Great Gadgets for needlepoint from Shops around Town

Updated February 19, 2021.
You can always fond tools at needlework stores. But there’s plenty to get at places like the hardware store, the fabric store, or the office supply store.

Here are some ideas.

Garden Shears: Canvas is notoriously hard on scissors and using just any old pair will ruin them quickly. About a dozen years ago I bought a pair if Fiskars Garden Scissors for cutting canvas and they are great. Very sturdy and made for cutting things far rougher than needlepoint canvas, they stay on my desk always.

Another possibility for this is kitchen shears. With are string and made for heavy use on rough items. Sewing shears are not made for this.

Quilting Tacks: Large and strong with slightly longer shafts, these tacks are glorious for holding canvas on stretcher bars. Buy them at the fabric store in large quantities.

Pigma Micron Markers: I’d be so happy if someone at my house bought me a mess of these. They come in very fine points and in lots of colors. They use a pigment ink so they are colorfast once dried overnight. You can find then at crafts stores, quilting stores, and scrapbooking stores.

Lever Staple Puller: I hate pulling out tacks and, most likely, you do too. With this style of staple puller, removing tacks is a breeze. It’s one of my favorite tools.

Extra Fine Sharpies: Stuck at the office supply store? Get a big pack of Extra Fine Sharpies to use for needlepoint. These markers are colorfast when dried overnight and come in lots of colors, but do test first. I keep a bin at my desk for coloring needlepoint.

Please note that other types of Sharpies have not been tested and may not work for needlepoint. Not all Sharpies use the same ink and some use ink that is harmful to needlepoint.

Copic/Cara Markers: These are the same alcohol-ink markers (the Caras are the kids line), originally made for drawing Manga. They have become hugely popular and are amazing for needlepoint.

OPI bookmarks: At bookstores, you’ll find these little magnetic bookmarks. The magnets are stronger than most magnets on bookmarks. Clip them onto the side of the canvas to be a needle minder.

Snap Trays: Getting more popular, trays that store flat but have sides that snap or tie together, make great temporary storage.

Project Bags: I look in the office supplies section of my local Japanese dollar stores and often find inexpensive translucent zippered envelopes. These make outstanding projects. They are so inexpensive you can buy a bunch.

Ort Containers: Stores that stock dishes for Japanese and Chinese cuisine are often full of small, pretty dishes made for sauces. These make great art containers. One big advantage is that they are not so big they will hold too much; but they are big enough so you don’t need to empty them every day.