Table of Contents
Watch the video: “Needlepoint - The Continental Stitch” by the creator (channel not specified).
Looking at your first needlepoint canvas and wondering where to begin? This friendly walkthrough demystifies the Continental Stitch—the foundation of most needlepoint—so you can confidently start, stay consistent, and finish strong. We’ll mirror the tutorial’s pacing and keep things approachable for absolute beginners.
What you’ll learn
- How a needlepoint canvas grid works and how to pick your starting area.
- Three ways to secure your thread and a simple knot method you can master in minutes.
- Horizontal Continental Stitch (right to left): what to do, where to enter/exit, and how to flip your canvas.
- Vertical Continental Stitch: the same diagonal principle, just worked down the canvas.
- How to secure your thread neatly when you’re done.
Getting Started with Needlepoint: Essential Tips
Understanding Your Needlepoint Canvas Think of your needlepoint canvas as graph paper: a series of vertical and horizontal lines with intersections. Each Continental Stitch covers one intersection—a small cross on the grid. When the instructor points to the canvas, you can clearly see the grid structure and how each stitch sits on a single cross.
Pro tip: The Continental Stitch always slants in one direction when done correctly. In this tutorial, that slant is bottom left to top right, which gives your stitching a unified, tidy look.
Choosing Your Starting Point and Colors Begin in the largest block of color. This gives your hands a chance to get comfortable before dealing with tiny edges and changes. The tutorial also advises working from lighter colors toward darker ones. This helps prevent darker fibers from peeking through lighter sections on the front—a common frustration for beginners.
Quick check: Before you thread your needle, point to your starting area and say your plan out loud: “Start in the big pink area, move right to left, bottom-left to top-right slant.” A simple script helps your hands follow your intention.
If you’re coming from machine embroidery, note that needlepoint uses a stiff open-weave canvas rather than fabric in a hoop. Don’t worry if your brain tries to compare it to a magnetic embroidery hoop—the hand-stitched rhythm will feel natural after a few rows.
Securing Your Thread for a Strong Start
Different Methods for Securing Fibers The video outlines three options to secure your thread at the start: tie a knot at the end, use a waste knot, or stitch over the tail on the back. All three are valid. The instructor prefers a simple end knot because it’s quick, reliable, and beginner-friendly.
Step-by-Step: Tying a Secure Knot Take about an inch at the end of your fiber, wrap it around your finger, and tie a small knot. Depending on your mesh size (the video demonstrates on 10 mesh), you may consider a double knot, but most of the time one knot is enough. The goal is to prevent the knot from slipping through the canvas hole.
Watch out: If your knot pulls through the canvas, undo it and retie slightly larger. The fix is quick, and it’s better than discovering a wandering thread halfway through a row.
If you’ve previously used a machine with an on-screen guide (for example, an embroidery machine for beginners), treat this knot step as your “baseline setup.” Consistent starts make for fewer hiccups later.
Mastering the Horizontal Continental Stitch
Decoding the Continental Stitch Diagram Here’s the cornerstone: every stitch moves bottom left to top right across one canvas intersection. The stitch slants to the right, and you work a row from right to left. A simple diagram (as shown in the video) clarifies the path and repetition. If a stitch leans the wrong way, it’s a warning sign—gently remove it and re-stitch in the correct direction.
Your First Horizontal Stitches: Right to Left When you begin a row, don’t come up exactly at the outer edge of your color block. Instead, come up one space in from that edge to set your first stitch properly. Bring the needle up at the bottom-left corner of the square and take it down at the top-right corner. Repeat, moving right to left, each time keeping that same diagonal slant.
Quick check: Glance across the row—do all your stitches slant the same way? Consistency is your best friend here.
If you like following a physical guide in your hands, think of your canvas as your built-in map—no separate embroidery frame is needed for this technique, though you can use stretcher bars if you prefer (the video does not specify frame tools beyond showing a canvas).
Navigating Rows and Flipping Your Canvas As you complete one row and prepare for the next, flip your canvas to keep your hand and stitch direction consistent. You’ll still use the same motion—bottom left to top right—just oriented so you can comfortably keep moving right to left on the new row. The tutorial stresses not to obsess over the back of your canvas; it will be covered during finishing.
From the comments: Several beginners found the flipping tip reassuring. One viewer thanked the instructor for demonstrating the flip, and another agreed it helped reduce confusion. If you’re new, adopt the flip—it’s a simple way to keep your angles and tension steady.
Look at the back only as a quick consistency check; it doesn’t need to be perfect. The front is the star of the show.
Pro tip: After you flip, take a breath and make the first stitch of the new row deliberately. It’s easy to accidentally mirror your slant. Confirm the needle still goes from bottom left to top right.
The video also shows a row of completed horizontal stitches, all leaning to the right. Use this view as your visual target for uniformity.
If you’re used to snapping fabric into magnetic hoops for machine embroidery, flipping a stiff canvas might feel different at first. Support the canvas with your non-dominant hand and rotate rather than torque—your stitches will thank you.
Transitioning to the Vertical Continental Stitch
Applying the Same Principle Vertically Vertical Continental is the same diagonal rule—bottom left to top right—just worked down the canvas instead of across. Start where there’s space in your design (the sample has partially filled areas). Move down column by column, and flip the canvas as needed to maintain the same slanting logic you used horizontally.
Quick check: Whether horizontal or vertical, each stitch should slant to the right. If a single stitch looks off, correct it immediately; it’s easier than fixing it after a dozen.
If you’re curious about how this compares to machine techniques, remember that needlepoint is guided by the grid rather than by a machine’s hoop or interface—there’s no need for magnetic embroidery frames. Your eye and the canvas intersections are your alignment tools.
Finishing Strong: Securing Your Thread at the End
How to Secure Your Thread Neatly When you’re near the end of your thread, turn the canvas over and weave the needle through several of your existing stitches on the back—two or three times is a good rule of thumb shown in the video. Trim the excess close to the woven path. Short is better than long here, since a long tail can create bulk or peek out later.
Watch out: If the tail is too long or loosely secured, it can migrate and show on the front. Re-weave the thread through a few more stitches and trim closer.
The result is a clean, secure finish, with the front looking crisp and the back flat enough to stay hidden during finishing.
Beyond the Basics: Your Needlepoint Journey
Practice Makes Perfect If this is your first stitch journey, you’re already mastering the essentials: reading the grid, securing thread, keeping a consistent slant, and flipping to stay comfortable. The Continental Stitch is a gateway technique—once you’re confident with it, you can stitch nearly any beginner-friendly canvas with poise.
From the comments: Beginners praised the simple flip between rows for reducing confusion. If you ever lose track of direction, pause, check a few stitches for the right-leaning diagonal, and pick up again with confidence.
Exploring More from Lycette Designs The instructor closes by inviting viewers to explore more tips and inspiration via Lycette Designs online and on social platforms. You’ll find patterns, color inspiration, and more stitch guidance suitable for building your skills step by step.
A note for multi-craft makers: If you also machine embroider, you may be used to aligning fabric within embroidery machine hoops. Needlepoint’s canvas grid gives you a built-in map—no fabric stabilization or hoop tension required. Similarly, you won’t need to hunt for magnetic embroidery hoops or specialized hardware for this hand technique.
Troubleshooting at a Glance
- My stitches don’t all slant the same way: Remove the mis-leaning stitch and re-stitch bottom left to top right. A single correction restores the row’s rhythm.
- I accidentally skipped a hole: Back up to the last correct stitch and realign. The grid makes it easy to spot and fix.
- The back looks messy: It’s not a priority here. Focus on the front; the back will be covered during finishing.
- My knot slipped through: Tie a slightly larger knot or double knot (especially on smaller mesh sizes).
If you habitually look for a magnetic embroidery hoop or similar gear to stabilize your work, remember: your needlepoint canvas is already tension-stable. Keep your hands relaxed, let the grid guide you, and enjoy the steady, meditative pace of Continental Stitching.
Why This Stitch Works for Beginners
- Repetition builds muscle memory fast. Each stitch repeats the same path.
- Visual consistency is easy to check: all stitches lean to the right.
- It translates across directions. Horizontal rows and vertical columns use the same logic.
- It sets you up for success on almost any canvas design.
Micro-mastery Moments
- First stitch accuracy: Start one space over when working right to left to set the row cleanly.
- Flip with purpose: Turn the canvas to keep your stitch angle consistent rather than contorting your wrist.
- Secure with confidence: Weave through multiple back stitches and trim short.
If you love tools and gadgets, you might wonder how hand needlepoint fits with machine accessories like embroidery machine for beginners guides or magnetic hoops. Consider them different branches of the embroidery tree—great in their own right, but with different needs. For Continental Stitch, your must-haves are simple: canvas, thread, needle, scissors.
Sourcing and Setup Notes
- Canvas mesh: The demo uses 10 mesh for clarity (larger holes are easier to see and stitch through).
- Fiber length for knot: Around an inch of tail for tying the initial knot.
- Direction guides: Horizontal rows flow right to left; vertical sections work downward. Keep the slant bottom left to top right in both.
If you’re in the habit of browsing for an embroidery frame or magnetic embroidery frames for your other stitching crafts, remind yourself that for Continental Stitch the canvas itself provides structure. Your setup remains minimal and portable.
Your Confidence Checklist
- I can identify the intersections on the canvas grid.
- I know where I’ll start: the largest block of color, working from light to dark.
- I can secure my thread with a small knot (or preferred method).
- I can stitch bottom left to top right, moving right to left for horizontal rows.
- I can flip the canvas and keep the same slant.
- I can weave off the end on the back and trim short.
Keep Going Needlepoint shines when you take it one small diagonal at a time. Turn on a favorite playlist, choose that generous color block, and sink into the rhythm. With the Continental Stitch under your belt, your next canvas will feel less like a first date and more like catching up with an old friend.
For makers who regularly shop for gear such as embroidery machine hoops or browse listings for magnetic embroidery hoops, remember: for this hand-stitched technique, your progress depends more on consistent slants and calm pacing than on specialized equipment. That’s part of needlepoint’s charm—simple tools, satisfying results.