Tapestry vs Needlepoint: What’s the Difference?
My nana called it tapestry. My auntie stitched needlepoint stockings after spending time in the US. If you've been wondering whether they're talking about the same craft, you're in good company.
In everyday Australian and British craft language, tapestry often means needlepoint: stitching a design on an open-weave canvas. Traditionally, tapestry also means a textile woven on a loom. That is a different technique, and explains why the search results can be a little confusing.
See the canvas and the finished needlepoint
You can see the open mesh on the painted canvas, then the stitched surface in the finished cover. The colour on the canvas is your guide. A little at a time, you cover the design with thread.
If you came here looking to buy tapestry kits in Australia, our needlepoint and tapestry kits use this canvas-stitching technique. The design shown above is in our Passport Needlepoint Kits collection.
What matters more than the name on the box?
Printed, painted or counted
A canvas may have its design printed or hand-painted onto it, or you may work from a separate chart. Both printed and painted canvases can be enjoyable to stitch. Look for a clear design and instructions you feel comfortable following. Matilda canvases are hand-painted, so the colours are already there for you.
Mesh size and thread thickness
Mesh count tells you how many holes there are per inch. Our kits use 13 mesh canvas. An 18 mesh canvas has smaller holes and allows finer detail. Neither mesh count is exclusive to the words tapestry or needlepoint.
Choose thread to suit the canvas, stitch and coverage you want. Wool can be used for needlepoint, including on 13 mesh when the particular yarn is suitable. Our kits use Silk & Ivory, a soft blend of silk and merino wool. See our thread guide for the maker's mesh and coverage advice.
The stitches
Tent stitch makes a small diagonal stitch on the front of the canvas. Half-cross, continental and basketweave are ways of working that stitch, with different paths and thread use on the back. Canvas embroidery can also include many other stitches. A kit labelled long stitch uses longer stitches, so check the instructions rather than assuming every tapestry kit teaches the same method.
What your project becomes
Finishing depends on the project. Some canvases become cushions or stockings with professional finishing; others are designed to fit a frame or accessory you finish at home. Our passport kits include a leather cover, and the Pink Bunny Kit includes a frame. Check each listing for the supplies included.
Buying a kit or buying a canvas
Choose a complete needlepoint kit if you'd like the threads selected for you. Choose a hand-painted canvas if you want to put together your own colours and finishing plan. Our beginner kit guide shows real passport and bunny examples before and after stitching.
And if you've called it tapestry for years, you don't need to change a thing. You're very welcome here.
A little needlepoint you can take with you
Quick answers
Is tapestry the same as needlepoint?
In everyday Australian craft language, tapestry often means needlepoint, which is stitched on canvas. Traditional woven tapestry is made on a loom and is a different technique.
Can I use wool for needlepoint?
Yes. Choose a particular yarn and number of strands that suit your canvas mesh and stitch. The word wool alone does not tell you whether a thread is the right thickness.
Are needlepoint and cross stitch the same?
They are different forms of counted-thread or canvas embroidery. Cross stitch uses an X-shaped stitch; needlepoint is worked on an open canvas and often uses diagonal tent stitches.
Does Matilda sell tapestry kits in Australia?
Yes, if you mean the canvas-stitching craft also called needlepoint. Matilda sells hand-painted kits with matching threads and sends orders from Melbourne.
Happy stitching,
Lauren x