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Watch the video: “Needlepoint for Beginners: Elizabeth Bradley Beekeeper Kit Unboxing & First Stitches” by Raising Nobles
If you’ve been eyeing needlepoint but worried about where to begin, this walkthrough is your friendly starting line. We’ll unbox the Elizabeth Bradley ‘Beekeeper’ kit and stitch the very first rows together—threading, starting with a temporary knot, keeping tension even, and finishing neat tails so your work looks polished from both sides.
What you’ll learn
- What comes in the Elizabeth Bradley ‘Beekeeper’ kit and how to read the color card
- How to thread the needle using the included threader and tie a simple starting knot
- How to start with a temporary front knot (waste knot) and work even Victorian Cross stitches
- How to finish a color, weave in the tail on the back, and trim close without fray
- How to switch to a new color confidently without disturbing previous rows
Getting Started with Needlepoint
Needlepoint is a calm, methodical craft where you pass yarn through an open-weave canvas to build a design. In the video, Kristen keeps it beginner-friendly: she introduces the project, the partner brand Needlepoint.com, and shows exactly what you’ll use to complete your first stitches. While needlepoint is related to embroidery and cross-stitch, it typically uses thicker yarns on a stiffer canvas, which gives a pleasing, tactile finish. If you’ve ever searched for machine embroidery gear—say, magnetic embroidery hoop—note that this project is entirely hand-stitched and doesn’t require a machine.
Understanding the Basics The ‘Beekeeper’ canvas arrives pre-printed and color-coded, which means your road map is literally on the fabric. You’ll match yarns to the color card numbers, thread the needle, and start stitching across a row, keeping each stitch snug and consistent. Kristen demonstrates a Victorian Cross approach (also called a cross stitch in the printed guide for this kit). Though we focus on just the first rows, the same rhythm carries you through the entire canvas. If you’ve been researching gear for other craft branches—like embroidery machine for beginners—you’re still absolutely welcome here; the methods below are for hand needlepoint, where your hands and a simple needle do all the work.
What You Need to Begin A quick inventory before we start: the pre-printed canvas, yarn bundles, a color card, two needles, and a needle threader. Add sharp scissors for finishing and trimming tails. That’s it. The video does not specify canvas or yarn measurements, but everything visible in the kit is intended to take you from first stitch to finish.
Unboxing the Elizabeth Bradley ‘Beekeeper’ Kit
This kit is designed to remove guesswork. Kristen opens the box and lays out the contents so you can see how the pieces fit together. The packaging is giftable and practical.
First Impressions and Contents
- Pre-printed, color-coded canvas: your design and color map
- Yarn bundles: organized hues to match the card
- Color code card: number references to ensure you pick the right yarn every time
- Needles and threader: tools to get yarn through the needle’s eye with less fuss
The Pre-Printed and Color-Coded Canvas
The canvas includes the motif—a sweet beehive with flowers—already printed and color-coded. This means you place stitches directly over the right spots, removing complex counting at the beginning level. As Kristen notes, this makes the process “so much easier.”
Pro tip If visibility is tough, work over a contrasting table surface. Several viewers wished for tighter camera zooms; you can create your own zoom by pausing the video often and placing your canvas over a dark or light background to increase contrast.
Essential Needlepoint Techniques for Beginners
This section follows the exact order shown in the video: select color by the card, thread the needle, start with a temporary front knot, then work across the row with confident, consistent tension.
Threading Your Needle with Ease
Kristen uses the included threader: slide through the needle eye, hook the yarn, then pull back through. It’s quick and gentle on the yarn, ideal for thicker fibers. Leave a small amount of yarn protruding beyond the eye so it doesn’t slip while you stitch. embroidery magnetic hoop gear isn’t relevant here, but the same neatness principle applies—secure materials before you begin so you can stitch without a fight.
Watch out A few commenters struggled to see the exact path of each stitch. If you miss a moment, slow playback or zoom in on your screen to study how the yarn travels from one hole to the next.
Starting Your First Row: The Temporary Knot Method
Tie a simple knot at the end of your yarn. Kristen places this knot on the front of the canvas (far ahead of where she’ll actually stitch) and then brings the needle up from the back on the same line as the knot. The yarn between the knot and your first stitch will be covered by your row and later removed.
Quick check
- Is your knot parked on the front in an area that will be stitched over?
- Did you bring the needle up along the same line as the knot so the tail stays behind your upcoming stitches?
Mastering the Cross/Victorian Stitch
Kristen works what the kit identifies as a cross stitch (also called Victorian Cross). She brings the needle down from the top, picks up one canvas strand, then comes back up to complete the diagonal. Repeat across the row, keeping tension consistent every time. The key visual is a steady diagonal rhythm and snug finishing of each pass.
Uniform Tension and Clean Edges
Pull the yarn snug—not so tight it distorts the canvas, not so loose that stitches float. Kristen also cautions against piercing neighboring yarns. Aim for the top of each canvas opening when you go down and come up; this prevents “blurred” edges where colors meet.
From the comments
- Several viewers asked for closer shots, noting “cannot see stitches at all.” If that’s you, consider pausing after each stitch to confirm your needle path, and use good task lighting to check each diagonal.
- One viewer suggested that “scooping” (loading the needle through the canvas from the front in a single motion) can distort canvas. The video does not state a scooping technique; if you notice distortion, place the canvas on a firm surface and pierce each hole straight rather than scooping multiple threads at once.
Finishing and Changing Colors
When you finish a row or run out of yarn, flip the canvas to the back and weave the tail through several completed stitches. This locks the tail invisibly. Then trim close with sharp scissors.
Securing Your Yarn Invisibly
Kristen demonstrates weaving through the back and trimming so that nothing shows on the front. After securing, she snips away the original front knot as well—leaving a clean, uninterrupted surface.
From the comments A viewer asked if the long thread under the canvas is wrapped by the pattern stitches and why the knot sits on top and far away. Another commenter identified this as a “waste knot.” Your subsequent stitches cover the thread; when you reach it, tack the end and then cut off the knot.
Transitioning to New Colors Smoothly
To start a new color (Kristen chooses a medium brown), repeat the process: match the yarn to the color card, thread the needle, tie a simple knot, park the knot on the front in an area that will be covered, and begin along the printed color line. Keep the same tension and avoid piercing adjacent yarns.
Pro tip Work a full row or small section in one color before switching. This helps keep edges crisp at color transitions because you can concentrate on one clean line at a time.
Watch out Inconsistent tension from one color to the next can create ripples. Take a moment when switching hues to consciously return to the same snug pull you used previously.
Maximizing Your Needlepoint Journey with Needlepoint.com
The video highlights that Needlepoint.com provides complete kits, printed canvases, how-to videos, and step-by-step tutorials. If you live near Raleigh, North Carolina, or Charleston, South Carolina, they also offer in-person classes. They provide finishing services, too—so when your stitching is complete, you can have a piece professionally finished as an ornament or other keepsake.
Resources and Learning Opportunities
- Online how-to videos and tutorials for added clarity
- Complete kits for beginners who want everything in one box
- A la carte canvases if you prefer to use your own yarn stash
Classes and Finishing Services
- In-person classes at their Raleigh and Charleston locations
- Finishing services to transform stitched canvases into display-ready items
From the comments Many viewers enjoyed the beginner focus while asking for closer shots. If you want ultra-detailed pacing, supplement the video by pausing at each needle entry/exit and magnifying your view. Good lighting and a contrasting work surface make a substantial difference.
Final Tips and Next Steps Maintaining Uniform Tension Consistency makes everything look intentional. Pull the yarn snugly every time; aim to repeat the same pressure so each stitch lays identical to the last. If you feel drag or snagging, check whether you accidentally pierced an adjacent yarn and adjust the angle of your needle to pass cleanly through the canvas opening.
Your First Completed Section Expect a small but satisfying patch of tidy stitches after your first color and a growing band as you add the second. The front should look clean and uninterrupted; the back should show neatly woven tails with close trims. This disciplined finish pays off later when you block or finish your project.
Quick check
- Did you weave and trim tails on the back so nothing shows from the front?
- Did you remove the front knot once your stitches reached and secured that tail?
- Are the edges between colors crisp (no yarn piercing or fuzzed boundaries)?
From the comments: extra questions we heard
- Hoops or stretchers? Some stitchers prefer a frame, others go in hand. One commenter noted Victorian Cross tends to warp less, so a frame is less critical—use what feels comfortable.
- Intricate diagonals? A viewer asked about rules for diagonal areas. The video does not cover this. For now, apply the same tension principles, avoid piercing adjacent yarns, and follow the printed design carefully.
A note for machine-embroidery searchers If you discovered this article while shopping for machine embroidery accessories—like magnetic embroidery hoops or a magnetic frame for embroidery machine—remember this project is hand needlepoint. The guidance here complements, but doesn’t require, tools such as magnetic embroidery frames or specialist add-ons like fast frames embroidery. If your crafting interests span both worlds, you’ll still pick up useful habits: steady tension, clean finishing, and color discipline. And if you’re curious about entry-level equipment for another branch of the hobby, many people start researching with terms like embroidery sewing machine to understand basic capabilities before diving in.
Troubleshooting at a glance
- Stitches look uneven: slow down and reset your pull—the same snug feel on every stitch.
- Edges look fuzzy: avoid piercing the yarn in the adjacent color; aim true through the canvas hole.
- Can’t see clearly: switch to a contrasting work surface and increase task lighting; pause and zoom the video.
Wrap-up You’ve unboxed your kit, threaded the needle, begun with a temporary front knot, stitched your first Victorian Cross row, and finished and trimmed your yarn tails like a pro. Repeat this calm rhythm, color by color, and your ‘Beekeeper’ will grow with every session. If you’re near Raleigh or Charleston, consider a class at Needlepoint.com, and remember they also offer finishing services when you’re ready to turn your work into something giftable.
From the community
- Some felt the camera needed tighter close-ups; try slowing playback and using a contrasting background under your canvas.
- Viewers confirmed the temporary top knot approach aligns with a “waste knot” method; tack and trim once covered.
- New to needlepoint from cross-stitch? Expect thicker yarns and a stiffer canvas—it’s a different but equally relaxing rhythm.
Keep going—tiny, tidy stitches add up quickly. The first neat band is the hardest part; the rest is just more of the good stuff.