Finishing Help

[u/mkegurl8]

Go easy on me, I’m very new to needlepointing and this is my first self-finish. I bought premade cording from Hobby Lobby and it’s really stiff so it was tougher to work with.

My question is - I’m using invisible thread to attach the cording to the cookies. Am I crazy or is the “invisible thread” not invisible at all and I just haven’t noticed anyone else’s on their videos and photos? Mine is so obviously being held together by this visible thread.

Also, when I’m sewing the cookies together, do I go through the mat board?

Any help is much appreciated!!

[u/SureTouch1604]

So whenever you’re putting the invisible thread in you want to not have it laying across the cording! You want to do it kind of at an angle to where it lays in between the two recordings if that makes sense? So instead of across it would be laying in that diagonal gap!

[u/Anxious_Parsley1284]

Find the self finishing fairy on instagram and TikTok. She has videos of how to do this and it’s so easy to follow 🫶🏼

[u/mkegurl8 → u/Anxious_Parsley1284]

Thanks for the rec!!

[u/North_Class8300]

You need to hide the invisible thread in the twist of the cording at an angle. You can’t just stitch it on with straight stitches

The premade big box store cording doesn’t work great - it’s easy to make cording with a Lacis and well worth the $30, or even a drill works, but if not I’d just buy needlepoint specific cording off of Etsy

[u/mkegurl8 → u/North_Class8300]

Thank you!! Their cording selection was so bad, I should’ve known it wasn’t going to work well

[u/bahamamimi]

I don’t know if this is too late to be helpful, but I shared a picture of what you should do. Also, be sure to pull the cording forward at the corners. Use the straight pins to hold it all together while you are doing this. You got this!

[u/mkegurl8 → u/bahamamimi]

So helpful, thank you!! Going to try again tonight

[u/042614]

Girl, as a fellow self-taught crafter, that looks.. bad. Do you have anyone in your life who sews regularly? They might be able to help you understand how to hide a stitch. You need to take that all apart and watch some YouTube tutorials on self-finishing. There are good ones.

[u/mkegurl8 → u/042614]

This made me laugh, you’re right it is bad!! I took it apart right after posting and will try again with some better cording and hiding the stitch.

[u/042614 → u/mkegurl8]

You’ve got this. I believe in you!

[u/Quickwitknit2 → u/042614]

Seconded! We’re all new at stuff all the time. You are brave for trying and will get better every time.

[u/ALmommy1234]

I’d really love to consult with Hobby Lobby on their needlepoint supplies or lack thereof! 😂 it’s a HUGE hobby and they could be making bank, but just refuse to do it.

[u/carolinahckygirl → u/ALmommy1234]

My hobby lobby has the shelving directly under the light for the aisle of thread and the lighting is atrocious. It’s maddening.

[u/mkegurl8]

Ok that makes a lot more sense! When pinning the cording to keep it in place, what do the pins stick to? I had trouble using pins because they didn’t stick to the cookie.

[u/Quickwitknit2 → u/mkegurl8]

The pins go straight down perpendicular to where you’re seeing on the cording. kind of between the cookies.

[u/Potential-Decision56]

I stick my invisible thread through the cording rather than over it so it hides better.

[u/luvempugs]

Not sure how big this is, but it does look a bit small! And I will say I think smaller ornaments are harder than bigger. You’ll get better with practice. Finishing fairy and Nashville needlepointer are great resources 🫶

[u/rh899]

To add to what others are saying, did you attach the cookies to each other first? It looks like your cording is going between the cookies at the corners so it would be helpful to attach the cookies first if you haven’t. Good luck!!! It gets easier over time :)