There are many needlepoint fibers out there but the one fiber that I love to use is cotton. When I first started to needlepoint the fiber of choice was wool, these days that is no longer the case. Many people often prefer the use of wool on their needlepoint because they think that wool is stronger and that cotton will not hold up over time but that is not the case. Cotton has been used for clothing for many, many years and can be used in more ways than any other fiber.

I especially love cotton because you can find it in an enormous range of colors, textures and effects, which can make a big difference in you needlepoint art. The different types of fibers can either give your piece a dramatic look or you can give it that old-fashioned look depending on the fibers you choose. For instance matte cottons have a dull texture and are soft and a bit fuzzy, thicker matte cottons give a soft hand and richness of color. Pearle cottons are made up of shiny two-ply strands twisted to give a pearled –like appearance. Pearl cottons are very strong and are one of the best needlepoint fibers available, pearl cotton is great to use on a pulled canvas. Last, shiny cottons are less shiny than pearl cotton, but have a great sheen to them. Shiny cottons can be combined to make thicker threads that work on a wide variety of mesh sizes. You can also mix matte cottons with shinier cottons or silk to provide a subtle and interesting contrast to any needlepoint project.