Make Colorful Canvas Carpets

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Step 4: Sew the corners. Mitered corners are sewn corners that turn all the rough edges of your canvas inward to create a clean edge that wont fray.

Using a pencil on the canvas, place two marks (1 and 2) where the two hems intersect (photo A, below). Open the folds and place two more marks (3 and 4) on the reverse sides of the two marks you just made. Bring marks 1 and 2 together until they touch (photo B). Align marks 3 and 4 on the outside. From mark 3, draw a line perpendicular to the folded edge (photo C). Pin the corner securely in place. Repeat this entire procedure on the other three corners. Carefully stitch along the drawn lines with a sewing machine.

Cut away the excess canvas, being careful not to cut too close to the tip of the corner. Press the seam open with a hot iron so it lies flat. Repeat these steps on the other three corners. Turn the corners right side out. Use the handle of a spoon (or some other pointed object) to push out the fabric all the way and make clean, square corners. Press the corners well with the iron on the highest setting.

Step 5: Sew the edges. A floorcloth made with a stitched hem will last for years.

Using a straight, long stitch on a sewing machine, sew all the way around the perimeter of the floorcloth, about five-eighths of an inch in from the folded edge. Trim away any stray threads with scissors. Iron the entire floorcloth to ensure crisp, flat edges and square corners.

Step 6: Paint the hem. A painted hem prevents fraying and gives your floorcloth a continuous painted edge. The paint also stiffens the canvas and locks in the stitches on the hem. Use the same paint color you chose for your base coats in Step 7.

Lay the floorcloth with the back (and hem) facing up. Slide an index card under the hem at one of the corners. Using a 1-inch paintbrush, paint the hem, sliding the index card along underneath the hem to prevent painting the back of the floorcloth.

When youve painted all the way around the hem, let it dry for at least three hours before turning over the floorcloth.

Step 7: Apply the base coats. Apply two base coats of latex paint to your floorcloth to stiffen the canvas and ensure an even application of the paint you will use for the design. To save yourself a step, use one of the colors in the design as a base coat. Think about the best sequence of paint colors, then use the first (usually the background color) as the base coat color.

When the hem is completely dry, turn over the floorcloth. With a lint remover, lift off all pieces of lint, dust and stray threads of canvas from the front of the floorcloth. Use a 2-inch brush to paint the entire surface of the floorcloth. Allow the floorcloth to dry overnight. Apply a second coat, keeping the brush strokes smooth and even, and again allow the cloth to dry overnight.

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