Most fabric art pieces have raw edges that require finishing. I’ve used a variety of techniques to accomplish this task. My newest and most interesting method is to mount the project onto pre-stretched canvas.

I recently shared two posts titled Should I and I Think It Was Successful. Contained within those narratives were details about my thought process as well as photos. As curious as I was about the technique I thought it possible that you might be as well and as a result I am embarking on a short series explaining the steps I followed. Links to the first and second tutorials have been included. Below is installment number three.

Welcome to the third installment in my tutorial on attaching a fiber art piece to a pre-stretched canvas. If you have not read and accomplished the steps contained within the first two editions I highly recommend you do so now. Links to those journals were provided above. For those that have already completed the previous tasks let’s get started on today’s project.

Attaching Your Art Piece to A Canvas

1. Wear safety glasses.
2. Become acquainted with the proper use of your stapler.
3. To avoid embedding staples in your skin, make sure you hold the stapler correctly. Holding it improperly can lead to bodily injuries. Believe me this can happen; I know because I did it and it really hurts. 🙁
4. Find out what size staple works best for this task. To determine the proper size staple to use, experiment on scrap wood with several different sizes. Through a process of elimination I discovered that a 1/4” Arrow brand staple was my best option. Anything longer seemed to easily bend.
5. To avoid getting your item dirty, make certain the surface you are placing your canvas on is clean and free of debris.
6. On the back of your art piece use a chalk pencil, or something similar, to draw a grid locating the vertical and horizontal centers.
7. Use those reference points to find the outer vertical and horizontal boundaries.
8. Place your frame on top of the fabric with the right side of the canvas facing the back of your quilt.
9. Line up the stretched canvas frame between the drawn lines.
10. Beginning with the right vertical frame bar, gently lift up the fabric edge of your fiber art piece to wrap it up and over the bar. Insert one staple through the fabric in the center of the bar. Next turn your frame so that the left vertical edge is closest to you. Repeat the steps from above. Do the same for the horizontal top and bottom edges.
11. Flip your canvas over and check to make sure your art piece is centered on the canvas. You can do this with either a rigid or fabric measuring device.
12. Hopefully your beautiful fiber art quilt is situated just fine. If it is not, then make adjustments and recheck the “center.”
13. If it is centered continue stapling, applying staples alternating from side to side and top to bottom.
14. Be careful when tugging on the fabric. Too much force could rip your fabric or misalign your piece.
15. Recheck the front measurements occasionally.
16. If a staple bends (doesn’t go into frame properly) remove it. I used a screw driver, with a small tip, to gently lift the staple just enough to make it easy to pull out with a needle nose pliers.
17. Don’t be in a hurry…take your time. You will have better success with stapling…which means less bent or misfired staples.
18. As you approach the corners refer to this YouTube posting by Leila Gardunia. Her video explains and shows how to master corners way better than I could ever record in words.
19. Once your corners are finished flip your mounted quilt over and admire your work. Pat yourself on the back for a job well-done! (See photos below)

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We only have a few steps left to accomplish. Those tasks will be shared in my fourth installment. If you are not already a follower of my journal then take a few minutes to become one. Then you too can automatically receive updates.

I hope that you have found these instructions to be helpful. If there are questions, concerns or suggestions you would like to voice please do so through a comment. I look forward to our interaction.

With warm wishes for a wonderful day!

© 2012-2020 Cindy (Olp) Anderson and In A Stitch Quilting