AboutHenry Babcock Expertise I learned needlepoint from my grandmother over 30 years ago. I can answer most questions on the subject. I know about producing needlepoint as well as cleaning, repairing and restoring.
Expert: Henry Babcock Date: 3/15/2008 Subject: needlepoint rug finishing
Question I have recently completed stiching a needlepoint rug and I am wondering the best way to back the rug. I believe I would like to include some light pad (such as heavy felt) for the back. Also the rug will be on a hard floor so non-skid would be helpful. Any advice?
Answer Yvonne,
Finishing a needlepoint of that size can be a daunting task. Usually a piece of that size will need to be blocked and resized before finishing. This is beyond the scope of most "amateur" stitchers. I would highly recommend having a professional do the work.
However, if you really desire to do it yourself, there are several good books available that can help guide you through the process. The one book I consistently recommend is "The Needlework Doctor" by Mary Kay Davis. Check with your library about borrowing a copy. You can also check out many of the other books that have sections on finishing needlepoints. Just do a search for books under the subject of "needlepoint".
Detailed instructions on how to do the finishing yourself goes beyond the scope of what I can answer in this limited forum.
One last source of information could be the American Needlepoint Guild (www.needlepoint.org). They may be able to provide you with specific instructions or recommend specific books that detail the process of finish a needlepoint rug.
