Today’s guest post comes from Brenda Stimpson of Needlepoint for Fun who answers a question about how to join needlepoint canvas.
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You might want to join two or more pieces of needlepoint canvas together to make a rug or to take several small designs to patchwork into a larger design.
Here’s How You Join Two Pieces of Needlepoint Canvas:
I am going to show you a method that works equally well for mono and interlock canvas.
Make a crease down the sides of the canvas pieces that you want to join by folding the edges to the back so that about 1/2″ is folded back on each piece. then line these two folded edges up together so that the canvas threads match up.
Use a piece of strong cotton, the same color as the canvas or the same color as the thread that you will use to stitch on top of the canvas, and sew the two pieces of canvas together using a Cross Stitch. You might pin the canvases together while you work to ensure the canvas threads and holes line up and don’t slide around.
Now you have two pieces of joined canvas that you can stitch over as though they are one. Near the seam you will be stitching through two layers. Using darker colors in this area will be more forgiving and show the seam less. Stitching a patterned border, or rows of stitches that are not all the same color over the seam will also disguise it more, as will using a stitch that has a pattern to it.
You can also join two pieces of interlock canvas together simply by overlapping the edges a half inch or so and basting them together using cross stitches, or even just holding in place and stitching through both layers with your needlepoint stitch. This does not work well for mono canvas because the canvas threads are not interlocked together, so they will unravel, which means your seam will not be strong and the canvas threads may come through to the front of your stitching.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
I would like to remove a dry rotted area from the center of a older needlepoint piece, stitch an identical piece on a new canvas of equal mesh, then reinsert the new piece where the damaged piece was originally. Do you have suggestions for accomplishing this?
I’m not sure about this and you should probably check this with someone who doEs needlepoint restoration.
The first step is to cut out the rotted piece. Set it aside and, if possible, use it as a pattern for your new piece. Next cut out some of the stitching all around the cut-out area. Mark on the new canvas the shape of the cut-out area. You should cut the canvas 2″ bigger than this area all around. Do not use Interlock canvas for the new piece.
Stitch the area and check it against the canvas to make sure it will exactly fit the cut-out area, If it doesn’t make adjustments.
To insert the piece, unravel the edges of the canvas up to the stitching. place the new canvas on top of the old needlepoint and, one by one, thread the new canvas threads through those open threads you created around the open area. After the threads are all pulled through, you will want to secure them on the back.
Once everything is fitted and secure restitch the areas of stitches you pulled out.
Keep stitching,
Janet