STITCH IN TIME

When the door swings open to The Canvasback needlepoint shop in Northfield, rainbows of stitching fibers shout an optic popping, “Hello!” from the wall displays. Celebrating the shop’s 50th year in the business, owner Eilene Isaacs is delighted that needlepoint is enjoying a renaissance.

“Mature stitchers have been joined by new younger stitchers, who are gathering in ways that we rarely saw before,” she says. “Needlepoint has become an active social enterprise with stitching groups meeting in hotel lobbies, restaurants, homes, and other innovative venues.”

Isaacs, who bought The Canvasback in 2016 from needlepoint artist Sally Volkert, says customers range in age from 8 to 95.

“We do everything we can to support them, helping as they choose canvases and fibers, teaching the hundreds of stitches they can use on projects, and assisting in the finishing process—whether that’s sewing, assembly, framing, upholstery, Lucite boxing, or belts.”

The new swell of interest in needlepoint was given a boost during the pandemic, when people were looking for engaging artistic pursuits to help them through their sequesters. And it has continued.

“Needlepoint is a very Zen-like experience,” Isaacs explains. “The repetitive motion, the intricacy of embellished stitches, and the focus on our hand-painted designs make needlepoint a relaxing and almost addictive experience.”

In fact, studies have shown that needlepoint increases endorphins and reduces the stress associated with cortisol levels.

“People tell us all the time that needlepoint helps keep them off their phones, off the internet, and off screens in general,” says Isaacs.

Engendering a spirit of camaraderie and friendship through needlepoint has been The Canvasback’s modus operandi from the start. Sally Volkert and her sister-in-law, Mary Gee Volkert, opened the shop in 1974, and it quickly became a destination for needlepoint love and learning— serving customers all over the country, Canada, and Europe. Today under Issac’s guidance, The Canvasback offers the largest selection of canvases in the Midwest. Classes and communal stitching sessions are a big part of the successful equation.

“For beginners … and “begin-again-ers,” I teach them one on one before or after the store opens,” says Isaacs, explaining that if they buy a canvas and the necessary fibers and supplies, she usually provides this instruction at no charge. “For customers that know how to stitch but want a relaxed more social setting, we offer a Sit and Stitch program with a staff person to provide some help and support as needed.”

For more competent stitchers seeking to learn new stitches and really enhance their pieces, The Canvasback offers Monday and Wednesday classes with longtime teacher Linda Corirossi.

“We also have three-day intensive seminars. Customers select their own pieces. A stitch guide is written in advance and the teacher supports each student in mastering the complexity of the project. These classes yield extraordinary results—not just beautiful needlepoint artwork, but enduring friendships,” says Isaacs, adding that she also teaches a beginner’s program at New Trier Extension. “It is lots of fun. We provide all the materials, and the group learns together.”

Different from embroidery and crewel, where floss and wool are stitched into patterns on cloth, needlepoint is done on a stiff canvas, often supported in a wooden frame. With artistic tastes as varied as the thousands who needlepoint, the importance of offering a wide array of canvas designs and stitching fibers is crucial. To meet the demand, The Canvasback carries a vast selection of vibrantly colored fibers—from silks and cottons to metallics, synthetics, wools, and bamboo.

“As the market of artists is growing in number, we do everything we can to offer what’s new in the marketplace, but we also provide an abundant selection from the more traditional designers who have been around for decades,” says Isaacs.

New designers offer smaller, simpler images reflective of themes that are popular now. These can be stitched and completed more quickly and easily with basic stitches and are often sized to fit into practical leather, rattan, and Lucite goods which are in vogue. In contrast, more traditional designers provide larger, more complex, and detailed pieces that are more conducive for embellished stitching. Showcasing both, The Canvasback hosts trunk shows from national designers every month of the year.

Deciding what and how much to carry in the shop has become increasingly challenging.

“There is a certain amount of tension in the needlepoint world right now between brick-and-mortar stores and online resources,” Isaacs explains. “There are definite differences in what it costs to run a brick-and-mortar shop and what it costs to run an online resource. These differences get reflected in retail pricing and this is a challenge. But at The Canvasback we are very customer focused. We carry it all and when we don’t have what the customer is requesting, we do whatever we can to get it. Not every needlepoint shop has taken this approach.”

Looking ahead to the next decade, Isaacs is deeply grateful for her coworkers.

“Six of the 10 were here while Sally was still owner, and each is invaluable,” she says. “All are excellent stitchers who provide the attentive service and commitment for which The Canvasback is known.”

Isaacs is also thrilled to be serving a new generation.

“There are so many benefits. Needlepoint is the gift you give to others and the gift you give to yourself,” sums Isaacs. “There is no better way to show affection, respect, and connection than with something handmade. And with needlepoint, the time, effort and skill invested ensures it will be a valued gift treasured always.”

The Canvasback is located at 1747 Orchard Lane in Northfield. For more information, call 847-446-4244 or visit thecanvasback.com.