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Needlepoint Canvas - a Guide to Needlework Canvases
Needlepoint Canvas - a Guide to the Different Needlework Canvases Available - and a tutorial about - types and sizes of needlepoint canvases - with corresponding photographs.
There are three basic weaves of Needlepoint Canvas - - mono-canvas - penelope ( or two thread ) and interlock ( leno ) canvas. The *mesh* - *count* or *holes per inch* are what define Petit Point - Demi Point and Gros Point. There are very few canvases made in the United States - with the the finest quality coming from Switzerland - Germany and France. It is made of cotton - of multiple threads spun into one strong thread.
Mono Deluxe Needlepoint Canvas
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MONO
Mono canvas is a single thread or plain weave canvas. The warp thread is placed an even distance from the weft thread. Mono-canvas is made of a slightly heavier thread than the other canvases - and has a polished look which is due to the sizing. The reason for the sizing is to keep the threads in place separated while it is being woven and then worked. Due to this heavy sizing - mono is very easy to paint on - also being easy on eyesight because of the simple weave. It is available from ten to twenty-four mesh to the inch.
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PENELOPE
Penelope Canvas have two threads in the warp and the weft to work over - with the warp threads woven very close together. Usually ecru colored - Penelope is made of a slightly lighter weight than mono canvas. The advantage of using Penelope is that you may separate the pairs of threads with your needle and make it into mono canvas within the same project. This way details could be stitched in twenty mesh with the background in ten mesh. Ten / twenty is the most commonly used - although also available in twelve / twenty-four as well as a very durable seven / fourteen.
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INTERLOCK
Interlock canvas is made from a thinner thread than the other needlepoint canvases and is more intricately woven. The newest addition to the canvases available - Interlock is a two-thread canvas with both warp and weft pairs woven very tightly together - the warp threads taking a half twist between each set of weft threads. Interlock ( often called Leno ) is the only canvas that all needlepoint stitches may be worked on. Because the threads are so close together - it is possible to work upright stitches on it - - and since it is a two thread canvas - those stitches that cannot be worked on a loosely woven mono canvas can be worked on Interlock. It has a very even mesh count - which makes it ideal for graph work - easy to paint on - and good for silk screen or stenciling. Available from six to eighteen holes per inch.
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MONO 10 MESH
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INTERLOCK 18 MESH
Needlepoint canvas comes in rolls forty inches wide - though it may be had as narrow as twenty-four inches or as wide as fifty-four inches. The terms *mesh* or *count* - are referring to holes per inch ( hpi ) - which range from three ( for rugs ) - to twenty-four holes within an inch.
If you plan to join two pieces of canvas together - for a rug or a wall hanging - be certain that you buy all your canvas for that project from the same bolt. Because there is a variation of the weave in each roll of canvas you could come up with an uneven count at the join. When cutting canvas for a pieced rug - be sure it is cut as it will lie on the floor - all warps going in the same direction. This is one reason you often see the selvage on the left side ( within needlepoint kits ) - thus insuring that the warp is always going in the same direction.
Gros Point - Demi Point and Petit Point
French in origin - a casual rule to defining these terms could be that any canvas with sixteen mesh per inch or more is Petit Point - and canvas up to ten mesh per inch is Gros Point. Ten mesh is usually referred to as Demi Point.
We hope this Guide to the world of Needlepoint Canvases is helpful for beginners to needlework. Should you have any questions - please do not hesitate to Email us. Select the links ( above left ) to view handpainted canvas designs.
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