Back in the 70’s (I know I’m getting old) I needlepointed on plastic canvas (in a kit) a tree top angle for my home Christmas tree. In true crafter fashion, I saved the pattern (because you never know when it might be useful). My daughter has purchased her first house and wants an angle like the one from her childhood for the top of her tree. I started looking for canvas and yarn…the plastic canvas was easy to find but it seems as needle point yarn (that is not in a kit) is almost non-existant these days. I finally found some on line at “ABC Stitch Therapy” but was wondering if any of you had noticed that needle point is either a dying art or it is just so oooo out of fashion that it is almost impossible to find the yarn unless you purchase the occassional kit.
Louine - When I’ve done needlepoint outside of a kit, I always just used any worsted weight yarn I had handy. That at least worked for the size of canvas I was using. (I haven’t done much needlepoint in YEARS, though.) I don’t think you HAVE to use needlepoint yarn. But ABC Stitch Therapy is a very good site.
in the mary maxim catalog I just got, they have tons of plastic canvas patterns, kits and supplies.
www.marymaxim.com
hth
My mom does this all the time for Christmas ornaments (wow, flashback we used to have tissue box covers and brick covered doorstops all over the house) and she too uses worsted weight yarn. Around here the plastic and embroidery thread are available at Michael’s.
I love doing needlepoint on canvas. But you are right,there is no local store that carries needlepoint yarn today. I usually order from Spinayarn.com. who carries DMC tapestry yarn. I am also thinking about using sock yarn . Any suggestions? Ellie
I’ve never done needlepoint on the plastic but I do the regular kind and I love it. I just finished a pillow with two cats on it sitting on a rug in front of books. I buy most of my needlepoint kits on Ebay. They seem to have the BEST selection since they don’t carry many kits in the local craft stores.
The LYS here is actually a needlepoint store that branched out to knitting. We are looked at as the bad seed. LOL. We always tell stitchers that come to knitting night that they have joined the dark side. LOL
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=blue]Quiltlady- do you do counted cross stitch or needle point? The reason I ask is that I am searching for a dragonfly cross stitch pattern… DH and I love watching them in the evening while we sit on the front porch… I would like to make a wall hanging for our bedroom. Did not mean to highjack the thread lol. Thanks! 
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=blue]anne[/COLOR][/FONT]
I do both needlepoint and counted cross stitch…I have been doing Counted cross stitch since the only patterns in the US were at the Hammock shop in Pawley’s Island, SC a (Ginny Thompson carried danish flower thread and linen and then begin to design her own patterns—she had a shop called the Counting house in the 1980’s but it is no longer there)…I remember the local needle shop owner telling me (in 1974)she didn’t think it would catch on…LOL…
You should try Nordic Needle. They have supplies for almost every needleart.
Look at www.hoffmandis.com - they have a COMPLETE list of cross-stitch patterns which are available and are the big distributor. A good cross-stitch shop (or many of the online places) should be able to get something through them.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=blue]wow that is an incredible site!! they had all kinds- thank you so much! I can see spending tons of time looking … good thing my boss is gone for the day lol.[/COLOR][/FONT]
:woot:anne
Just as there are lots of free knitting patterns on the web, you can find free counted cross stitch patterns. I found some bird patterns somewhere but I can’t remember the site. Good luck Ellie
Stonington, I use to do counted cross stitch and I loved it!! I haven’t seen any dragonfly patterns but if I come across one I’ll be sure and let you know.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=royalblue]Thanks! A very generous gal on a cross stitch forum sent me a kit… Dragonfly Duo. 
She had two and sent one to me! :woot: Folks are so great! Also I got another pattern that I just love- the pattern is to be done on 25 ct linen :passedout: .[/COLOR][/FONT]