Stitch Diary: Good Things Take Time. A Needlepoint Ottoman?

If you’ve ever been on my website, you may have seen this image. It was a project that I made just for me, and now I am finally sharing it with you with a digital pattern.

This massive needlepoint project is stitched and is currently stretched on the blocking board! I am torn between an ottoman and a wall hanging. What’s your opinion?

What started as a simple quarantine project has become something much more meaningful. I live on a remote island off Canada's west coast—about 60 miles out to sea from Vancouver—where needlepoint supplies are scarce. But sometimes scarcity breeds creativity, right? Our local haberdashery occasionally stocks British wool and the odd bolt of 10-count canvas. These are true treasures to come by in our small community.

Back in 2021, I wandered into our island's button shop with no grand plans, just curiosity in what they had. I left with a meter of 10-count mesh and an armful of wool in colors that spoke to me. There was something wonderfully ancestral about working with these traditional British materials—this is how generations before us stitched, making do with what they had. It’s also how my fellow designers across the pond stitch!

The chunky wool on coarse canvas reminded me of a colorful Hannah Bass kit I did in 2015. It was the perfect companion while immersed in audiobooks and TV shows. The substantial threads meant visible progress with every session, which is deeply satisfying after a lot of fine work that seemed to crawl forward.

After years of sketching, painting, and stitching, this piece now waits for its transformation into something both practical and beautiful.

As for this finished piece, the possibilities are endless: ⭐️ An ottoman (the original dream) safely hidden from my puppy ⭐️ A coffee table runner ⭐️ An oversized floor cushion ⭐️ A wall hanging with a rod pocket mounting situation.

The best part?

While I am not able to offer this pattern as a kit or canvas, this pattern is now available as a digital chart for your own upholstery stitchuation!

Shop the pattern here. $10 USD.

Appletons Wool Guidance:

Wool Details:

• 1 Skein of 4-ply Tapestry Wool = 10m of 100% British Wool

• 1 Hank of 4-ply Tapestry Wool = 55 m of 100% British Wool = 5.5 Skeins

• 1 Box of 4-ply Tapestry Wool = 10 Skeins

Coverage:

• Continental tent stitch: 1 skein = 7.3-9.5" sq or 18.5-24cm sq 11.5-16cm sq​

• Basketweave stitch: 1 skein = 6.8-9" sq or 17-23cm sq

For a denser coverage on 10 mesh, pair one strand of 4-ply tapestry wool with one strand of 2-ply crewel wool held together. I used just the tapestry wool.

Threads used:

• 2 Hanks x White: 991B White by Appletons

• 3 Skeins x Navy: 852 Navy by Appletons

• 2 Hanks x Blue: 744 Bright China Blue by Appletons

• 1 Hank x Green: 404 Sea Green by Appletons

• 3 Skeins x Dark Blue: 747 Bright China Blue by Appletons

What’s next?

I'm already dreaming of the next adventure. For a decade, I've talked about needlepointing a headboard. Between this year's earthquakes, tsunami warnings, and general upheaval, life feels uncertain enough that I'm finally ready to start. The 10-count canvas is ordered—now I just need to decide on a design. My husband has requested that it not be too girly. I’m thinking maybe oak leaves and other woodland symbology? Follow along for that journey!

After that, I will do a bench cushion.

Inspo: An illustration by Jessica Roux

CURRENT WIPS:

Needlepoint:

While I wait for my canvas to arrive, I am currently customizing one of my canvases with the following quote by Emily Dickinson:

Feel free to use this for your own personal project if it resonates!

Knitting:

And making another one of these for a nephew arriving this winter 🤍.

Bear Bonnet Pattern by Knitting for Olive

Yarn used: Sandnes Garn Sunday in 6501 Ice Blue and De Rerum Natura Bérénice Mohair in Brume. I used one skein of each held together.

Have a beautiful weekend!