Needlepoint Finishing: How to Self-Finish an acrylic inlay

My Lazy Girl Method

You’ve just finished stitching a lovely needlepoint design — yay! Now comes the fun part: turning that canvas into something you can actually use and enjoy. If you love an easy, satisfying finish that doesn’t involve complicated sewing or special tools, this lazy girl method is your new best friend for acrylic needlepoint inlays.

This process is the same one we use to self‑finish our needlepoint keychains, just without adding hardware at the end — perfect for flat acrylic inserts like coasters, tray pieces, or display panels.

Our Fifth Avenue, New York digital download finished as an acrylic tray inlay.

What You’ll Need

• Your finished needlepoint design

• Needle and thread for the binding stitch

• Small scissors

• Fusible interfacing

• An iron

• A clean towel

• Tacky glue, Textile glue or HeatnBond

• Fabric clips

• A piece of fabric or faux leather for the backing

  
  

Once your needlepoint design is fully stitched, start by adding a binding stitch around the whole canvas. This gives the edges a clean, sturdy finish. After that, trim away the excess canvas.

Learn the Binding Stitch here

Next up: fusible interfacing. Place a piece of fusible interfacing on the back of your canvas and gently press it with an iron keeping a clean towl between your iron and the fusible interfacing for heat protection.

To finish the back, cut a piece of fabric or faux leather to size. I like using tacky glue because it grabs well without soaking through. Apply a thin layer, press the fabric onto the back of your needlepoint that is protected by the fusible interfacing. Secure the sandwich of layers together with fabric clips until the glue has set.

Et Voila! Your acrylic needlepoint inlay is ready to slide into its frame, coaster, tray, or other acrylic piece! This method is quick, clean, and accessible even if you’re just starting with self‑finishing.

The lazy girl way to finishing an acrylic needlepoint insert