How to Make Fabric Wall Art
Decking out your new home with custom-made art you've created is not only fun, it's visually rewarding. Check out a few art books or home-and-garden magazines to get ideas for types of fabric and panel sizes. Think through where you want to place the artwork and how many pieces you'd like to make. Then, pick up your supplies and get creative. Visitors will admire your handiwork, and you can sit back, smiling proudly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Variety of fabrics
- Canvas stretchers
- Scissors
- Staple gun
- Staples
- Optional:
- Glue
- Tacks
- Dangling objects
Instructions
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Gather all the supplies on a large work table or area. Hold your fabric and select what part you want to be "up" or at the top. Lay it over your first stretcher. Turn it a couple of different ways to verify your plan.
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Lay the fabric down flat with the back or "wrong" side facing up. Lay the stretcher over it so it fits evenly. When cutting your fabric, allow several extra inches all the way around so you have enough to work with. It should be about 2 or 3 inches wider than the stretcher.
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Staple the fabric onto two opposing sides of the stretcher. Start with the top, then pull it snugly and staple to the bottom. Try to keep the fabric square so you don't get a wrinkle. Flip the stretcher over to see how it looks. If you don't like raw fabric edges, tuck under about 1/4 to 1/2 inch as you staple - this gives a hemmed look.
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Continue with the other two sides. Pull the fabric snugly so as to keep it nice, flat, taut and smooth. It is sometimes easier to turn the stretcher sideways to work but keep the fabric beneath it, face down, as you work.
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Vintage fabrics can make beautiful wall art. Repeat the process for each stretcher and fabric choice. Cut off any excess fabric bits or dangling strings.
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Add dangling decorations such as beads, fringe or other items if desired. Just secure the top strands to the back of the stretcher with glue or tacks or punch a staple over the string. Hang your finished artwork on your walls, individually or in groups, and step back to enjoy your work.
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Tips & Warnings
Visit a fabric store to choose the materials you want to work with. You can also sometimes find great fabrics at thrift shops, novelty stores and antique stores -- especially if you can think beyond the common "bolt" of fabric. A vintage dress may have a beautiful pattern you can cut into squares or rectangles. Stay open to possibilities.
Purchase your canvas stretchers from an art-supply or craft store. Get enough to make all the different pieces you want, and in the proper sizes you will use.
Don't rush while working. And, don't fret too much if you get a wrinkle. Simply unstaple the area and pull the fabric more snugly over the stretcher.
Diagonal layouts can add unique interest so get brave and don't always stick to uniform designs.
You can sometimes find good deals on fabrics during off-seasons or specials on certain styles. Keep an eye out for unique opportunities.
Look for inexpensive picture-hanging kits to use for your art. Sometimes you'll find them at hardware stores or department stores, rather than just at frame or craft shops.
Be careful when stapling -- keep your fingers out of the way.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
