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How to Stretch Primed Canvas

Artists often make their own canvas frames and canvases to work with as opposed to buying them already put together at an art store. Buying the materials and assembling on your own can often be less expensive, and it gives the artist more choice and control for the size and type of canvas they want to work with. It is easier to stretch canvas (the act of attaching it to a wooden frame) that has not been primed. And it is easier to stretch primed cotton and polyflax than it is linen. Oil primed and double primed canvas have virtually no stretch to them at all.

Things You'll Need

  • Canvas
  • Wooden canvas frame
  • Staple gun
  • Staples
  • Canvas pliers
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Instructions

  1. Stretch Canvas Over Frame

    • 1

      Spread canvas on a clean, flat surface with the primed side down.
      Place wood frame on top of it.

    • 2

      Wrap canvas edge over one of the short sides of the frame. In the middle of the stretcher bar--side of wood frame--attach the canvas with the staple gun.

    • 3

      Pull the canvas over the opposite side of the frame's edge. Use canvas pliers and pull canvas tightly over the frame edge. Apply staple in the center of the stretcher bar.

    • 4

      Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the each of the long sides. Using your pliers to stretch the canvas, and your staple gun to attach. The canvas should be attached now with a staple in the middle of each side.

    • 5

      Apply a second staple in the middle of the space between the corner of the frame and your first staple. Put a third staple in between the other corner and your first staple. There will be three staples now, evenly spaced, on the side you started with.

    • 6

      Go to the opposite side and repeat. Do the same with the other two sides. Make sure that you are stretching the canvas before each staple to make sure it is taught.

    • 7

      Continue stapling canvas to the stretcher bars, placing staples evenly, working with one side and then its opposite, until there are staples all the way round 1 to 2 inches apart.

    Staple the Corners

    • 8

      Choose a corner. Pull the corner of canvas over the corner of the frame tightly. Staple it to the frame. There will be two "wings" of canvas on each side.

    • 9

      Tightly fold in wings, one over the other.

    • 10

      Staple them down to the frame.

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