How to Make a DIY Needlepoint Bag Charm - Video Tutorial & How To

Needlepoint isn’t just for wall art and cushions, it’s also a fun way to create unique accessories you can carry with you every day. One of our favorite projects is the needlepoint bag charm: small, playful, and completely customizable. Plus, it makes a perfect handmade gift for friends and family.

Explore our Needlepoint Bag Charm collection! 

How to Finish a Needlepoint Bag Charm

• The Secret to Clean Edges: Use a continuous whip stitch to wrap and secure the raw canvas folds instead of a traditional binding stitch.

• The Double-Grommet Trick: Install one grommet on the stitched canvas and a matching second grommet on the velvet backing before assembling to ensure perfect alignment.

• The Adhesive Strategy: Use textile glue to hold the folded canvas borders down, then seal the back with self-adhesive velvet.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to finish your needlepoint canvas into a polished bag charm using the binding stitch, self-adhesive velvet, and grommets with pliers.

What You’ll Need

• • Finished needlepoint canvas (We used our Chili Pepper Bag Charm)

  • Needle and thread (Coordinating or matching colors)

  • Self-adhesive velvet backing

  • Grommets + pliers (Grommet tool kit)

  • Textile glue

  • Fabric clips (Essential for holding things in place!)

  • Scissors, paper, and a pen/pencil

  • Keychain ring, chain, or decorative cord

Featured kit: Chili pepper Bag Charm

Video Tutorial - How to Make a Needlepoint Bag Charm

 For those who prefer a visual guide, we’ve created a detailed video tutorial to accompany this blog post. In the video, you'll see each step in action, providing you with a clear and comprehensive understanding of the entire process:

Step-by-Step Bag Charm Finishing Guide

Step 1: Plan the Hole & Secure the Front Grommet

If you are working with an irregular or unique shape (like our chili pepper!), draw a small border along the edges of your canvas first to make the finishing process easier.

1. Pause your stitching when you reach the exact spot where you want your bag charm to hang.

2. Draw a small circular shape on the canvas, make a small snip, and then stitch right around the perimeter of that hole.

3. Choose your grommet color and poke the front piece through the hole from the front of the canvas.

4. Place the matching backing piece of the grommet on the backside of the canvas.

5. Use your grommet pliers to clamp and tighten the two pieces securely together.

Step 2: Finish the Edges with a Whip Stitch

Instead of a traditional binding stitch, we are using a whip stitch for this project. Fold the raw canvas down tightly along the edge of your stitched design. Pass your needle from the back to the front, wrapping the thread cleanly over the folded edge.

Whip Stitch vs. Binding Stitch: Unlike the binding stitch, you don’t need to double back into previous holes. Simply keep moving forward in a continuous loop all the way around, adapting the canvas folds to follow the curves of your design.

Step 3: Create the Velvet Backing Template & Second Grommet

To prevent a messy alignment later, you'll want to prep your velvet backing independently.

1. Make a real-sized paper photocopy of your completed needlepoint canvas.

2. Cut the paper template right along the edge of your design, trace it onto the paper side of your self-adhesive velvet, and cut the velvet out.

3. Place the velvet backing onto the back of your canvas temporarily and secure them with fabric clips.

4. Use a pen to mark the exact placement of the canvas hole onto the velvet.

5. Remove the velvet, punch out the marked hole, and install your second grommet into the velvet backing. Ensure the colorful part faces the soft velvet side, and the crimp piece is on the sticky-backed side. Clamp tightly with your pliers.

Step 4: Trim, Fold, and Glue the Canvas

1. Trim away the excess canvas around your stitched design, leaving a small, workable border.

2. Make small, strategic relief cuts (snips) along the raw edge so the canvas can bend smoothly around curves.

3. Fold the excess canvas flaps toward the back and temporarily secure them with fabric clips.

4. Working in small sections, open a few flaps at a time, apply a small amount of textile glue, and clip them back down. Let the glue dry completely.

Step 5: Assemble the Bag Charm

Once the glue is dry, remove the fabric clips. Carefully peel away the protective paper from your self-adhesive velvet backing.

Line up the two pre-installed grommet holes perfectly, then press the velvet firmly onto the back of the canvas. Use your scissors to trim any tiny bits of excess velvet from the edges if necessary. Pop your fabric clips back on around the borders one last time to apply pressure and ensure a permanent, secure bond.

Optional step, but we recommend: Using the sewing machine to sew the backing to the canvas. This way you ensure it's secure!

Step 6: Attach Hardware & Show It Off!

Slide your preferred cording, decorative chain, or keychain ring directly through the perfectly aligned grommets.

You can also finish your bookmark with other method: 

Needlepoint Bag Charm - Ornament Method

You can also finish your bag charm with the same finished method as an ornament. It's different, but also a very beautiful and common way to do it.

Here are our tutorials on how to finish a needlepoint ornament:

• How to Finish a Round Needlepoint Ornament: Video & How To - full step by step blog post

• How to Finish an Irregular Needlepoint Ornament: Video & How To - full step by step blog post

 

The Finished Look!

Your DIY needlepoint bag charm is ready to hit the streets! Each piece is completely unique, and there is absolutely no better feeling than clipping this to your favorite handbag, tote, or backpack and telling everyone, "Thanks, I made it myself!"

Happy stitching!