. In addition be sure to cover the front of the canvas with clear plastic when finishing.
Follow these tips, even when having your needlepoint professionally finished and you’ll have acharming needlepoint that can be used for years.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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