Discover how to bring The Fabled Thread’s The Pride to life with this step-by-step guide. Based on the ‘Cornelius’ lion design, it walks you through unpacking your kit, preparing your workspace, mastering the tent stitch, and finishing beautifully—all while keeping your needlepoint tension even and your back knot-free.
Table of Contents
Unboxing Your Fabled Thread Needlepoint Kit
Opening the distinctive red sewing bag reveals the whole world of your new project. Each kit includes a printed canvas, the 'Cornelius Stitch Plan', pre-cut wool lengths, and tapestry needles tucked inside a handy needle book.
Inside, even beginners can easily see how the playful lion designs—Fernando, Percival, and Cornelius—come together through color.
The designer explains the value of understanding every component before starting. By recognizing what each item does, you’ll avoid confusion later when choosing between following the printed canvas or the paper stitch plan.
What’s included in "The Pride" collection?
From booklet to canvas, every element is thoughtfully curated. The printed plan can guide precision stitchers, while the pre-printed canvas lets you embrace a “paint by numbers” approach.
The small black needle book with tapestry needles emphasizes readiness—no need to rummage for extra tools.
Printed canvas vs. stitch plan: Which one to follow?
Stick to the printed canvas if you like visual reference. The gridded stitch plan is great for those who count, but the two don’t always line up perfectly.
Choose one and commit, and your stitching rhythm will flow more easily.
Preparing Your Workspace and Materials
Needlepoint rewards organization. Begin by sorting your wool by color—six or seven tones that shape the lion’s mane, face, and background.
You can cross-check with the plan or visit the brand’s website for visual guidance.
Keeping your colors grouped prevents confusion later as you move from section to section on the canvas. Professional stitchers sometimes use extra tool stands or even magnetic embroidery hoops for brother to keep materials steady; in this case, you simply need a tidy table.
Sorting your beautiful wool colors
Color separation isn’t just tidiness—it’s confidence. When colors stay sorted, your eye relaxes, and stitching becomes meditative.
Why a tapestry frame makes a difference
A taut canvas gives a cleaner finish and means you’ll avoid blocking later on. It’s one of the subtle differences between a smooth beginner experience and an uneven finish. A good frame, such as the Elbesee Easy Clip Frame, provides adjustable tension and fast setup—a leap ahead of any magnetic hoop for brother embroidery machine when it comes to fabric tension for tapestry kits.
Setting Up Your Elbesee Easy Clip Frame
Trim the edges of your canvas to fit snugly. Clip both ends into the wooden rollers and tighten evenly.
You should hear a satisfying click as the fabric stretches into perfect alignment.
Avoid over-tightening—that can distort the squares on your printed pattern. Consistent tension ensures your stitches fall in clean diagonals later.
Trimming your canvas for a perfect fit
A small pair of scissors does the job, though precision matters. Always check twice before cutting any excess fabric.
Achieving ideal tension for flawless stitching
You’ll notice how smooth the surface feels once stretched. Proper tension helps every stitch sit neatly; your fabric should feel springy yet stable, not drumtight. Some modern embroidery fans compare it to hooping on a magnetic embroidery hoop for brother pr1055x, but here, simplicity wins—just clips and wood.
Mastering the Tent Stitch (and a Knot-Free Back!)
Thread your needle with a pre-cut length of wool—there’s enough to avoid splitting or tangling.
Make a simple knot, then pull through from the back so that the knot rests on the front surface, a few rows away.
Start stitching diagonally toward the knot using the tent stitch: up from top-left, down to bottom-right, consistently. This creates a textured, angled weave that defines each pixel of your lion.
When you stitch over that starting thread, the knot holds the fiber in place. Once secure, snip it off from the front.
It’s a small yet brilliant tactic—the famous knot-free method.
For comparison, embroidery artists who float fabric inside magnetic hoops for embroidery machines follow similar logic: consistent alignment equals smooth outcomes. The principle is universal.
Changing Colors and Finishing Threads Neatly
Adding hues is simple—just start again with a new knot on the front, stitch back toward it, and continue filling your chosen section.
The instructor reminds us not to worry about doing colors in blocks; feel free to jump around the design.
Once your strand runs out, turn your work over and weave the remaining thread under several stitches on the back.
Trim any ends close for a neat reverse.
> From the Comments: Viewers love this stage—the calming repetition of color changes makes time disappear. Many say it’s as relaxing as hooping small motifs on a snap hoop monster for babylock. It’s a gentle rhythm worth savoring.
If you prefer to secure threads swiftly, you can even lean on hoop-stabilizing techniques familiar to magnetic embroidery hoops for brother owners—they work analogously here through fabric control and minimal tension shift.
Your Completed "The Pride" Masterpiece
Step back and admire Cornelius, now a colorful patchwork of diagonal texture.
The process transforms simple wool and canvas into something lasting—one that never needs blocking if tension stayed true.
Embrace the meditative repetition of the tent stitch. Once complete, remove the frame clips and enjoy your finished piece as a cushion front or wall art. For stitchers coming from the machine embroidery sphere—fans of magnetic hoop for brother setups or babylock hoops—this analog method feels charmingly slow and grounding.
> Final Reflection: Whether you frame your piece, gift it, or rest it on a chair, “The Pride” rewards every minute spent. Needlepoint proves that mindful, incremental work can feel just as powerful as any high-tech embroidery process.
Next Steps Explore more how-to videos from The Fabled Thread to continue your stitching journey.