DIY Printed or Painted Needlepoint Canvas

Having trouble finding a painted needlepoint canvas that suits your style and fits your budget? You can print or paint your own canvas! It's easier than you think.

Print a Canvas
Did you know that you can print your own needlework patterns for use on blank canvas? The drawback is that you are limited by the paper sheet size your printer can handle, but it is not as painstaking as counting threads to paint them. There are other methods of making your own design by using transfer paper and an iron, but I like to do it this way.

1. Select clipart or a photo with good contrast, as when designing your own cross stitch pattern. Scan and save the photo then check the image size to be sure you can print it the way you want it.
2. Print the photo out on normal printing paper.
3. Use acrylic gel or medium (check for the words "acrylic polymer" on the bottle or tube) and coat your printed image then let it dry.
4. Repeat this four more times then let it dry overnight.
5. Soak the coated image in water for 15 minutes and rub the paper away. You'll be left with a decal: a thin, clear plastic sheet with your embedded design.
6. Glue this onto your canvas with paper adhesive, and you're ready to stitch!

I know this decal method works for inkjet printers, which is what I have, but I'm not sure about laser jets. If you've tried transferring images from a printer, please let me know which printed or painted needlepoint canvas method you used and how it turned out!

Paint a Canvas
Personally, I think the printing method is easiest, but if you're computer phobic, hand painting is easier. It's also better for controlling detail since you can adjust the color of the intersections as needed.

• Have your design charted or lay a grid over it. An easier option is to have an extra copy of the design that you can put on the table, tape the canvas on top of it, and paint right onto it.
• The best type of paint to use is acrylic because it won't bleed if it becomes wet. Thin the paint enough so that it doesn't clog the canvas mesh holes. If one does clog, blow on it right away while the paint is still wet.
• Use a firm brush with short bristles to cover the bumps of the canvas accurately and thoroughly. Pay special attention to hitting the intersection points since that's where you stitch.
• Give the canvas two coats of paint, allowing it to dry between coats.

Now you have your own printed or hand painted needlepoint canvas.

You are ready to stitch an original, exclusive, limited edition design that you made yourself!

Why not reupholster a stool using painted needlepoint canvas to show off your skilled work?

Or try the Plastic Canvas Design Studio Software if you want to stitch a pattern on plastic canvas.

A comment on March 18, 2010:
"I printed a royalty-free picture on my color inkjet printer, covered it with acrylic polymer (I used a little roller and got an even, smooth coat) according to your instructions. Then I used removable spray glue and pressed it on the canvas. Heavy book overnight pressed it firmly and flat - canvas between two sheets of cardboard. The polymer film is so thin that the needle easily passes through. It works wonderful." ~ Trudy