#FabricB4Fiber
Fall even more in love with your needlepoint project by changing this one simple step
How It Started: The Finishing School Blog
You did it.
You finally finished stitching the project you have so lovingly poured your time, money and heart into. You love the way it turned out – from the threads to the stitches used, it turned out just as you planned and what’s even better? You know *exactly* how it will be finished and who it is being finished for. Now comes the “easy” part, right? Picking a fabric you love for the finishing, which is all fun and games until it’s not.
In my personal opinion, the only thing worse than ripping out stitches mid-project, is struggling to find the right finishing fabric, and ultimately compromising or settling for a fabric you “like” but do not “love”. We have all done it (myself included) and it wasn’t until I accidentally found a fabric I loved FIRST, with no particular needlepoint project in mind, that I had the light bulb moment.
The first project I debuted on my Substack featured the “You is Smart” (linked here) canvas from AC Designs. You can read all about it here. I wanted to stitch this sweet sentiment into a pillow for my daughter but was not crazy about the canvas colorway. I bought the canvas regardless.
A few months later, I was looking for a fabric to reupholster a chair for my daughter’s room and found a fabulous lot of fabric on Mercari that fit the bill. Upon receiving the fabric, it dawned on me – what if I used this same fabric for the “You Is Smart” canvas and swapped the canvas colors to match this fabric?? I took a swatch of fabric, recruited the help of a wonderful needlepoint shop and was able to pull the exact shades I needed to perfectly coordinate with the fabric.
The end result was a project I absolutely loved; every single, intentional detail. From then on, whenever I can, I pick my finishing fabric before my fiber.
This simple tweak in my needlepointing process has relieved a burden I wasn’t even aware I was shouldering and has unlocked a world of ideas I had been otherwise (color) blind to before.
When I sat down to compose my first Substack blog post (“Aibileen's Advice”), where I talked about picking the finishing fabric first, it occurred to me that I was probably not the only stitcher who had talked themselves into a finishing fabric simply because they were trying to match to the thread colors they already used.
As I described to my readers how I had picked my finishing fabric before I selected the fibers (threads) for my daughter’s pillow, I felt a pull to put this concept out there and share it with others on Instagram. I am so glad I listened to that inner nudge because it truly has started to blossom into something more and has connected me with so many other stitchers in a really authentic and fabulous way (see: this post with Bicoastal Stitches).
My hope for you, dear reader, is that you listen to that inner nudge the next time you see a fabric you like. Buy a sample swatch (or a yard) and hang onto it just because. I promise you, your future self will be so very grateful that you did.
How It’s Going: Bicoastal Stitches
I first came across #Fabricb4Fiber through one of Emily’s Instagram reels. The algorithm pushed it to my feed before I was even following her, and I was immediately intrigued. As I learned more about the concept, I realized I had unknowingly done something similar while color-swapping for a canvas. I brought skeins to the fabric store, trying to match colors before I even began stitching. It was a small but significant shift in my process.
Like many stitchers, I’ve fallen for the perfect canvas, only to be stumped later by the question: What am I going to do with the back? As someone who stitches a lot of ornaments, this became a recurring issue. With lengthy turnaround times at my local needlepoint shop (LNS), I decided to try an independent finisher for my first project. While some independent finishers offer fabric options, I’ve seen some surprising—and not always in a good way—choices come out of “finisher’s choice.”
I realized I didn’t want to leave the fate of my heirlooms to chance.
As Emily mentioned, there’s nothing more frustrating than completing your stitching only to face a fabric bottleneck between the stitching and finishing stages. By incorporating #Fabricb4Fiber, I’ve found that it keeps me excited about my stash, and I prioritize stitching projects where I already have the perfect fabric ready to go.
So why am I sharing this with you? Because this simple shift has transformed my needlepoint process. It’s helped ease the overwhelm that comes with making fabric decisions and has made me feel more in control of my projects. As a planner at heart, I love knowing that once the stitching is done, I’m already one step ahead.
Finding Your Fabric: Bicoastal Stitches
When I go to the fabric store, I usually have a couple of specific projects in mind, but I always leave room for inspiration. I start by selecting colors that are either present in the canvas or in my head if I’m planning a color swap. I keep the scale of the fabric’s pattern in mind—especially if I’m working on something small, like an ornament. If the design involves elaborate stitching, I also consider how the fabric will interact with those details to ensure everything works harmoniously.
I like to stay open to new possibilities, so I take my time browsing the store and looking for fabrics that catch my eye, even if they aren’t intended for the current project. Those unexpected finds often end up being perfect for something later on.
When I’m seriously considering a fabric, I ask for small samples to take home. I like to check how the fabric looks in natural light to see how it will appear in my space finished—this can make a big difference in how the final piece turns out.
Once I’ve done that, I make my decision. For ornaments, I try to buy the smallest cut possible since they don’t require much fabric. I also love incorporating interior design fabric samples, as they often bring interesting textures and patterns that really elevate a piece. This process may seem thorough, but I enjoy the planning and attention to detail, knowing that it leads to a final product that feels cohesive and well thought-out.
Our Tips for #FabricB4Fiber:
Many sites will offer fat quarters (or samples) for purchase so you can see if you like the fabric before committing. For less than $10 per sample it is more than worth it, especially when you consider what you have already spent.
Fat quarters are almost always a perfect size for an ornament, however, take caution that if the fabric has a repeating pattern, you may not get the exact part of the pattern that you want on the sample you receive
Once you decide on your fabric, if needed (e.g. for a pillow) always consult with your finisher before ordering your fabric to ensure you order enough
(For the average pillow you usually don’t need more than 2.5 yards (conservatively))
Take the fabric swatch to your LNS when kitting your canvas to pull the exact colors you want and need
No LNS close by? No problem. Reach out to one you know, like, trust and send images of the fabric you plan to use. I promise they are more than happy to help you select the perfect colors you need
If you see a fabric you like, screenshot and search on Google Lens. Sometimes you can find the source or designer that way.
Our Favorite Fabric Resources:
Here are some of our favorite places to find fabric we love:
1.) Rifle Paper Co.
2.) Riley Sheehey
4.) Mercari
5.) Ebay
6.) Sister Parish
7.) Spoonflower
8.) SweetHomeLagom (Jill DeMars of Stitched Bowtique) see “Fabric For Sale” highlight
10.) Etsy
11.) Mood Fabrics in NYC, LA, Miami
12.) B&J Fabrics in NYC
13.) East Coast Trimmings
14.) M&J Trimming
16.) Ballard Designs
Concluding Remarks:
The next time you pick out your finishing fabric before your (project’s) fiber we would love to see it. Please tag The Finishing School Blog & Bicoastal Stitches on Instagram so we can draw inspiration from and share your unique creativity with others.
We hope that you leave this blog post feeling as though the time you took to read or listen to it was time well spent. Let this also serve as your reminder that whatever it is that visually brings you joy (fabric, color, texture, whatever), don’t you dare let it go.
There is so much incredible creativity surrounding us and just as much within us.
Until next time…
Xoxo,
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