How to finish a needlepoint heart ornament

Mastering inner corners, outer points, and alternative methods for steps you use for each finish

Before we get to it, did you catch last week’s mini tutorial on a heart bag charm? If you missed it, its a cute one! I wanted to do a deeper dive heart tutorial because its a great special shape that helps you with some key foundational skills, especially inner corners and outer points.

If you’ve been a reader or friend for a while, you know that I really like to show you a few different ways to do things.

Here are a few highlights of what you can learn from this tutorial, even if you’ve done a heart before.

• How to trace a special shape without any special tech

• How and why you may want to trace your back board after the front for special shapes

• How to add a puff to the front of your ornament

• Special tips for lacing delicate tabs cut on the bias

• My method for crisp sharp points to avoid fraying

Finishing a Needlepoint Heart Canvas

Difficulty: 2/5 🪡🪡

Prerequisites

• Round ornament finishes may be helpful

Materials

• Needlepoint, stitched and blocked.

• Acid-free 4 ply matboard

• Batting

• Cording: I used 9 strands of DMC floss, created with the Lacis cording maker. Follow my video here.

• Fabric lined with a fusible mid-weight fusible interfacing. I used a silk dupioni.

• Wonderclips

• Pins

• Scissors

• Blocking board

• Blocking combs

• Iron

• For lacing: DMC pearle cotton for lacing

• For attaching the cording: Invisible Thread or Fishing Line

• A tapestry needle for lacing your canvas

• A sharp, thin needle for attaching your cording (number 7 sharps are my go-to)

• Leather thimble, optional

You can find a full list of recommended finishing materials here.

Detailed Process Video