Mini needlepoint bag charms with Meg Francez
Meet the designer behind these punchy, almost-instant-gratification needlepoint canvases (and get a mini tutorial on finishing your own)!
If you’re on Tik Tok, you’ve seen Meg Francez’s viral bag charm videos. Bag charms are having a *moment* in needlepoint and for good reason. This may have sprung from the overall trend to Birkinify your bag and Loewe charms with a handmade feel.
Meg’s spin on this trend features bright and fun colorways and punchy iconography are real nice dopamine hit during these endless winter months. They’re mini (which let’s be honest, I can never resist. You should *see* me at a museum miniature exhibit). And these projects are an easy self-finish. All this to say, after recently picking up a mini boat and tote at Christmas, I was feeling very inspired to finish a bag charm for it, too!
In this article
Behind the Finish: Get to know Meg Francez and the story behind her mini bag charms
Free mini tutorial: Finishing a Needlepoint Mini Bag Charm
Links to related topics to learn more
An Invite to join our Finish Along on Feb 20 so you can finish your own charm with my support virtually!
Plus, an exclusive reader discount code to shop her collection!
Behind the Finish: Meg Francez
Amanda: Hi Meg, Thank you so much for chatting with us! Can we start with intros?
Meg: I am Meg Francez of MF Needlepoint. I am a banker by day and needlepoint designer and stitcher by night! I originally learned to needlepoint from my 3rd grade teacher and have been stitching on and off since! However, I got really into the hobby in 2023 while on a girls trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Amanda: When did you start designing and painting canvases?
Meg: I began designing and painting canvases in 2023 when I had ideas for canvases that I wanted to gift and stitch that were not available on the market.
Amanda: Love your darling bag charm series, what inspired that for you?
Meg: I have been enamored with luxury designer bag charms, particularly the Loewe Elephant. However, I just couldn't bring myself to justify the $500 price tag. Instead of splurging on one, I decided to DIY using materials I already had at home. One weekend, I rediscovered a small olive on a canvas scrap that I painted in the spring, but hadn't yet put to use. After rediscovering the olive, I stitched it and self-finished with a longer loop. I then snapped a photo, styled with a mini LL Bean Boat & Tote, and shared it on Instagram. And, as they say, the rest is history!
Amanda: What advice do you have for people getting interested in painting/designing?
Meg: Find something you are interested in that does not exist as a canvas already and give it a try! I have found that my favorite projects to paint are of subjects that I already love, and want them in needlepoint form! I use Stitchly to chart out all of my designs and typically paint from the center of the canvas and go outwards.
Amanda: As you mentioned, you’ve finished your own bag charms. That’s so fun! Do you have any advice for folks who want to try it for the first time using one of your projects?
Meg: Bag charms are a fantastic project to try self-finishing with! Since they're small, they come together quickly, which means there's less time to get frustrated. I like to finish these mini designs similarly to ornaments, and I’ve picked up a couple of key tips along the way:
Press both sides of your piece with an iron to help the back of the design flatten out, giving it a neat, professional finish.
When creating your loop, I aim for a length of about 5-6 inches to ensure it’s sturdy and functional [and it slips onto your bag handle].
Amanda: Where can people learn more about you or see your designs?
Meg: My designs are on my website, MFneedlepoint.com, or find me on Instagram @mfneedlepoint or on TikTok @MegFrancez.
Discount Code
Meg generously provided TNFC readers with a discount. Use code FinishingFairy15 to shop her darling collection, including the Valentine’s Day heart featured in this tutorial. It’s part of her new collection that just dropped.
Needlepoint Mini Bag Charm Tutorial
Self-finishing a needlepoint bag charm is a great project to attempt on your own. This special shape finish would typically cost $60-75 range from a professional finisher. As Meg highlights above, these limit your frustration time but also give you an idea of the basic finishing principles. You can do this.
Mini Process Video
This mini video isn’t as detailed as most of my tutorials in the Needlepoint Finishing Club but it does highlight the key differences between this and an ornament finish including:
Using the photocopy method to trace your special shape outline
Creating a longer loop
If you’re interested, heres a detailed tutorial on finishing a needlepoint heart, available exclusively in The Needlepoint Finishing Club.
How to finish a needlepoint heart ornament
Difficulty: 1/5 🪡
Prerequisites
None, this could be your first project!
Materials
You can find a full list of recommended finishing materials here.
Needlepoint canvas, stitched and blocked (blocking instructions here)
Photocopy of your needlepoint canvas
Cording: I used 9 strands of DMC floss, created with the Lacis cording maker
Fabric lined with a fusible mid-weight fusible interfacing.
Wonderclips and Pins
Pencil, Scissors
For attaching the cording: Invisible Thread or Fishing Line
A tapestry needle for lacing your canvas (your left over needle is great)
A sharp, thin needle for attaching your cording. I used a #7 Sharps
Want to Finish Along with me?
Join on February 20 for my Special Shape Finish Along (a benefit for TNFC members) and finish your bag tag in real time with the support of other TNFC members and expert instruction, led by me!
Related Resources
Are you ready to jump in? What other questions do you have? Would love to hear from you in the comments.