How to Build and Stretch a Large Canvas for Half the Price! | DIY Art & Design, by Justine Silva on YouTube. 9 min 5 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 5 s
- Time to do it
- 1 to 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Decide your finished size and cut four timber pieces. Cut two at the full width and two at the full height minus twice the timber thickness, so the short bars sit between the long ones.
Sand the cut ends, then glue and screw the four corners together. Check the frame is square by measuring both diagonals, which should be identical.
Add a centre brace across the middle for any frame wider than about 60 cm, so the bars do not bow when the canvas pulls tight.
Lay the canvas face down on a clean floor, centre the frame on top, and cut the canvas leaving a border of 5 to 8 cm on every side.
Fold the canvas over the middle of one long side and fire one staple in the centre. Pull the fabric tight and staple the centre of the opposite side.
Repeat on the two short sides, then work outward from those centre staples, stapling every 5 to 8 cm and pulling the canvas evenly as you go.
Grip the fabric with canvas stretching pliers at each staple for extra tension. Keep it firm but not drum-tight, or the frame will warp.
Fold each corner neatly like a present, pull it flat and staple it down, then trim the loose fabric.
Brush on two or three thin coats of gesso, letting each coat dry and sanding lightly between them. Use clear gesso if you want the canvas weave to show.
Tips and common mistakes
Wear safety glasses when using the staple gun and keep your fingers behind the staple line.
Staple from the centre outward on all four sides, otherwise the canvas pulls crooked.
Cotton canvas dropcloth from a hardware store is the cheap option; a heavier weight of around 10 oz is easier to stretch without tearing.
Thin the first gesso coat slightly with water so it sinks into the fabric and seals it.
Questions
Do I have to prime the canvas before painting?
Yes. Gesso seals the fabric so paint does not soak through, and it gives the paint a surface to grip. Two or three thin coats are enough.
Can I use pre-made stretcher bars instead of cutting timber?
Yes. They slot together without tools and save time. Just check the frame is square before you start stapling.
How tight should the canvas be?
Firm and even, with no sagging, but not so tight that the frame bends. It will tighten slightly more once you add the gesso.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
