We specialize in charted, painted, and printed needlepoint and cross stitch kits,
charts and canvases for pillows, and miniature rugs. Charted designs can be used to stitch needlepoint canvases
or counted cross stitch.
TO SEE
PICTURES OF OUR KITS AND CANVASES, CLICK ON ONE OF THE PAGES BELOW
Every Crafts Heirloom Needlepoint and Cross Stitch Kit must pass this test: Does it have the strength, character and potential to become an invaluable heirloom when crafted
by the right person? Will it stand through time as a testimonial to the needlecrafters talent, skill, and love?
Think about it. Don't even consider needlepoint kits or cross stitch using inferior designs and materials. The Mysterious Vanishing Needlework. Have you
ever been to an estate sale, auction, or just a neighborhood garage sale? Then you know that everything imaginable
goes on the block to the highest bidder. But something is missing. You will never see a beautiful needlepoint or
cross stitch canvas. Why? Because a needlepoint or cross stitch design is too much a part of the person who stitched
it. Needlepoint and cross stitch needlework will always be a treasured and personal heirloom that will be kept
by the stitcher or some other member of the family forever in remembrance of the person who crafted it. Your carefully chosen needlepoint and cross stitch designs will never be sold. Is Needlepoint Cross Stitch Part of Your Destiny?
Be careful before you answer. If you are a bit new to this kind of needlework tapestry, you may not know of its
magnetic, almost addictive nature. Go easy here or you may be hopelessly trapped!
Make a Fringe for your Miniature Doll house Needlepoint Rug Coming soon!
ORDERING INFORMATION
You can use our TOLL-FREE phone number to order.
Please use this number only for orders
MASTERCARD and VISA accepted: 1-877-876-4925 (Works just like a "1-800" number)
Or. . . you can use our shopping cart system and SECURE
SERVER. No person has ever had any losses on credit cards using our SECURE
SERVER. All your information is encrypted and sent directly to us. This system uses non-internet channels to transmit
financial, commercial bank, and classified government information. It is safer than using your card at a store
where many people have access to your card number and name. Millions of transfers are made daily on this system
and it has never been compromised.
We accept only MASTERCARD and VISA. All cards must
be valid in the U.S.A. and be payable in dollars. Your order is acknowledged by e-mail almost immediately.
If you are using a computer that is protected by a "firewall" (an isolation system used by some large
firms and banks) you may not be able to get through to our SECURE SERVER SYSTEM. If the date is wrong on your computer
you may not be able to use our SECURE SERVER. If you are rejected for any reason you can always call our toll-free
number.
Finally, you can send us an order using a money order. Write out your order on any
convenient paper telling us what you want and how you are paying and send it to us. Put your phone number or e-mail
address on the paper so that we can reach you if we have a question. Remember, we can accept only money orders
in U. S. dollars. Send cash (only paper dollars -- no coins) only at your
own risk. All orders from outside the U.S.A. must pay with charge card or
PAYPAL. Money orders must be made out to POPULAR PRODUCTS. Insurance
available on USA shipments by request at additional cost. Insurance not available for International orders.
We can also send you an invoice using PAYPAL to your e-mail address. You will then pay them with almost any credit
card online or even an online check.
Our minimum order is $19.00 for USA and USD $29.00 for International shipments.
Needlepoint is a particular form of needle craft that is closely related
to cross stitch or embroidery. A special fabric, often called needlepoint canvas, is most often used as the stitched
medium. A needle threaded with wool or any other fiber is used to stitch patterns in the canvas. The canvas has
rectangular openings in the weave that allow the needle to pass through the canvas easily. There may be hundreds
of stitch variations and many names for them, but the fundamental stitches are the basketweave, the continental
and the half-cross. These are called "tent" stitches, probably because they make an inverted "V"
over an intersection of threads in the fabric. Return to Glossary Index.
Canvas used in needlepoint is a fabric that is made especially for the needlepoint
stitcher. It is classically made of cotton or linen, but can be any other fiber, even polyester or a plastic which
is not woven at all. Characteristics are that it is stiffer than most other fabrics that are used for needlecrafts
and has openings in the weave forming a rectangle at each intersection of a vertical and horizontal thread. Return to Glossary Index.
Canvas Size is determined by the number of open rectangles or holes
in each inch. The open rectangles or holes are often called "mesh". A 22-mesh canvas would have 22 very
small holes per inch and would probably be used for working a pattern that had great detail. A 5-mesh canvas would
have 5 holes per inch and might be used for working a pattern in a needlepoint rug. Sizes from 3 mesh to 40 mesh
may be found. Since much of the world now uses the metric system, these mesh-per-inch sizes may vary a bit depending
on the manufacturer. Canvas of various kinds may be found in widths from about 4 inches to 72 inches. Note: Some
experts define the word "mesh" as the number of threads per square inch. This is really the same as the
number of holes because each hole must be bounded by threads. Return to Glossary Index.
Monofilament Canvas or "Mono" Canvas has one vertical thread
for each horizontal thread. See * Canvas, * Penelope Canvas, * Interwoven Canvas, * Canvas Size. Return
to Glossary Index.
Penelope Canvas has two vertical threads and two horizontal threads per
mesh. The vertical threads are usually woven very close to each other. See Tips. Return
to Glossary Index.
Interwoven (Interlock) Canvas has two vertical threads and one horizontal
thread per mesh. One vertical thread goes over while the other goes under each horizontal thread. This forms a
lock on the horizontal thread. See Tips. Return to Glossary Index.
Denier refers to the plies or individual strands that make up a thread used
in weaving. If a thread is marked by the manufacturer "six denier", you should be able to separate that
thread into six individual plies or strands. The larger the denier number, the stronger the thread. Six denier
is often used in superior quality needlepoint canvas. Return to Glossary Index.
Yarn is a term used by many needlepoint stitchers to refer to the material
they use in the needle. Yarn can be any fiber used in needlepoint stitching. Return to
Glossary Index.
Persian Yarn is a wool yarn that classically has long fiber filaments of
superior material. This yarn can usually be separated into several untwisted plies. These plies can be used one
at a time or recombined in any number to form larger diameter yarns for working the larger sizes of needlepoint
canvas. Return to Glossary Index.
Tapestry Yarn: This fiber is used mostly by manufacturers of mass produced
needlepoint kits. It cannot be separated into plies. Return to Glossary Index.
Dye Lot Number refers to a specific mixture of dye and the attendant processing
that was used to color a quantity of fiber. All fiber processed and marked with a certain dye lot number should
be almost identical in color, character, and appearance. Return to Glossary Index.
Painted Canvas. The design to be followed by the stitcher can be painted
directly on the needlepoint canvas. Hand painted and machine painted canvases are produced using acrylic or oil-based
paints. Return to Glossary Index.
European Needlepoint Stitching. This term probably refers to stitching
usually done on a frame and requires that the needle be in only one hole at a time. Return
to Glossary Index.
Basketweave Needlepoint Stitch. A diagonal stitch that crosses over
the intersection of a vertical and a horizontal thread in the needlepoint canvas. Each succeeding and adjacent
stitch must then be placed in a diagonal row rather than a vertical or horizontal row. At the end of each diagonal
row the stitching direction is reversed. Here is one popular rule: Start in the upper right corner. Make one stitch.
Make one stitch to the left. Move diagonally down and to the right and make one stitch. Move down one and make
a stitch. Move up and left and make a stitch. Move up and to the left again and make one stitch. Move left horizontally
one and make a stitch. Move down and to the right and make a stitch. And so forth . . . Said in another way: Down
one diagonal row, up one diagonal row, down one, up one, down one, up one. . .
Continental Stitch. A diagonal stitch that crosses over the intersection
of a horizontal and vertical thread of the needlepoint canvas. Each succeeding stitch is placed to the immediate
left or right forming a horizontal row or each succeeding stitch is placed immediately above or below forming a
vertical row. The appearance from the "right side" of the work is the same as the basketweave stitch,
but technically and practically it is not the same and should be used only when stitching one row of a color. Return to Glossary Index.
Charted Designs enable the needlepoint stitcher to work from paper charts
on a blank needlepoint canvas. Each yarn color is shown on the chart as a particular symbol. Return
to Glossary Index.
DMC is a needlecraft materials manufacturer. Their yarn and floss has been
popular for many years making them the reference point in colors for many design artists. Cross references are
available for other yarns and floss such as Paternayan and Anchor. Return to Glossary
Index.
Needlepoint Pillow Tops: Pillow tops are the center section of
pillows such as are seen in many of our pictures. They are "finished" by sewing them into matching blank
pillows and applying a harmonious edging. Return to Glossary Index.
Embroidery: This needlecraft is very similar to needlepoint and cross
stitch and is probably the precursor of both. Designs are sewn into closely woven fabric usually following a pattern
drawn or printed on the cloth. Return to Glossary Index.
Cross Stitch: In this form of needlecraft designs are sewn into cloth much
the same as embroidery but the design classically follows a set pattern of stitches that form diagonal crosses.
The design can be applied in several ways or the design can be taken from charts. The placement of each stitch
is found by counting rows and columns. Hence, it is often called "counted cross stitch." Return
to Glossary Index.
Sampler: Needlework that usually takes the form of simple stitches such
as alphabets and classical objects. In earlier days these were often the first major sewing work assigned to a
learner. A worn, small piece of cloth and bits of leftover thread were all that could be spared to the inexperienced.
Later, the sampler became a work of art in its own right, becoming complex and larger. Return
to Glossary Index.
