Make Colorful Canvas Carpets

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Attractive, custom floorcloths can be sized to fit any area in your house. GILES PRETT/STOREY BOOKS

Hand-painted floorcloths are a great alternative to area rugs. Not only are they economical and simple to make, theyre also a perfect combination of beauty and practicality. Custom canvas floorcloths allow you to create designs in any size and color to match both your home and your budget.

Floorcloths add warmth to cold floors and wont collect dust or dust mites like piled rugs and carpeting. Plus, they can stand up to years of heavy traffic and will wipe clean with a damp mop. Floorcloths have a thick polyurethane finish applied over several coats of paint, which strengthens the surface, yet keeps it flexible.

The same basic steps are used in every project: 1. Prepare the canvas. 2. Paint the floorcloth. 3. Seal the finished piece. The essential supplies are inexpensive and easy to find at paint, craft and hardware storesyou probably already have many of the things youll need in your basement or garage.

How To Make Floorcloths

Before you begin, set up a work space where you can leave the floorcloth to dry undisturbed for several hours. This space should be dust-free, well-lit and well-ventilated. To allow paint fumes to dissipate, plan to leave windows open, or consider choosing an area in a garage or outbuilding. A card table works well for small projects, though you may need to use 8-foot tables or the floor for larger floorcloths. Cover your work area with plastic and tape the edges down to prevent it from slipping.

Step 1: Shrink the canvas. Canvas is made of 100 percent cotton, so it should be preshrunk before painting. When purchasing canvas, allow at least 6 extra inches in all directions to allow for shrinkage and hemming. To shrink the canvas, lay it on the plastic and smooth it out as much as possible. With a large sponge, soak the canvas by scrubbing hot water onto the entire surface. When the surface has been uniformly soaked, roll over the wet canvas and soak the other side. Leave the canvas flat and allow it to dry completely. Drying may take a day or two, depending on humidity levels.

Step 2: Cut the canvas. Choose the size of your floorcloth, then add 2 inches to the length and width to allow for a hem. Double-check all the measurements, then cut the canvas with sharp fabric scissors using long, firm strokes.

Step 3: Turn the hem. A clean hem is essential for a floorcloth to stand up to daily wear and tear. A well-made floorcloth lies flat on the floor with no warps or wrinkles.

To sew a hem, first use a pencil to draw four lines 1 inch in from and parallel to the edges of the floorcloth. These will be your folding lines. Preheat an iron to the hottest steam setting. Place one edge of the floorcloth on the ironing board with the pencil lines facing down. Run a damp sponge along both sides of the floorcloth edge, soaking the front and back of the line. Fold the edge so the drawn line is at the outside of the fold, and press it with the iron. Repeat this process on the other three edges, always turning the hem to the same side. Work slowly to ensure a good fold, being careful not to crease other areas of the floorcloth as you work.