Needlepointing, known for its colorful canvases with intricate designs and thread, makes a major comeback over the last few years. Although needlepointing was once associated with older generations, the craft has gained recognition with younger audiences, primarily because of social media platforms such as Instagram and Tiktok. Anne Michael Maye, the wife of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, recently joined the trend, posting W.I.P or Work in Progress Wednesday videos showing her projects to her followers. The goal of needlepointing is simple: you purchase a canvas with a design you like, use needle and thread to fill the canvas with stitches, and tie up the loose knots. This stitched artwork can be turned into a number of things, such as ornaments, pillows, artwork, sunglasses cases, and various other designs. Because of the creative freedom of needlepointing, each canvas is customized by the artist using different stitches and assorted thread colors and textures, making every finished project unique.
Larger needlepoint businesses like Penny Linn have worked to widen the appeal through various brand collaborations, including Roller Rabbit, Eloise, Eric Carle, Makenzie Child, Nancy Drew, and more. Regardless of your interest, there is a needlepoint canvas for you! Additionally, needlepoint has been praised for serving as a “digital detox”, helping younger audiences reduce anxiety by getting them off their screens and involved in a calming tactile hobby. Stitching a canvas fully can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months which serves as a long term project to pick up leisurely.
The handpainted nature of these canvases make for time consuming production, leading to back orders and longer wait times for materials. This sense of scarcity leaves people wanting more. However, the resurgence of needlepoint is not without its criticism, some questioning the high price point of the hobby. Canvases, as a result of being handpainted, can range anywhere from $40-$400, making the hobby inaccessible to a larger audience. While large communities such as needlepointing clubs and online groups have grown, critics wonder about the inclusivity of these spaces when the materials are costly. On the other hand, needlepoint enthusiasts defend the higher price points, maintaining that they are the result of paying artists fairly for their designs on canvas. Small needlepoint businesses have thrived from the uptick in sales, supporting local economies and shops that have been in business for years. These shops are often immensely knowledgeable about needlepointing and ingrained in the surrounding community, demonstrating the larger positive effect that expensive canvases promote.
Ultimately, needlepointing’s return to popularity has shown that traditional hands-on hobbies are making a comeback. The creativity in needlepointing has allowed it to become an outlet for many and sustain its popularity. Whether planning to try out needlepointing or not, finding an offline hobby in order to express creativity is important in a growing technological world.