Questions we hear a lot
The short answers live here. The long ones live in the guides.
The answers
Do I have to be a needlepointer to get the designs?+
No — but you will get more out of them if you are. Insiders read the slant, the mesh count, and the basketweave back at a glance; everyone else sees clean geometry. Both are welcome.
Why is the stitch always slanted the same way?+
Because tent stitch crosses one intersection bottom-left to top-right — the /// slant — and a single backslash in a field reads as wrong to any stitcher. We keep it sacred, and we never draw thin X’s (that’s cross-stitch) or blocky aida cloth.
What is “checking the back,” exactly?+
Turn a finished canvas over. A proper basketweave stitch leaves a woven, basket-like reverse; lazy continental leaves long diagonal floats. It is how careful stitchers quietly grade each other — hence our tagline.
How does Tent Stitch make money?+
Two ways: affiliate commissions when you buy recommended tools through our links (as an Amazon Associate we may earn a commission), and our own original merch. No brand pays for placement in a ranking.
How long does merch take to arrive?+
Everything is made to order: 3–7 business days of handling, then shipping. Most US orders arrive within 5–10 business days total, with tracking emailed on dispatch. Ships worldwide.
Something we missed? Ask us directly — real questions become new guides.