Your name/where you're from:
Natalie Jane - born and raised in Alabama! Roll tide, y’all!
GENERAL NEEDLEPOINT
How did you learn to needlepoint? What was your first needlepoint project?
I learned to needlepoint about a year ago from various youtube videos and a whole lot of winging it! My very first project was the Hoppy Easter, Y’all canvas from Inital K Studio. I’m so proud of it that I’m tempted to leave it up year round.
What is your favorite stitch? What stitch are you hoping to learn/do next?
It’s a tie between the corduroy stitch and diagonal scotch stitch. The chokehold they have on me! Next up on my to-learn list is the wicker stitch.
What are your favorite threads to use?
I am a tried and true Silk & Ivory girlie for 13 and 18 mesh! DMC Pearl Cotton for 18.
ABOUT YOUR DESIGNS
What made you want to paint your own pieces?
I like to think I’m half artsy, half nerdy. I’ve tried and failed more times than I can count in various art forms - watercolor, oil paintings, etc. I’ve also always had an interest in needlework from cross stitch to crocheting, but never truly excelled in anything other than needlepoint. The failure of all of the above led me to try charting! I’m not artsy enough to freehand paint, but I’m nerdy enough to love counted charts. Combine it all and boom - a needlepoint designer is born.
Describe your canvases in three words:
floral, southern, and nostalgic
What inspires you most when creating new designs?
Believe it or not, my dress collection. I am a sucker for a floral print dress. I also get really inspired in my car listening to 90s/00s country!
What has been your favorite canvas to paint?
My Mallard canvas. Who doesn’t love a cute little duck?
What has been your favorite canvas to stitch?
My Botanical Bows canvas. The pinks, the blues, the sparkles.. This is by far my entire personality in one canvas. It’s the first design that really garnered the most attention, so I have a lot of pride in this design. I love showing it off everytime I carry it in my clutch.
What is one piece of advice for painting your own canvas?
Invest in white paint and patience. If you mess up, take a breath and let it dry. Just paint it white and move on! Painting should be fun, not stressful.
ABOUT YOU
Where is your favorite place to stitch?
The beach would be a no-brainer answer, but it’s really on my couch beside my husband and our dog at the end of a long day. My favorite place to be.
If you're not needlepointing you're…
Probably watching Alabama football, wrangling my 7 nieces/nephews, getting a pup cup with my dog, lost in an antique store, or watching my husband golf
What three items do you always have in your project bag?
My needleminder/threader combo, a necklight, and a snag-nab-it
What shows are you currently watching?
Real Housewives (any city) and Schitt’s Creek!
What is your favorite podcast?
Morbid - nothing gets my day started like listening to a murder podcast on the way to work
Who is your favorite needlepoint or non-needlepoint follow on Instagram right now?
I can’t get enough of The Finishing School Blog (@thefinishingschoolblog), Anna McKenzie (@annamckenziestudio), and The Needlepointers (@theneedlepointers) for needlepoint; and Daphne Oz (@daphneoz) for all things fashion and recipes!
If time and money were no issue, what type of needlepoint project would you want to do?
STOCKINGS. Plum Stitchery’s Floral stocking and Yellow Bow stocking both live rent free in my head. I would never take them down! My love language is gift giving and my dream is to give everyone in my immediate family (15 people) each a stocking.
What inspires you creatively?
Florals always inspire me. Flowers are a universal language of happiness and love. It’s impossible to be upset looking at a beautiful bouquet of flowers. My church always has the most beautiful flowers up each week, and somehow ideas always pop into my head while praying. For my other canvases, I catch inspiration riding around listening to 90s country in the rural area I grew up in.
What are you most excited about in 2025?
Getting to know more designers in this community and soaking up every bit of knowledge they have to share with me. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life so far! I feel so encouraged by this community.
FOLLOW UP:
Where can people find your designs?
Here at Penny Linn and my Instagram
Where can people follow you on social?
