I belong to a needlepoint group on the internet. (If I had more hours in my day, I could really enjoy doing some needlepoint, but alas we only get 24 hours. So instead I enjoy looking at other people’s needlepoint!)
Yesterday someone posted a question: “Why are needlepoint patterns so expensive?”
It has been interesting following the discussion of the question. Of course hand-painted canvases are expensive – they’re labour intensive to prepare! I don’t think anyone would doubt that. But for a charted, counted needlepoint design, I think the work that goes into it can be a little more hidden.
My answer was as follows:
“Are you asking about charted designs with stitch instructions? Or are you asking about handpainted canvases? Or something else entirely?
As an embroidery designer (not a needlepoint designer), let me answer why my designs/patterns cost what they do.
When you purchase one of my embroidery designs, you’re paying for my quality instructions and diagrams. You’re paying for the expertise that I gained from going to university to study design. You’re paying for the time it has taken for me to research the style of embroidery. You’re paying for the time it has taken for me to experiment with threads, fabrics, designs etc, to come up with a design that I feel is good enough to release to the public.
All of this takes time and effort. But it means that you get a good product and one that is hopefully enjoyable to stitch.
We designers don’t generally whack out a new design every weekend. It takes time, effort, money and expertise to produce a new design. I hope that helps in explaining the cost of my designs at least. I realise that needlepoint is a little different, but maybe some of it also applies to needlepoint designing.”
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
I do needlepoint graphics and layouts for other teachers/designers as well as my own. I can tell you that I tell new clients that they can generally figure about 1 hour’s time per page for graphics and layout.
I also know from my own experience that a new design can take anywhere from 6 months to a year or more to be published. From the idea to paper takes time:
1. Have to stitch the new design (I like to tell designers to write down what they are doing when they do it)
2. After design is finished have to take all those notes and make a stitch-guide with graphics.
3. Have someone proof the instructions and make changes. I have two proof readers: one who does not stitch-they catch all the mis-used words (too for two 2) and also sometime question structure of sentence; and another proofer who stitches- they catch mis-numbering of stitches and sometimes question the order of stitching.
4. Have someone stitch the new design and maybe make changes here too. Sometimes this can be the person above.
5. Final proof.
6. Printer
7. Advertise and sell
I have had teacher/designers need to change a thread because the thread they used has been discontinued before the design is published.
If a design is just made up on the computer and not tested, few thread choices given then that design may be somewhat less expensive.
Hope this helps people understand why designs can be expensive.
Hi Sue, thanks very much for your thoughtful comments.
I am jealous of your “1 page per hour”. I often struggle to get through a page of diagrams in a day! Thankfully some days are faster!