While many designers showed at the recent Virtual Needlepoint Tradeshow, not all designers were there. Today I’ll talk about new products from these designers. Following this, I’ll be talking about trends.
Melissa Shirley has an absolutely adorable set of six canvases with dressed bunnies. You’ll find Mom, Dad, and a bunch of kids, all in charming Nineteenth-Century dress. A new bookshelf has gardening books. There are also a ton of new Vicki Sawyer canvases, many birds. Some of these are in a smaller 5″ square size.
JP Needlepoint has two lovely canvases featuring fish with elaborate tails. The tails are in many colors and patterns. Six sets of canvases have geometric designs with openings in the center for monograms or names. They are available as squares or rectangles. A lovely new canvas features a red fox hiding among tons of bright blue Morning Glories.
New from Kathy Schenkel are lots of new college rounds and mini-socks, including a few for college sports teams. There are also new travel rounds, including regions like West Texas, and cities, like Madrid. I really enjoyed stitching her small “I love” canvases. Several of them have been added. Finally, the 12 Days popsicles have been completed, with 7 through 12.
The designers from Fleur de Paris have some wonderful new canvases. From Sandra Gilmore, there is a vintage black cat canvas with the cat in a ruff. Another one has three bouquets in cans hanging on a striped wall. Janice Gaynor has four new canvases, two have a hippie feel. Another one features a variety of hamsa. Lovely canvases from dede feature a rainbow trout or a lovely violet plant.
Anne Fisher has a quartet of new roller skates, each in a different color. Her lovely Provencal prints are now available as pillows and picture frames. Two canvases available for pre-order are delicate watercolor bouquets.
Trends
Looking at the new needlepoint, I’m seeing two important trends. Both harken back to classic needlepoint from the 70’s but see them in a fresh way. A third trend looks at a growing number of canvases for new adult stitchers.
Blue-and-white is a classic color scheme. It’s been used in American decor since Colonial times. Through the years it goes in and out of style, but it never disappears completely. Today more canvases are seen in this classic color scheme. You’ll see it in canvases large and small. Often these canvases have the focal point in blue and white on plain canvases, making it easy to customize them with a colored background.
Back in the 1970s, needlepoint was all the rage. Two items that were often seen in needlepoint were brick covers and belts. While belts continue to grow in popularity and come in a dizzying array of thems. Brick covers are showing up all over the place. While the shape of these canvases remains the same, the new designs reflect the more contemporary style of needlepoint today.
The question of attracting new stitchers is one that gets discussed often. With the many new designers at the show, you are also seeing many more canvases that will appeal to these stitchers. You will find words and saying that are snarky, off-color, or four-letter words. You will find so many canvases that are beautifully designed single objects, that are still easy to stitch. These run the range from UGG slippers to paper coffee cups. The cool thing about these canvases is that they are small enough to be ornaments, but are also canvases that will look lovely in single-strand threads. Stitchers new and old will enjoy designs that are easy-to-complete but that are original.
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
Carol Schroeder says
Hi! I started needlepointing in 1993 and made many pillow or framed the 14x14s. Now I enjoy smaller pieces. I have never used a frame and have used only 2 stitches. What I do not understand is the very high price of hand painted canvases and then the threads, of course. The prices must have gone up a lot since 1993. Recently, I have been looking at a lot of designer sites that do not list prices since they are sold at various retailers who set the price. I know about eBay and found another site that sells unopened used kits and thread stash bags. I really do not care if the canvas is hand painted or not if I like the image. The Stitchery has Dimensions and others whose images I usually do not like.
Any other suggestions on where to look for reasonable prices? I refuse to pay $80 or more for a 4”x4” canvas and then buy threads. Thanks so much!
Janet M Perry says
Hand-painted canvases are expensive because of the time it takes to stitch them. I know that many shops are selling new canvases at shop prices on eBay, but poke around, you can find good buys there. I am finding reasonably-priced canvases from designers who sell their own work on Etsy. I have also found good prices on the different Facebook needlepoint sales groups, but not all prices here are good. Guild auctions are great places to buy canvases.
You are also right about canvases adding to the cost of threads. I shop my stash first always. I keep odds and ends of the thread so I do not have to buy new skeins when just a bit is needed. By my saving strategies over the years, I am now to the point where 90% of my projects needed 2 or fewer threads bought for them.
Keep stitching,
Janet