Start Stitching

If you want to learn how to start needlepointing in Baton Rouge, visit The Elegant Needle!

We love welcoming beginners to the shop and can’t wait to help you get started with your soon-to-be favorite hobby!

Choosing a Beginner Canvas

Keep these tips in mind when looking for your first canvas! Browse the walls or check out our beginner section in the front of the shop!

  • Start with something on the smaller side! You’ll be able to stitch a pillow or stocking in no time, but starting with a smaller design like an ornament or bag charm makes stitching feel less intimidating.

  • Canvases on 13 mesh have bigger intersections than 18 mesh, so it’s often easier to follow for beginners.

  • Look for canvases with only a few colors. Choosing a canvas with too many small details and changing colors can become confusing and overwhelming.

Once you’ve picked your canvas, we’ll help you get it ready to stitch by taping the edges and measuring it for stretcher bars. Stretcher bars are optional, but we find they help beginners by keeping the canvas in shape and giving you something to hold onto!

Selecting Your Fibers

We’ll walk you through the different types to help you select the right fibers for your first canvas! Here’s a quick guide to what we offer:

  • For 13 Mesh: For our more popular beginner canvas size, we offer over 700 colors in different silk and wool options. While it’s overwhelming to look at so much at once, focus on the main color and pick that first. We’ll help you kit the rest from there!

  • For 18 Mesh: Our top-selling threads for 18 mesh canvases are Pepper Pot and Vineyard Silk. Both come in a vast array of colors for your first project, with Vineyard Silk also available in On The Go cards for when you just need a little bit of one color!

  • For a little something extra: If you’re someone who enjoys sparkles, you’re in the right place! We’ll help you find the best thread to make your project shine.

Learning to Stitch

Our team of experienced stitchers happily works one-on-one with beginners to help you master the basics! You’ll leave the shop confident in your new basketweave abilities and eager to get to work on your project!

  • Our personal style of instruction helps you learn at your own pace, without pressure from others in a class setting. You’ll have our full attention as we help you get the hang of stitching!

  • The average beginner instruction takes about 45 minutes, and our team is happy to answer your questions as you go!