Wilton Dimensions Needlecrafts Needlepoint, Zinnias

Needlepoint started for me as a way to keep busy during the long pandemic winter, and I found I really enjoyed it. This kit is my third from Dimensions, and I was not disappointed in the quality of the design or the thread selection. The colors are beautiful and the thread is silky and easy to work with. I like the small size (5” x 5”), because it’s very portable and not too cumbersome to work on, even when stretched on a frame. I’m happy with the finished piece, which I put in a frame measuring 8x8, with a 5x5 mat. It will be a gift for an old friend.

This is a wonderful little kit. I used to work Dimensions kits as a kid and always liked them, but I haven’t touched a piece of needlepoint in 30 years, let alone a kit, so there were some nice surprises. The biggest one was that the threads are already separated - and attached to a thread guide that includes their product numbers, which is also cross-referenced in a table in the directions, and also keyed in the design chart, which clearly shows which color goes where. This accomplishes two things: first, it keeps the threads organized instead of in a giant knotted jumble, which is especially great if you plan to cart your stitching around with you like I do, rather than keep it in one place at home. Second, because it’s sometimes really hard to tell one color from another when they are very similar, and especially on the canvas itself, it makes it very easy to see which is which, and the combination really facilitates selecting the correct color for each spot. The threads are in a strange order in the thread guide, though, which in no way matches the table, chart, or the standard rainbow-order patch guide on the canvas, so I would highly recommend that you do as I have done and hand-write the corresponding table/chart number right on the thread guide, which will make it much easier as you get going stitching. The instruction sheet also includes directions for how to do the two most common needlepoint stitches (continental and basketweave), and where to use each, as well as a note about how to do backstitching for the spots where that is indicated. It also includes instructions for finishing your piece, and a few excellent tips for working the piece. On the back, the thread guide table is reprised with color names translated to French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, and (I think) Dutch. Alas, there are no non-Roman alphabet languages like Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic, despite the increasing frequency and importance of such tongues in today’s word, and the fact that the kit is made in China. Most of the rest of the instructions have diagrams that should be easy enough for people to follow even if they are not good with English, though. All of these things make this kit eminently suitable for beginners as well as experienced needlepointers. I would, however, highly recommend that people who have never done any needlepoint at all start with a simpler design with more and larger blocks of single colors and less detail, because frankly, it’s just easier. Because larger blocks work up more quickly, it’s easier to see your progress and understand what proper stitching looks like as well as learning to recognize and fix mistakes. It’s also very gratifying to see the progress. It’s really a matter of personal preference in the end, though. I like going back and forth between detail work and backgrounds, because I tire of both at times, so it’s going to be interesting to see how I get along with my first piece that doesn’t actually have a background or any other large swaths of single colors. That’s why I’ve chosen such a small, inexpensive piece for this experiment, too. For beginners who decide to tackle more detailed designs of any sort, generally speaking, it’s best to start with the smallest details first. With a piece such as this one, that gives you a lot of leeway for choice, although you may find it easier to work outwards one color at a time in each section rather than find yourself with patches unworked between two finished ones. Those can be quite tough to fill in properly, and are where you are most likely to miss a stitch or spear through one rather than go beside it correctly. You might even want to purchase a couple of additional needles and keep them threaded with different colors and work back and forth with them as required for each segment. A number of reviewers have commented that they have not had enough thread to complete some of these Dimensions kits, so if that happens to you, just call the company at the 800 number shown on the third page of the instruction guide (800-794-5866) and give them the code number for the color(s) you need, and they will send it to you.

It was a quick project and looked so pretty completed!! The thread was ample. Still left. The sparkly ribbon was my favorite :)

This is a great first needlepoint project. When I decided to try my hand at needlepoint this year I had two requirements for my first project--it had to be small and it had to be inexpensive. As a bonus the Zinnias kit is also beautiful. I read a few reviews where people ran out of thread before finishing the project, so I was very conservative with my thread and managed to have quite a bit left over. This was even after a wasted half a strand when I had to cut out and remove a section because I used the wrong color. My complaints about this project are few. The instructions explain how to do the tent stitch and basketweave, which are very easy. But they also instruct you to put the needle down at A and bring it up at B, then down at C and up at D, but they never show you where A, B, C, and D are on the diagram! It's easy enough to figure out, but incomplete. For figuring out the colors, the canvas is painted and there is also a diagram (printed in black and white) in the instructions. Some of the colors on the canvas were very similar in color and placed right next to each other (causing my loss of a half a strand of red). Depending on my light source, at times I found it nearly impossible to tell them apart, especially once I had the sections surrounded by other colors. The printed diagram in the instructions didn't help much either as the outlines are filled with numbers (or in a few cases patterns) that made me refer back to the color chart to get the thread number and then go to the thread organizer to clip the thread...by then I forgot what I was doing. Finally, I grabbed a set of colored pencils and did a color by number on the flower that was driving me crazy. This made it much easier for me to follow. For the positives...the thread organizer is a winner! The project was small (5x5") and inexpensive, which freed me up to be okay with making mistakes and learning along the way. The thread is bright and really beautiful. Now I just have to figure out what to do with my finished canvas--or get started on another one.

I actually have done several of these kits, and I have various opinions about each one. -The first one I did is Zinnias. There is enough yarn to complete this project, though just barely. I'd give it four stars. I would love it if they'd charge a few extra bucks and actually put enough yarn to have spare amounts, but this is not the case. The instructions are ok, the chart is hard to follow due to the complexity of the design. I referred to the picture more than I did the chart. The yarn is vibrant and the finished result is pure art. -The second one I did was Gentle Strength. I give it three stars. This one was more tricky. There are areas where you are expected to combine yarn, but you have to read the instructions carefully to know that. Due to the subtle shading, the picture was useless on this one, I had to use the chart. There was barely enough yarn to finish this one, also. The finished result is OK, it would of been better had I combined the yarn colors as directed, but as it is I went over it again with the second color. -The third one I did was Butterfly Impression. First of all, there is not enough yarn to finish this project, so I give it two stars. I had to improvise. The design is tricky because what you do to one side, you can't do to the other according to how the canvas is printed. You have to do a lot of counting to get the butterfly part to look even. The canvas warped badly and I won't be able to use this one at all. The lines are supposed to be straight, but they point every which way, even after blocking. -The fourth one I did was Moon Dreamer. I give it four stars. I would of given this one five stars based on the fact that there is actually plenty of yarn with much to spare, but the colors of the finished project don't blend as well as they do in the picture. Also, the instructions, as far as I can tell, are not very accurate. You have to use your artistic interpretation and figure it out on your own, which is easy to do based on the simplicity of the design. I enjoyed this kit the most because of the plentiful amount of thread. It made it stress-free. - The fifth one I did was A Bowl of Apples. I give it 4 stars, because there wasn't enough thread to do the outlining. But there was enough yarn to complete the canvas overall. This is probably the best of the projects, the finished result is dramatic. It isn't even my style (I made it for a gift), but I think its the most attractive. The instructions are accurate and easy to read. I used the chart a lot. - The sixth one I did was Butterfly Duo. There is plenty of yarn to finish this design, but the finishing work of outlining is so complicated that I doubt I'll ever finish it. Nevertheless, I give it four stars based on the fact of the thread being plentiful, and the instructions are easy enough. - The seventh time I did Zinnias again. I can only recommend some of these kits, but based on how cheap and fast they are, you may as well give it a try.

I accidentally ordered 2 of the same Zinnia needlepoint kit. It has turned out to be a good gift set. I've made one with a border of yarn I purchased, it will be a pillow inset. The 2nd one is going into the recessed top of a wooden trinket box sold for that purpose. Together they will be a set to give my mother for Christmas. They where relaxing and enjoyable to work on. They made up quickly. The colors are vibrant. The directions and included chart clear enough. Unlike a stitch-by-stitch graph is is a shaded, numbered replica of the actual design. The chart is exactly the same size as the 5x5 pattern. I did run out of floss and have ordered the three strands to complete the final kit. It is easy to let Dimensions know what's needed by sending them an e-mail. I have been assured they will mail them to me. As with other kits, including high end ones, there is never enough yarn or floss to do a nice basket weave stitch in the larger background areas. So plan carefully. I would suggest using a proper, more standard length needlepoint needle. The needle in the kit is somewhat short, which was great when I was trying to really stretch the floss amount. I found it more comfortable on my fingers and hands to use the needle purchased at our local needlepoint boutique. The floss can be difficult to separate if you pull or tug with gusto. They need to be eased out of their twisted 6 ply strand. If you start to tug, stop, and relax the potential knot. Working in good lighting was helpful too. Some of the painted canvas was close in color designations.

Needlepointing is my favorite way to unwind. Like working on smaller projects that are easy to hold. Also enjoy the colors available in embroidery thread.

It looks nice and I was excited to get started until I opened the package and realized there wasn't a needle included.