Shirley the Sheep
Do you have everything you need?
Beginner
A simple design with generous open areas and no shading. Ideal for practicing foundational stitches (Tent, Continental, and Basketweave) without distraction. These canvases let you focus on finding your rhythm with starting, finishing, and building even coverage.
Advanced Beginner
A design that introduces a bit more structure, with areas that lend themselves to simple pattern stitches like Mosaic, Scotch, or Cashmere and gently invite you to begin mixing thread types for added depth. These canvases may include light compensation in defined areas and are an ideal next step for building confidence with stitch guides.
Intermediate
A more detailed design with shading, varied textures, and areas that call for complex stitches like Rhodes, Byzantine, and Herringbone, as well as composite patterns. These canvases work beautifully with specialty and textured threads and are a great opportunity to master different stitches with a structured guide. Compensation is expected throughout.
Advanced
A richly detailed canvas with intricate design areas, layered shading, and opportunities for personal interpretation. These pieces invite complex techniques like Turkey Work, openwork backgrounds, and long and short stitches, and reward a stitcher who treats a stitch guide as a starting point. Compensation in tight, irregular spaces is part of the joy.
This 18-mesh needlepoint canvas, designed by Rachel Barri, features a sheep with a flower crown and a black coat covered in yellow roses, blue bluebells, and pink blossoms among green leaves.
Each canvas is individually hand-painted, and subtle variations make every piece unique. Canvases are sold unstitched and do not include threads.
Inquiries? Ask The Studio
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Do you have everything you need?
Inquiries? Ask The Studio
Do you have everything you need?
Inquiries? Ask The Studio
Pairs Perfectly With
Everything you need to start and complete your project — from matching threads to stretcher bars, brass thumbtacks, and tapestry needles. Curated to make the process as easy and beautiful as the result.
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Introduction
New to needlepoint?
Needlepoint looks intricate — but at its core, it’s simple. A canvas, a needle, a few threads, and a rhythm you’ll find faster than you think.
Our beginner kits include everything you need to get started: hand-painted canvases, carefully chosen threads, and clear guidance for every stitch.
Whether you’re new to the craft or returning after years away, this is where it begins — one stitch at a time.
Chapter One
Volume 01Terms 101
Needlepoint has its own quiet language — mesh counts, stitches, fibers, and finishing terms that describe how a design comes to life.
We’ve simplified the essentials: what “mesh” means, how to read canvas markings, and why “blocking” matters after you’ve finished stitching.
Think of this as your translator — the terms you’ll hear often, explained simply, so you can focus on the fun part: stitching.
Chapter Two
Volume 02Threads 101
Threads define the look and feel of every piece. Some are matte, some glossy; some glide smoothly, others add texture and depth.
At Le Fil, we work with premium fibers — silk, cotton, wool, and blends — each selected for performance and beauty.
Understanding thread weight, ply, and sheen will help you choose the right material for your project. Start with what feels good in your hands, and let your canvas guide you from there.
Chapter Three
Volume 03Stitches 101
Every stitch builds on the next. Tent, half-cross, continental, and basketweave — the foundations that create structure, texture, and flow.
Each has its own rhythm: tent for simplicity, half-cross for speed, continental for control, and basketweave for longevity.
Once you learn these, you can stitch anything.
