Embroidery canvases

123 embroidery canvases: plastic canvases, complete kits and patterns for all levels

Canvas embroidery involves stitching on a rigid, counted-thread fabric. Unlike cross-stitch on flexible Aida fabric, canvas – whether made of plastic or woven cotton – holds its shape without a frame, making it easier to work on whilst travelling. The 123 designs available here cover the entire spectrum: small-stitch floral motifs, country-style kits with large stitches, abstract decorative panels, and ready-to-make cushion canevas.

Before making your choice, one factor matters more than the rest: the number of holes per centimetre. A canvas with 4.4 holes/cm (large-stitch) is quick to work on with thick wool — a 20 cm square can be completed in 4 to 6 hours. A canvas with 10 holes per cm for petit point requires fine thread and good eyesight: allow 3 to 4 times as long for the same area. Neither is ‘better’ — they simply suit different purposes.

Plastic canvas or Penelope canvas: which to choose for your next embroidery project

Plastic canvas (rigid, with a regular square mesh) forms the basis of beginner’s kits. It doesn’t warp, doesn’t require a hoop, and the threads stay in place without complicated knots. A practical advantage is that it can be cut into shapes, which is useful for decorative items such as bookmarks or small frames. The Prym brand offers plastic canvas in 7 and 10 holes per cm, which is widely available and compatible with DMC Pearl Cotton threads.

Pénélope canvas, made from double-thread cotton, allows for two different stitches on the same piece: large stitches on the wide weft threads, small stitches on the fine weft threads — handy for a quick background and neat details in the foreground. It is the historic canvas of traditional French embroidery. Margot de Paris kits have been using it since the 1970s; their Belle Époque designs are the finest examples of this.

Complete embroidery kits for beginners: what the kit should contain

A good canvas kit includes the printed fabric (the design is already marked out in colour on the fabric), all the necessary threads listed by number, a round-tipped tapestry needle (usually No. 18 or No. 20), and step-by-step instructions. What makes the difference between a frustrating kit and an enjoyable one is the precision of the printed outline. If the coloured squares extend beyond the grid lines, counting becomes a struggle. Test a few stitches as soon as you receive it — good kits don’t have this problem.

For a first attempt, a 20×20 cm design in a large-stitch format (4 to 5 holes per cm) with 8 to 12 colours is just right. Fewer colours and the result looks dull; too many colours and the constant thread changes slow you down and put you off before you’ve finished. The kits in the Children’s Kits range follow this principle exactly — large stitches, limited colour palettes, quick to finish.

Threads for tapestry: wool, cotton or acrylic depending on the canvas

Tapestry wool (4-ply or 2-ply depending on the weave) remains the go-to material for traditional canvas work: it provides good coverage, isn’t shiny, and adds texture. The Anchor and DMC brands offer ranges of canvas wool indexed to their standard thread numbers — handy if you’re combining it with other embroidery projects. For fine plastic canvases, No. 5 or No. 8 Pearl Cotton is best suited: it glides easily through the tight stitches and produces a sharper finish on small details.

Acrylic is cheaper and moisture-resistant (good for outdoor cushions), but provides less even coverage and pills more quickly with use. If your canvas project is to be made into a washable sofa cushion, acrylic is a sensible choice. If it’s a wall hanging, stick with wool. Find compatible threads and accessories in the Embroidery Accessories selection.

From canvas to cushion: finishing and assembly

A finished canvas needs to be finished off before it becomes a finished item. For a cushion, use the classic method: wet-block the canvas (pin the canvas to a flat, wet surface and leave to dry for 24 hours), sew on a fabric backing, and fit an invisible zip. Canvas holds up well to sewing provided you use a denim needle (no. 90 or no. 100) to pass through the layers without tearing it. If sewing puts you off, the Embroidery Cushions range offers ready-made kits — the canvas is already mounted on a cushion backing, ready for you to start embroidering straight away.

For wall hangings, try a different approach: stretch the finished canvas onto a wooden frame of the same size and staple it at the back. The result is a neat, frameless piece, similar to a painted canvas. A standard 30×30 cm frame costs around €6 to €8 in a haberdashery shop — the finished canvas then makes a wall hanging for less than €30 in total.

Floral, landscape and portrait embroidery patterns: how to gauge the level of difficulty

Publishers rarely specify a clear difficulty level. In practice, there are three indicators to help you assess this: the number of colours (fewer than 15 = accessible, more than 30 = technical), the size of the uniform colour areas (large areas = quick work, multiple small patches = precision required), and the presence of half-stitches or cross-stitches in addition to the ground stitch. A stylised floral design with 12 colours in large stitches is well within a beginner’s capabilities after two hours of practice. A realistic portrait in small stitches (10 holes per cm) with 40 shades is best suited to those who have already completed at least five projects.

If you’re looking to progress step by step, the Embroidery Designs & Diagrams available in the catalogue allow you to practise on counted patterns before moving on to the complexity of large-format canvases.

Questions embroiderers ask before buying a canvas

What is the difference between canvas and cross-stitch?

The main difference lies in the fabric: cross-stitch is worked on soft Aida fabric, whilst canvas is worked on stiff fabric with wider weft threads. The stitching techniques may be similar (cross-stitch, half-stitch), but canvas also accommodates stem stitch or Turkish stitch, which Aida fabric cannot support. Canvas generally covers a large area more quickly.

How do you estimate the time needed to finish a canvas piece?

On a 5-holes-per-cm canvas, allow about 1 hour for a 5×5 cm area using continuous fill (half-stitch). A 30×30 cm canvas will therefore take between 25 and 35 hours, depending on the complexity of the colour changes. For a coarse 4-holes-per-cm stitch, reduce this by a third.

Can you use any thread on a printed canvas?

No. The thread must cover the mesh exactly without distorting it. On 5 holes per cm, a 4-ply tapestry wool provides good coverage. On 10 holes per cm, switch to No. 5 Pearl Cotton or 2-ply wool. Thread that is too thick forces its way through the mesh and distorts the fabric; thread that is too fine allows the fabric underneath to show through and requires a second pass.

How do you clean a finished canvas?

Hand wash at 30°C with mild soap, without rubbing. Rinse flat, dry flat on a towel. Blocking it whilst still damp at this stage allows you to realign the canvas if it has warped slightly during the work. Avoid using a tumble dryer on plastic canvases — warping is guaranteed.

What accessories are essential for beginners?

At the very least: a No. 18 or No. 20 tapestry needle (round tip, wide eye), a small threader, and stainless steel pins for the final blocking. A spool holder helps to keep the threads organised and knot-free. All additional materials can be found in the Embroidery Accessories selection.