The Framers Forum

To save a signature on a canvas I need to extend one side prior to stretching. The canvas is good quality and I'm planning to stitch a strip of similar fabric on using my sewing machine. Any join won't be seen as it will then be framed using a normal moulding as opposed to a tray frame.
Does anyone have any tips before I do this?
Thanks

Is this a normal domestic sewing machine, or a heavy duty "over locking" sewing machine capable of taking heavy duty thread? I am not sure that this is considered as an acceptable practice and to be honest, I would automatically line this canvas with a larger piece of canvas on the reverse side, using lining compound.

I do appreciate that not everyone has experience, or facilities to do this, but having an equal thickness of canvas across the whole area of the original canvas when stretching the canvas is much to be preferred. I think that you need to get some advice from a restorer, or someone with specific knowledge and experience on this one!

Thanks for your reply Mark.
This was my original suggestion to the customer, but they do not see the canvas as being worth the work and cost. I am therefore looking at cheaper options! It had previously been glued to chipboard.

The other option without resorting to sewing would be to stick it onto MDF and frame it on that. I do this as a cheaper option for those who don't want to pay to have canvases stretched.

Sometimes I think that we are too willing to accommodate customers wishes, when all we are doing is making more trouble for ourselves, so the customers can save money at our expense.

Thanks Mark.
Which adhesive would you use for this and what thickness MDF? It is quite large, around 1 m x 1.5 m.
Thanks

If it's going to be framed as normal could you not just fix that edge to the side of the stretcher bars rather than around the back?

Framingbird wrote:It had previously been glued to chipboard.

stick it onto MDF

This all seems quite involved for something they're not prepared to pay for?

Oh! I was not expecting the canvas to be quite as large as that. I would not normally stick a canvas that size onto MDF.

Thank you all very much for your suggestions.
Sometimes things do seem more trouble than they are worth but I have had a lot of work from this customer so I'm happy to find a solution in return.
Happy framing everyone!!