Over the weekend, I got this Jenny Henry needlepoint kit. If you are looking for a take-along project or a great way to start some on needlepoint, these kits are s great idea. As you can see by the picture above, my kit is on mono canvas with sewn-down edges (no taping needed) packed into a cardboard box with needles and full skeins of Pepperpot Silk. These are the same high-quality materials you’d buy at your local shop, but packaged together.
The canvas is stitch-painted and very easy to see. There are color blocks along the side of the design. The one fault of the canvas is that it is folded to fit the box, but none of the folds come in the stitched area.
The back of the box has instructions. There are diagrams for Continental and Basketweave, a glossary of stitching terms, and some basic instructions written in a friendly, encouraging style. I think you could easily give these to a beginner and expect decent results, which is more than I can say for many kits. Also, unlike inexpensive kits, the canvas and threads are superior. Pepperpot Silk is a great cut & go thread, requiring no plying and recombining. The cheap floss found in cheaper kits is a problem for beginners. The canvas is painted, not printed, so every intersection is one and only one color.
Many years ago I bought a canvas that was stitch-painted after several years of doing less exact canvases. it was one of the best stitching experiences of my life. The precise painting made stitching a breeze. With such beautifully painted canvasses, needlepoint addicts can be made quickly.
Jenny sells both canvases and kits. Currently (May 2022) she has eyeglass case and limited edition kits. The glasses cases are two=sided and come with anchor Tapestry Wool. The limited-edition kits cover a wide variety of styles, including her popular cassette tape and boombox designs. Depending on the kit, they come with different threads, almost always on complete packages.
I love these projects and there will be more in the future.
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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