What is canvas and how to choose yours

"Canvas," "tela de medio punto" (needlepoint fabric)… if you're new to this, you may have heard these terms and aren't entirely sure if they're the same thing or different. Let's clear it up once and for all: what exactly is canvas, what types exist, and how to choose the right one for your embroidery project.

What exactly is canvas?

Canvas is a stiff fabric, woven in a visible grid pattern, specifically designed for needlepoint (also called tapestry stitch). Unlike other embroidery fabrics, its threads are more spaced out and starched, forming clear, regular holes that allow you to count stitches effortlessly and completely cover the fabric with thread, without letting the underlying weave show through. It is, along with a blunt-tipped needle, the foundation of any needlepoint picture.

Canvas vs. Aida fabric: they are not the same

It's a common mistake to confuse them, so let's differentiate them clearly:

• Aida fabric: more flexible, with holes formed by groups of interwoven threads. It's the queen of cross-stitch, where part of the fabric remains visible between stitches.
• Canvas: stiffer and thicker, designed to be completely covered with thread. The final result looks more like a tapestry than traditional embroidery, with more body and relief.

If you're going to embroider one of our needlepoint kits, the fabric you need is, without a doubt, canvas.

The count: the number that changes everything

As with Aida fabrics, canvas is measured by its count: the number of holes (and therefore stitches) that fit in one inch of fabric. The higher the number, the finer the fabric and the more detail the design can accommodate:

• Count 7-10 canvas (coarse): large stitches, ideal for rugs, cushions, or pieces viewed from a distance. It's quick to embroider, also perfect for children or hands with limited fine motor skills.
• Count 12-14 canvas (medium): the most common in our decorative picture kits. Good balance between detail and ease of embroidery.
• Count 16-18 canvas (fine): much more detail, ideal for portraits, artworks, or motifs with many color nuances. Requires a bit more patience and eyesight.

Single or double canvas (Penelope)

There's a second distinction you should know:

• Single canvas (mono): the threads form a regular grid of a single thread in each direction. It's the most common and the one we use in our kits.
• Double canvas (Penelope): the threads are paired, allowing them to be separated at specific points to embroider areas with more detail on the same fabric. This is a somewhat more advanced technique, intended for those who already have several finished pieces.

How to care for your canvas while embroidering

• Mount it on a hoop to prevent it from deforming while you work; being a stiff fabric, wrinkles are very noticeable.
• Handle the edges carefully: canvas can fray a bit at the edges. A bit of fabric tape on the edge, if your kit doesn't already have it finished, prevents surprises.
• Do not fold it: unlike other fabrics, canvas easily marks creases. It's better to roll it if you need to store it for a while.

How to choose yours

The good news is that if you start with one of our kits, you don't have to choose anything: the fabric comes pre-cut, marked with the printed pattern, and in the exact count that specific design requires. The count is determined by the design itself: the more detailed the motif (a portrait, a famous painter's work), the finer the canvas that accompanies it will be.

In summary

Canvas is the stiff, starched fabric used for needlepoint, distinct from Aida, and its count determines the level of detail in your picture. The lower the number, the coarser and quicker to embroider; the higher, the finer and more detailed. If you want to start without the complication of choosing fabrics, our needlepoint kits already include the perfect canvas ready for embroidery, along with all the DMC threads you'll need.