Simply stick your hand in and out of the zippered area. Certainly a project for more intermediate/advanced stitchers, but surprisingly not too different than stitching a traditional canvas in-hand.

Small, but mighty roomy. Even an iPhone Pro Max easily slides in and out without any need for a game of Tetris. Mary Poppins would totally approve!

I had never tried Stitchly before either and after an evening of binging tutorials on TikTok, I came up with the Westie design you see on this red sample in the photos. While the app was a learning process, it’s nothing a stubborn DIY girly can’t handle. 

Alternatively, you can phone a friend!
Most local needlepoint stores can help you create a custom chart.

Watch my adventures with Stitchly for The Ladybird here.

I would not recommend this as someone’s first project. 
 
If you are in the earlier stages of your love affair with needlepoint… never fear – there are more beginner-friendly leather goodies that will hit the shop soon!

The back will sit on your shoulder or flush against your body when worn. Penelope's larger holes make it easy to stay tidy but...

If you are a "the back of the canvas is none of my business" stitcher, this perhaps won't be your cup of tea! 

If you're a visual personal, this video of what all three straps look like on a person will be really helpful in making your decision!