Needlepoint pillows - a classic, fun finishing option for your needlepoint piece!
I was so excited the first time I finished stitching a canvas that I knew wanted to have finished in to a pillow. I found the perfect fabric and couldn't wait to have that finished pillow on our guest bed. However, when I went to send it in - I cried. The finisher (who was very sweet) started asking me all these questions - do I want an inset, a welt - how big do I want the inset - do I want a ruffle? I quickly became overwhelmed with all of the options and stumbled through all of the answers, not really knowing what any of it meant, a little scared to ask, and having no idea what my finished pillow was going to look like. FORTUNATELY, this story has a happy ending. My pillow turned out beautiful and is still in my guest room today.
Since this experience, I've finished pillows with a number of different finishers and made it a goal to learn all of the terms used for needlepoint pillow finishing so that I can confidently place my future needlepoint pillow orders. I do not wish my first needlepoint pillow experience on anyone, so I've decided to collate the most common terms I've come across and share them here! This post will share the terms, along with example photos of these terms. At the end, I'll have a few photos of a pillows and breakdown how you would order it, so that hopefully you can feel confident sending your piece in to be finished as a pillow!
Also a quick shoutout to Rittenhouse Needlepoint - they provide definitions and example sketches for everything right on their finishing form! Amazing!
Needlepoint Finishing Terms
Knife Edge vs. Gusset
Knife Edge: The front and the back of pillow are sewn together to form a clean, crisp edge
Gusset: A strip of fabric is sewn in between the front and the back. You will decide how big you want the gusset (ex. 2in) and what fabric you want (ex. the same as the inset and/or back, a different fabric, etc)
*note: the back and the front of the pillow are sewn together
*note: the strip of green fabric between the front and back of the pillow
Inset vs. No Inset
Inset: A frame of fabric will be made around your needlepoint. You will decide how large you want the fabric frame (ex. 2in all around).
No Inset: There will be no fabric around your needlepoint. The edge of your needlepoint piece touch the piping/cording around the edge of your pillow
*note: the blue fabric frame around the needlepoint
*note: no fabric frame around the needlepoint, the needlepoint touches the piping on the edge
Inset note: if you choose an inset, you can also choose how you want that inset to look, specifically the corners of the inset. If you choose a regular inset, there will be no corner seams. (Note: this isn't often advised as it usually takes a lot more fabric, but it can be done). You can also choose mitered corners (which is more often what you will see). Finishers are amazing and will usually try to line up your fabric so there is little to no disruption in the pattern (this can't always be done based on the fabric pattern, but they sure do a great job trying) Below are examples of how a regular inset and a mitered corner look:
*note: there is NO seam in fabric frame around the needlepoint (it's one continuous fabric piece around the needlepoint)
Mitered Corner Inset example
*note: there is a seam where the fabric inset was made. this will occur on all four corners of the inset
Piping/Welt vs. Cording
Piping/Welt: A fabric casing is sewn around a piping cord, which is then sewn on the edge of your pillow. You will have the option to choose the color/fabric of this casing. The piping/welt will be the very edge of the pillow
Cording: Threads are twisted into a cord (just like cording on an ornament). You will have the option to choose the color of the cording. The cording will be the very edge of the pillow
*note: the tube of fabric in teal around the edge of the pillow
*note: the twisted blue and white cording around the edge of the pillow
Note: Piping/a welt is most commonly what you’ll see on a needlepoint pillow. Cording is less common and is often an extra expense (doesn’t mean it can’t be done, but just an fyi!)
Contrast Welt vs. Self Welt
Contrast Welt: Piping is made as previously described, but is done in a fabric color/print that contrast the needlepoint and/or inset (depending on which you have)
Self Welt: Piping is made as previously described, but is done in a fabric color/print that is the same as the needlepoint and/or inset (depending on which you have)
*note: the welt/piping in orange around the edge is different from the color of the inset fabric
*note: the welt/piping in light blue around the edge is the same fabric as the inset
Ruffle
Ruffle: a fun trim you can add to the edge of your pillow
*Note: you may still opt to have a welt and a ruffle (examples below)
*note the front blue inset of the pillow touching the green ruffle
Close up of the ruffle without the welt/piping
*note: the black welt/piping and the black ruffle
Close up of the black welt/piping with the black ruffle
Pillow Finishing Example Scenarios
Example 1:
How I would order this:
- I would like a gusseted pillow, with a 3in gusset
- 2in inset, with mitered corners
- Contrast cording on the edge
Example 2:
How I would order this:
- I would like a knife edge pillow
- 3in inset, with mitered corners
- Contrast piping/welt around the edges
Example 3:
How I would order this:
- I would like a knife edge pillow
- 3in inset, with mitered corners
- Contrast piping/welt and a ruffle around the edge
Hopefully you found this info helpful and I hope your all of your needlepoint pillows turn out amazing!