FAQ

New to Needlepoint

I've never picked up a needle. Can I really do this?
You can. Needlepoint is one of the most forgiving of the needle arts — a single stitch, repeated, in good wool, on an honest piece of canvas. If you can follow a painted line, you can stitch one of my canvases. Most people are surprised how quickly their hands learn the rhythm.

What exactly is a needlepoint canvas?
It is the design itself — printed onto an open mesh fabric — that you stitch over by hand. You provide the thread and the hours; the canvas gives you the picture to follow. When you're finished, you have a piece of art you made yourself.

What's the difference between a canvas and a kit?
A canvas is the design alone. A kit is the canvas paired with the wool to stitch it — for the Orangerie pieces, that's Appleton's wool in the eleven colors the design calls for, measured out so you needn't guess. Buy the canvas if you keep a well-stocked thread drawer. Buy the kit if you'd rather open the box and begin.

What does "13-mesh" mean, and do I need to understand it?
Mesh count is simply how many holes run across an inch of canvas. Mine are 13-mesh, which is a comfortable middle — fine enough to hold detail, open enough to move quickly. You don't need to memorize any of this. It only tells you what weight of thread to use, and the kits handle that for you.

What will I need on hand to begin?
A tapestry needle, a small pair of scissors, and good light. Stretcher bars or a frame keep your tension even and your canvas square, and I recommend them, though they aren't required. That is genuinely the whole list.

The Work I Make

Tell me about the handbags in Heirlooms Reimagined.
Each one is a single piece, never repeated — vintage tapestry given a second life as something you'll carry. They are made by my hand, which is why there is only ever one of each. When it's gone, it's gone.

How do preorders and capped runs work?
When a collection sells through, I open a limited preorder with a firm deadline and a set number of pieces. The cap is not a marketing posture — it is the honest number I can make well within the time. Once the deadline passes, the run closes and goes into production.

And the digital patterns in From the Workroom?
Those are for the impatient and the inspired — instant downloads and pattern tools you can put to use the same afternoon, no shipping required. They've become a quiet favorite, and they stay open when everything else is sold out.

Finishing, Shipping & Returns

Can you finish my stitched piece into a handbag or clutch?
It is something I offer, yes — though my finishing table is currently full. You can read where things stand on the Finishing Services page, and add your name to be told the moment it reopens.

When will my order ship?
Most orders ship within two to four business days. Made-to-order and preorder pieces keep their own timelines, which I'll note on the listing.

What is your return policy?
Returns are considered on a case-by-case basis — if something isn't right, write to me and we'll sort it out. Because so much of what I make is one-of-one or stitched to order, I'd always rather you ask anything before you commit than wonder after.