Needlepoint Stretcher Bars
Purchase Needlepoint Stretcher Bars BelowTip. To ensure the canvas is stretched symmetrically, mark the center of each side of the frame and of the canvas. Line up these marks when you tack the canvas to the frame. Tip. If you put masking tape over the tacks or staples then you won't catch your thread on them. Tip. The interlocking corners of the needlepoint stretcher bars are sometimes very tight (they need to be to hold together). If you wrap a towel around a small hammer and tap on the joints that you are trying to fit together, this will help to close them up. Do not "tap" too soundly or you will split the wood.
There are 16 sizes to choose from. You will need to choose sizes that are 2-3 inches bigger than your design area. For example, if you plan to stitch an 8" x 5" needlepoint design, then you will want to order stretcher bars that will be a bit bigger than this, so the waste canvas around the outside of the design will tack or staple to the bars. For this example, a pair of 11" and a pair of 8" stretcher bars would probably be best. It depends a little on how much waste canvas there is around the outside of your design. Wooden stretcher bars with instructions. Sold as a pair (two pair required to make a needlepoint frame). Sizes 5" to 20" are here:
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Needlepoint stretcher bars are four interlocking pieces of wood that form a frame. The needlepoint canvas is tacked or stapled to the frame and held taut. This keeps your work clean while you stitch and allows freer movement of your hands. It also keeps the canvas stretched in place and so it is not distorted as much by the pull of the stitches.
