Needlepoint is having a major comeback moment, as more Americans embrace “analog activities” to replace screen time.
These offline hobbies range from puzzles to scrapbooking, but needlepoint has quickly become one of the biggest standouts. Etsy reports searches for “beginner needlepoint items” are up 208% year-over-year, and social media trends like #WIPWednesday (“Work in Progress Wednesday”) encourage needlepointers to share their latest projects and cheer each other on.
If you’re curious about trying it for yourself in Raleigh, here are a few easy ways to join the needlepoint resurgence.
Take a beginner-friendly class
Needlepoint.Com on Hillsborough Street hosts regular intro workshops that include materials and hands-on instruction in the $65 per class fee.
Not ready to commit to a class? Stop by the shop, and the staff can help you pick a beginner-friendly canvas, plus the right threads and must-have tools to get started.
Join a stitch club
Once you’ve mastered the basics, Needlepointers of Raleigh is a fun way to stay motivated and meet other needlepointers. The come-as-you-are group hosts stitching parties ranging from potlucks to Pilates classes.
Learn the art of finishing
Stitching the canvas is only half the battle — finishing is where projects really come to life. While you can always send pieces off to be professionally finished, S&J Needleworks sells a variety of self-finishing kits that will make completing your project as satisfying as stitching it.
