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Introduction to Canvas Work – Canvas Stitches

by Sue Kerndt and Ann Caswell

Reading a Stitch Diagram, Counting Threads

Many canvas work designs use a stitch diagram to demonstrate the stitch pattern. The grid lines on the diagram represent the canvas threads. The blank spaces between the lines represent the holes of the canvas.

Most designers use the odd-even method. This means you come up from the back of the canvas on the odd numbers, and go down on the even numbers. It is important to count threads of the canvas, not holes. Many stitches use the same hole more than once and each stitch covers a specific number of threads.

Stitch Construction

The stitches generally regarded as canvas stitches are made of straight or slanted stitches, or combinations of both. These stitches can reverse direction, be made longer, or may be combined with one another to create a large variety of stitch types and patterns. Embroidery stitches such as chain, buttonhole, French knots, etc. may also be used effectively on canvas. The new stitcher should be aware that many different names can be given for the same stitch. There are also many different ways of working a stitch. You need to explore different methods to determine what works best for you and/or the project you are stitching. We are fortunate to have numerous canvas stitch books available today.

Straight Stitches are vertical or horizontal stitches. They are usually stitched either horizontally across the canvas or vertically. Most straight stitches, although not all, may be worked back and forth across the canvas or up and down in either direction. Straight stitches do not usually distort the canvas and are the easiest to learn. Examples used are Straight Gobelin, Brick, Hungarian, Pavilion, and Parisian.


Straight Gobelin		Brick		Hungarian


Pavilion		Parisian

Slanted Stitches pass over one or more canvas intersections.

A short slanted stitch, which goes over one canvas intersection (slanting at a 45-degree angle) is a tent stitch. Half Cross, Continental and Basketweave are all tent stitches. Although they look the same on the front of the canvas, they differ in the way they are stitched. The Half Cross is stitched from left to right, the Continental is stitched from right to left, and Basketweave is stitched on the diagonal. Although the Half Cross stitch conserves thread, it does not wear well because of its poor coverage on the back of the canvas. The Continental stitch distorts the canvas, but can be used effectively for lines and small areas. The Basketweave stitch is preferred because it covers the back of the canvas and does not distort the canvas.

Slanted stitches over more than one canvas intersection may be at any angle. Those that are on a 45-degree angle are sometimes referred to as Diagonal stitches. Slanted stitches can be worked in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction. It depends on the experience of the stitcher and the design area as to which might be best. Slanted stitches tend to distort the canvas, especially if the canvas is not mounted on a frame. Examples are Diagonal Gobelin, Long Armed Cross, Mosaic, and Rhodes.


Diagonal Gobelin		Long Armed Cross

Mosaic		Rhodes

Sharing Holes

The very nature of canvas work is having more than one stitch share a hole with another. Unless the stitch is designed to do so, two threads should never interlock with each other. Care must be taken to avoid one thread piercing another. Since it is difficult to see the back of the canvas, it is easier to come up from the back in an empty hole (clean hole) and go down in a filled hole. However, many stitch patterns and designs make it impossible to avoid coming up in an occupied hole. Three possible solutions:

Try reversing the direction of a stitch. You may have to skip a stitch before doing this to prevent undoing the previous stitch.
Carefully come up in the occupied hole without disturbing the thread that is already there. Do this by pulling back on the existing stitch with your fingernail or needle.
Turn the work over to the back and place the stitch in from the wrong side.

Compensation

Stitch patterns may not always fit evenly into the design area. Filling stitches or compensating stitches need to be inserted. Work as much of the stitch pattern as possible in the proper thread and color, keeping the same stitch direction. Next, work the compensation stitches.

In most instances, a compensation stitch will be shorter, but sometimes a longer stitch is preferred. It is often difficult to start a new row with compensating stitches. Work the first full stitch and then work the compensated stitch. Practice on scrap canvas and/or graph paper.

Compensating stitches are shown in gray.

Now that we have completed the basics of canvaswork, let's go to project we can stitch! Click for the complete directions for Garland Ornament.

Stitch samples by Pat Timpanaro

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Last Updated November 24, 2004