While putting a square peg in a round hole is hard, it’s easier than you think to create equilateral triangles in needlepoint. This handy shape is the basis of triangular and hexagonal designs found all over the world.
The method was developed by Shirlee Lantz (of Pageant of Pattern) and is called trianglepoint. In it you create triangles made of an odd number of Straight Stitches, below.
Rows are made up by alternating point-up and point-down triangles. You can also combine rows of triangles to make larger triangles, below.
These triangles create a technique that’s quick to stitch and easy to create in different sizes. Not only can you make your ornament larger by using a larger mesh, you can also make bigger triangle units or add more multi-row triangles to make a bigger circle.
The Ornament
This design is a circle of six three-row compound triangles stitched in two threads. Half the triangles point down and are stitched in solid threads, below.
The other three rows use a multi-colored thread, taken from the colors in the overdye. These triangles point up, below.
The background is stitched using a background thread of your choice. I stitched the three ornaments pictured here using odds and ends of thread in one evening.
To create the ornament, arrange your triangles, alternating thread and direction, around a small central hexagon, as in the map below.
Once the ring is stitched, finish the ornament with the outer background triangles.
If you plan to finish these as ornaments, add three rows of Basketweave around the perimeter so the entire ring will show on the front.
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
Hi! I am trying the triangle needlepoint technique you have featured in your Teal & aqua Ring of Triangles ornament etc. I am creating a framed picture using black and white triangles and this stitch is perfect for it. I am struggling with finding the correct mesh # to use with yarn weight that looks like the example you have shown. Can you please share what you used here for both the mesh and yarn if possible? I tried using #18 mesh with both DMC pearle cotton #3 and #5, one was too sparse and one was too thick. Also, I am a beginner and this is my first project, so I am grateful for any guidance you may offer on this.
Thank you,
Kathy
Straight Stitches in pearl cotton can be a problem as you discovered. In the models I used Silk & Ivory on 18 mesh. Threads with a hair amount of loft will expand slightly on the face of the canvas and give you better covrage.
Keep stitching,
Janet