If you have just started on needlepoint embroidery one of the challenges that you would face like most beginners understands How to Estimate Needlepoint Yarn Quantities. Most experts in this field have their own way and you have to choose one which is comfortable to you and easy also.
Following the Popular Method
In the popular method of How to Estimate Needlepoint Yarn Quantities you would need to do the following things which are:
1. Choose the yarn that you want and stitch a square inch using it.
2. Now calculate the total canvas area that you would need to stitch.
3. Finally calculate the total yarn needed for a single stitch into the total area needed for the canvas with the total stitches in mind.
4. By using the above formula you would get the most accurate way to estimate how much yarn you need to stitch.
The Quick Way
There are some experts who use this quick way which is
1. Use your fist and measure a flat area of the canvas.
2. Now use the fist measurement to calculate the total fist area for each color needed in the canvas design.
3. The measurement of each fist is around nine yards.
4. Now calculate the total fists needed for each color and then measure the yarn quantity accordingly.
5. To be on the safe side you can always buy a little extra for your benefit.
When do you need more yarns in your needlepoint embroidery project?
When undertaking needlepoint embroidery you would need more yarns in these conditions which are-
1. When your canvas designs uses a lot of colors in small areas. Therefore the yarn has to be pulled across from one area to another.
2. You would be tying the yarns more frequently. Therefore you would be using more yarns.
3. When you do your needlepoint embroidery on a smaller mesh you would need more yarns than in large canvases.
4. Some stitches use more yarn than others. Basket weave stitch uses more yarns than other stitches like tent stitches. Some exotic stitches require more yarns. Therefore this consideration has to be kept in mind.
Why is it so important to measure the yarn?
1. Making an estimate of cost
You need to measure the yarn in your needlepoint embroidery because you would need to make a rough estimate of the total expenses involved to complete the needlepoint embroidery project. Otherwise you would go beyond the budget.
2. Maintaining continuity in yarns
When you buy good quality yarns you would want the whole canvas to have the same quality. It is essential here that you need to understand the total yarn quality needed. Otherwise the color would not match in some areas and so would the quality.
3. Prepared for exigencies
A few yards of extra yarn is essential and you can use it if you have made some mistake and need to correct it immediately.