Although ready-made canvases are easy to find, they are are not cheap so you might want to save some money and try to make your own. Here is how...
······························································································································································································· Supplies: you will need
• cotton canvas - buying it primed will save you time.
Depending on the quality, you can purchase canvas for about $20-30/m (the length vary but is usually about 1.50-2m).
• wood stretcher bars - you will need four to make a frame. They come in all different lengths and vary in price depending on the thickness (thin or heavy duty wood).
• staple gun & staples - to hold the fabric in place.
• stretcher frame keys or corner keys - small wedges used to tighten the completed canvas.
·······························································································································································································
·······························································································································································································
1 - Join the stretchers: Lay them out on the floor, then push the corners together by hand. If necessary, tap the corners gently on a carpet or with a rubber hammer (be careful not to dent the wood). Check that they're at right angles, either with a set square or with something that has a fairly accurate right angle on it, such as a book.
2 - Roll out your canvas, put the frame on top of it, then cut it to size, remembering that the canvas has to fold over the outside edge of the stretchers. Rather be over-generous in the size you cut and trim off the excess when you've stretched your canvas.
3 - Attaching the canvas: the most important things to remember when attaching your canvas to the stretchers is to work from the middle outwards and in opposites. So, starting in the centre on any side, staple the canvas to the back of the stretcher. Put in about 3 staples, approximately two inches apart. With your first few canvases, you'll probably put in more staples than you need; practise will give you a feel for this. Move to the opposite side, pull the canvas taught, and staple the middle in place. Repeat with the other two edges.
Now staple one edge from the middle to the one side.
Remember to pull the canvas as tight as you can - an extra pair of hands is useful.
Then do the same on the edge that is diagonally opposite. Continue like this until all the edges are in place. If you're stretching a very large canvas, don't staple all the way to the corner in one go. You'll get better tension by doing it in sections.
At the corners, fold the edges of the canvas neatly and staple the one on top of the other. If your canvas needs a little tightening, tap in the frame keys. But don't rely on these. If you find your tension isn't good, rather remove the staples and start again.
······························································································································································································· Notes
• Stretchers are usually sold in pairs, so by buying two different lengths, you can make a rectangular canvas rather than a square one.
• Get a strong friend to help you by holding the canvas in place while you staple it. Once you get more experienced, you will be able to do it by yourself.
• If your local art store doesn't sell unprimed canvas by the yard, buy it from an on-line supplier.
Alternatively, ask your local fabric store if they've got heavy-duty, unbleached calico. Smooth any imperfections with a piece of fine sandpaper or nailfile.
• You can make your own stretchers from 1"x2" wood, cutting mitre corners which you join with corrugated nails.
·······························································································································································································
|