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.
Question My mother needlepointed a pice for me when I was a baby. The piece is
blocked and mounted to a board with some cotton underneath it making it
puffy. I would like to remount it and have it framed. Most importantly, the
background thread has faded to a hideous color. Can the background thread
be removed from the canvas and changed. And do you know anyone who
would do this? I do know how to needlepoint myself or I may take on this
task.
Answer Sara,
You can remove the background stitching yourself. It's not hard, just time consuming. You just need to have some small, pointed scissors. Slip a needlepoint needle beneath stitches on the front and lift them away from the canvas. Cut the threads with the scissors. Use the needle to remove the cut stitches from the back of the canvas.
If the piece is older, it might be a good idea to clean and block the piece before you remove the background stitching. Good instructions for doing it yourself can be found:
If you prefer to have it professionally cleaned, try searching online for "needlepoint cleaning" or "needlepoint rug cleaning". You can find several places to choose from.
