Needlepoint Studio - Stitch tracker & thread stash
The calm, private home for every canvas you stitch - track works in progress, time your stitching, organize your thread stash, and reference every stitch. No account, no subscription, and your data stays yours.
Basketweave vs Continental: Which Tent Stitch to Use - Identical on the front: basketweave works in diagonal rows and barely warps the canvas, continental in straight rows. Basketweave uses 5 to 10% more thread.
How Much Thread Do I Need for Needlepoint? - Tent stitch needs about 1.3 yards per square inch on 13 mesh and 1.9 on 18, plus 20%. Yardage by mesh and by stitch, in yards and meters, with a skein example.
13 mesh. The holes are easy to see, stitching goes quickly, and it forgives uneven tension while you learn. Move to 18 mesh when you want finer detail on ornaments and small accessories.
What is the difference between basketweave and continental?
Both are tent stitches that look identical from the front. Continental is worked in horizontal rows and gradually pulls the canvas out of square; basketweave is worked in diagonal rows that follow the canvas weave, so it barely distorts and wears better.
How much thread do I need for a needlepoint canvas?
Plan on roughly 1.3 yards (1.2 m) per square inch of continental tent stitch on 13 mesh and about 1.9 yards (1.7 m) on 18 mesh, then add a 20% buffer so you never run out mid-area in a different dye lot. Basketweave runs about 5% higher, half cross about a third lower.
Does basketweave use more thread than continental?
Yes, but only by about 5 to 10%. On 13 mesh budget roughly 1.4 yards per square inch for basketweave against 1.3 for continental; on 18 mesh about 2.0 against 1.9. Both use about 1.5 times what half cross needs, since only the length of the back travel differs.
Do I need stretcher bars for needlepoint?
Not strictly, but they keep tension even and the canvas square, which matters most on 18 mesh and on anything larger than a coaster. Buy bars that match the cut size of the canvas, not the painted design.
What is the difference between needlepoint and cross stitch?
Needlepoint is stitched on stiff open canvas, usually over a hand-painted design, and covers the whole surface. Cross stitch is worked on soft fabric from a printed chart, usually leaving background fabric bare. Different materials, different charts, different finishing.
How do I organize my thread stash?
Catalog by brand and color number, keep the paper bands for dye-lot and number reference, and split what you own from what you still need to buy. Needlepoint Studio can scan a thread label with your camera and file the skein for you.
Is Needlepoint Studio free?
Yes - download it free on the App Store. You get project tracking, the stitching timer, an unlimited fiber stash, and the full 26-stitch library, with no account and no ads.
Does Needlepoint Studio need an account or internet?
No account, ever - and everything works offline. Your projects, stash, and photos back up to your own private iCloud through your Apple ID, so Panda Taps never sees your data.
Which stitches are in the stitch library?
26 needlepoint stitches with hand-drawn diagrams and step-by-step how-tos: the tent family (basketweave, continental, half cross, T stitch), straight stitches like Gobelin, brick, Parisian and Hungarian, diagonals like mosaic, Scotch, cashmere, Byzantine and Milanese, crossed stitches like Smyrna, rice and Rhodes, and decorative stitches like waffle, Algerian eye, leaf and ray.
Can the app track how long I spend stitching?
Yes. A one-tap timer logs each session - it keeps running even if you close the app - and builds your streak, hours this week, and per-project totals automatically. You can also log minutes by hand.