Turn Your Needlepoint and Custom Linens into Finished Pillows and Cushions
 
Instructor: Jonathan Bennett
Friday, May 7 – Saturday, May 8, 2027
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, with a 1-hour lunch on your own
Class size: Limited to 6 students (minimum 4 to run)
Prerequisites: Intro to Sewing Soft Furnishings or similar, demonstrable experience
NOTE: Pieces must be cleaned and blocked prior to class (a blocking overview will be covered)
 
Give Your Needlework a Professional Finish
Needlepoint, embroidery, and custom linens deserve more than a trip to a big-box framer. In this two-day class with Jonathan Bennett, you'll learn the workroom techniques used to transform a finished needlepoint canvas — or a piece like a tea towel or other special textile — into a beautifully constructed pillow or cushion. Jonathan will walk you through the considerations unique to working with needlepoint and delicate linens: managing tension, protecting stitches, choosing complementary face fabrics, and finishing details that make a piece look intentional rather than improvised. You'll leave with a completed, ready-to-use piece and the skills to finish future projects on your own.
 
What You'll Learn
An overview of blocking needlepoint and why it matters before construction begins
Squaring and trueing a finished needlepoint or linen piece for construction
Selecting and pairing face fabrics with a needlepoint or linen centerpiece
Techniques for handling delicate or heavily worked fabrics on the machine
Finishing options such as knife edge, welt cord, or pleated flange
Constructing a boxed or knife-edge pillow around a finished piece
Tips for protecting stitches and embellishments throughout construction
 
What to Bring
Each student will have use of a worktable, an industrial straight stitch machine, and a sewing kit — all provided. You must bring your own finished needlepoint or similar piece (such as a tea towel or other special linen), cleaned and blocked in advance. You're welcome to bring your own face fabric, or select from remnants available in the classroom as stock allows.
 
Who Should Take This Class
This class is designed for anyone with a completed needlepoint canvas or cherished linen piece who wants to see it finished into a pillow or cushion for their home, gift-giving, or resale. Students must have taken Intro to Sewing Soft Furnishings or have similar, demonstrable experience.
 
Seats are limited to 6 students to ensure individual attention from Jonathan, with a minimum of 4 students required to run the class. Reserve your spot today.