Updated June 4, 2019
Michele asked for my recommendation for canvas for her as a beginner.
The answer is simple, 13- or 14-mesh mono canvas from Zweigart. Let’s look at why.
The Weave
Mono canvas is woven with a simple over-1-under-1 weave. Made from single threads of heavy long-staple cotton, it’s smooth so that your thread will go through it easily. Needlepoint by its nature is hard on threads because this canvas is smoother, it iseasier on your threads.
The single-thread construction means that the weave is easy-to-see and the intersections float. This will make it easier to learn Basketweave and will allow your canvas to be blocked back into shape when you’re finished stitching.
Mono also has the largest holes of any weave of needlepoint canvas. This means that as you are learning you’ll have a bigger target.
The Maker
I’m sure there are other makers of needlepoint canvas, but Zweigart is the canvas of choice. Their deluxe line has orange threads woven in the selvage.
Their canvas is beautifully woven. It is 100% cotton. Mono canvas is heavy for its size because the threads are thick and smooth.
Virtually all hand-painted canvas in the US is on Zweigart as well.
The Mesh
The most popular mesh of canvas these days is 18-mesh. When I started stitching in 1970, it was 10-mesh. 18 was considered petit point.
For your early projects, you want a balance between a canvas that is easy to see and one that has a wide variety of threads that fit it easily. More and more designers are creating designs on 13 mesh. Some designers even make the exact same designs available on both mesh sizes.
Many people find 18-mesh hard to see. So while the most threads are available for it, it is harder to stitch. On the other hand, large mesh sizes such as 10 and 12 are very easy to see, but finding threads for these can be tricky.
13 & 14 mesh are a great solution. They have become more popular so many designers have their designs available on these meshes. They are adaptable so many threads too thick for 18 work here, but many threads that are great on 18 work on these meshes as well.
Sticking with this mesh of canvas gives you lots of opportunities to try new things while making your first projects a breeze.
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
Thank You! Hope this information helps others too!
Hello. Hope you don’t might a question on such an old post. Perhaps you have answered it in another and I haven’t found it yet. I am a beginner in needlepoint, just learning stitches. Being more process than project oriented, it will be easiest to practice stitches without looking for a beginner canvas. Various articles say to practice on a doodle cloth with scraps or threads from stash, but when you start out you have nothing. If i get 14 mesh canvas as you suggest to learn with, what sort of threads should I get for this canvas size to learn with? Would cutting 12×12 squares be suitable to learn on? Would 8×8 be better – or is that too small of a working area on 14 mesh to really learn a stitch or pattern (as in bargello)?
14 mesh canvas is excellent for learning stitches. I would use #5 pearl cotton as the thread for learning stitches. It is a single strand so you don’t have to ply or recombine the strands, you just use it as it is. It is inexpensive, which is good when you are learning. You can find it at just about anywhere including big box craft stores, so you don’t need to worry if there isn’t a needlework shop close by.
Because #5 pearl is a little thin you will also be able to see how the stitches are made better.
When I teach beginners 13 or 14 mesh and pearl cotton is the combination I use.
As to the size of the canvas, it’s really up to you. 8×8 is certainly big enough, depending on how I planned on using it, I might even go as small as 6×6. 12×12 is pretty large.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Would love it if you would provide a list of threads/fibers that work well on 13 mesh. Putting together a simple canvas to teach my daughter, but as I usually work on 18, I am not sure what fibers to giver her.
Great idea! Look for it as a post on Thursday.
Keep stitching,
Janet
I have always used interlock canvas for no other reason than that is what I started on. I do counted work and 4 way bargello, but not painted. My question – does interlock not have the qualities mentioned for mono? Should I consider buying mono when my current supply runs out?
Thanks in advance for any advice you offer.
Although Zweigart makes interlock canvas, there are significant differences. Most of these stem from the fact that the weave of Interlock canvas (picture here) creates intersections that are stable, or “locked,” in place.
This allows the canvas to be made from cotton that has shorter fiber length (short instead of long staple). That also means the canvas can be lighter, thinner with thinner threads, and fuzzier.
Interlock works great when you need this lightweight or when you need to be able to cut the canvas close and construct something. It works less well when you do things that can make the canvas distort because once this canvas gets out of shape, it’s almost impossible to get back into shape.
Interlock is probably fine for Bargello, but I wouldn’t use it for counted work.
Keep stitching,
Janet