A needlepoint picture frame canvas is stitched and finished with the center open to showcase a photo, then displayed as a framed piece. The canvas wraps around the back with a photo-sized window, so the finished object holds an actual photograph. Most frames in this collection fit a 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 inch photo, and the surrounding canvas, where the stitching lives, carries the design.
With these picture frame canvases, it’s also an option to add a monogram to the center and finish the project as a pillow. The choice is yours on how you want to customize the canvas for your liking.
We offer many different designs for our frame needlepoint canvases, including florals and botanicals, seasonal themes, patriotic designs, Judaic symbols, gingham patterns, ribbons, and Elizabeth Crane Swartz's Lulu circles.
Most canvases are on 18-count mesh, with a smaller number on 13 and 14-count mesh. Frame canvases tend to fall in the intermediate project range: larger than an ornament or key fob, smaller than a stocking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a needlepoint picture frame canvas?
A needlepoint picture frame canvas is designed to be stitched and finished as a freestanding or wall-hung frame that holds a photograph. The canvas has a center opening, typically sized for a 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 inch photo, and the stitched area surrounds that opening.
These are not frames for displaying a completed needlepoint canvas. They are needlepoint canvases that become the frame itself once stitched and finished.
What photo size do needlepoint frame canvases typically fit?
Most picture frame canvases in this collection are sized for 4 x 6 inch or 5 x 7 inch photographs. The photo opening size is listed in the product specifications, where confirmed.
The Gingham Stitchery pumpkin frame, for example, has a 5 x 7 inch photo opening on an 18-count canvas measuring 9 x 11 inches overall.
What mesh count do picture frame needlepoint canvases use?
The majority of canvases in this collection are on 18-count mesh, which supports detailed pattern work across the wider surface area of a frame. Some designs, including several from Anne Fisher Designs, Cooper Oaks, and Oz Needle and Thread, are on 13 or 14-count mesh, which moves faster and suits bolder designs.
How long does it take to stitch a needlepoint picture frame canvas?
A standard picture frame canvas on 18-count mesh, at 9 x 11 or 8 x 10 inches overall, typically requires between 20 and 50 hours depending on design complexity and the stitcher's pace.
Geometric or repeat patterns run faster; heavily shaded florals or pictorial designs take longer.
Can Rittenhouse finish a completed picture frame needlepoint canvas?
Yes. Rittenhouse offers in-house needlepoint finishing services for picture frames. You stitch the canvas and send it in; the finishing team assembles and backs it as a finished frame with the photo opening intact.
Current turnaround times and pricing are on the finishing services page.
What is the difference between a needlepoint frame canvas and framing a finished needlepoint?
These are two different things. A needlepoint frame canvas is a canvas designed to be used as a picture frame. It is stitched, then finished with a photo opening and backing.
Framing a finished needlepoint means taking a completed stitched canvas and mounting it in a standard picture frame for wall display. The canvases in this collection are for the first use case only.
