Stitcher’s Dozen Counting Pins Product Review

When I need to count, I find myself enlarging every tenth hole or marking the canvas. I do this because I haven’t been very happy with counting pins when I’ve used them. The result is that often I get off partly through or that my canvas ends up a mess.

Fern Ridge Collection has come up with a clever solution that will keep my canvas neat while making it easy to count.

Their solution is this set of bejeweled pins. Each pin has a crystal at the top, ten colors in all (there are four pins of one color). The crystals are small but easily distinguishable, even in low light. You won’t lose them because they come in a flat carrying case and stick into a thick piece of felt with holes already in it.

This packaging will keep your pins straight (a problem for me) and all in one place (another problem).

But the most brilliant thing of all is their method for counting which is patent pending. A sheet inside the case explains the method. Although it’s written for cross stitchers, you’ll figure out how to use it for needlepoint easily.

I used it last night to count a canvas I had already counted, twice, using both my usual methods. I found these pins easy to use and very easy to distinguish. Although my canvas wasn’t large, I can see how this method will easily allow you to count up to 490 threads.

The pins are blunt, so you can count something in your lap without hurting yourself. I was working in low light and could easily tell the colors apart. I found this method to be easier, neater, and, often, more accurate, than the other methods I use.

I think these pins are essential if you stitch either counted canvas or cross stitch. If you do more painted canvases, you will find these useful for counting borders, checking if stitches will fit or finding centers.

This stitcher’s dozen is now an essential part of my toolkit.

PLEASE NOTE: A set of these pins was given to me for testing and review purposes.