Getting Started...

 The beauty of needlepoint is that the actual technique is even easier to learn than basic knitting. Before attempting needlepoint, I had the idea that it required a daunting amount of patience to produce. Imagine my amazement when my first attempt at stitching flowed along so effortlessly that I was done in no time.

 I have taught many people to stitch on canvas in a matter of minutes. Some have   even gone on to work on important commissions for me within an hour of learning. So,  armed with this wonderful craft and astounding ranges of coloured wools, the world is your oyster!

Glorious Needlepoint -  Fassett, 1987

Shading, Toning and Creating Colours  Once you have learnt random long stitch or traditional tent stitch you can let your fingers do the stitching and concentrate on lovely colours and beautiful designs. Needlepoint yarns come in wide ranges of colours, but you can also mix your own. I always keep a selection of crewel wool yarns for this purpose. If I run out of a particular colour, or if the colour I want just does not exist, I mix my own. All that is needed are two or three different colours of crewel yarn close to the shade required. These are all threaded together into the needle and usually do the trick. Mixing crewel strands is especially handy for subtle shading, like that on my Kabuki face cushion.
Flowers and Foliage -  For sheer variety the world of flowers and leaves has few rivals for the decorative artist. From the subtlest washy tones and shapes to vibrant, full blown forms, this theme has fed the imagination of artisans in every part of the world since humans first started to embellish their surroundings. Whether depicted in simple, childlike forms or in the most refined realism, flowers rarely fail to captivate the viewer. It would have been easy indeed to deal with nothing but flower themes in this book. There are few other symbols that so potently bring the flavour and nostalgia of the great ornamental traditions of Europe and the Orient to our lives. Glorious Needlepoint -  Fassett, 1987
You can see Kaffe Fassett Studio's current needlepoint designs at: Ehrman Tapestry	Some of Kaffe's latest designs: