Needlepoint Canvas Types & Mesh Count Guide
Mono, interlock, penelope, and congress cloth — what each canvas type is best for, and how mesh count affects your project.
Canvas Types
Not all needlepoint canvas is the same. The weave structure changes how the canvas handles, what stitches you can use, and how stable the piece stays while you work it. Here are the five types you will actually encounter.
Mono Canvas
Single-thread weave. This is the standard. If you buy a hand-painted canvas from any major designer, it is almost certainly mono. The threads run one over, one under in a plain weave. Mono works with virtually every stitch in the book and comes in both white and ecru. The downside: the threads can shift if you handle the canvas aggressively or skip using a frame. Always use stretcher bars or a scroll frame with mono.
Interlock Canvas
Twisted thread pairs locked together at each intersection. Much more stable than mono — you can hold it in hand without the mesh distorting. Ideal for beginners and for anyone who prefers working without a frame. The locked intersections mean pulled thread and drawn thread techniques do not work well here. Most printed (stamped) canvases and many kits use interlock because it travels well and holds its shape during shipping.
Penelope (Duo) Canvas
Double-thread weave where each "thread" is actually a pair. The magic trick: you can split those pairs apart in specific areas to stitch at double the mesh count. A 10-mesh penelope becomes 20-mesh where you split it. This technique, called pricking and working, lets you add fine detail to a face or small motif while keeping the background at the larger count. Traditionally used for trame work. Less common today but still valued by experienced stitchers working detailed figurative pieces.
Congress Cloth
A true even-weave fabric, typically 24-count. The threads are softer than standard canvas and the weave is balanced in both directions. Congress cloth is the go-to for pulled thread work because the threads move predictably. Also popular for miniatures and very fine detail work. Not what you want for a pillow or anything that needs structural rigidity — it behaves more like a fabric than a canvas.
Plastic Canvas
Rigid, pre-cut sheets or shapes in 7-mesh, 10-mesh, and 14-mesh. Ignore anyone who dismisses it. Plastic canvas is genuinely useful for 3D projects: ornaments, tissue box covers, coasters, small boxes, holiday house decorations. It cuts with scissors, holds its shape permanently, and costs almost nothing. It is not for hand-painted designs, but it fills a niche that fabric canvas simply cannot.
Mesh Count Explained
Mesh count tells you how many threads (or holes) fit in one inch of canvas. Higher count means smaller stitches, more detail, and more time. Lower count means bolder coverage, faster progress, and chunkier texture.
10-Mesh
Big, bold stitches. A single tent stitch covers a visible square. This is pillow territory — fast to stitch, durable results, and the texture has real heft. Tapestry wool is the standard thread at this count. A 14-by-14-inch pillow on 10-mesh is roughly 19,600 stitches. You can finish that in a few weeks of steady evening stitching.
13-Mesh
The beginner sweet spot. Large enough to see without magnification, small enough for reasonable detail. Works with Persian wool, pearl cotton, and many overdyed threads. Forgiving if your tension varies while you are learning. A lot of ornament kits and beginner-friendly painted canvases use 13-mesh.
14-Mesh
Common for hand-painted canvases, especially from designers who split the difference between beginner-friendly and detailed. Slightly finer than 13-mesh but the stitch size is close enough that most of the same threads work. You will see 14-mesh from designers like Melissa Shirley and Associated Talents.
18-Mesh
This is where the action is for serious hand-painted work. The majority of high-end designers — Kirk & Bradley, Zecca, Burnett & Bradley, eye candy — paint on 18-mesh. The count is fine enough for facial features, small lettering, and intricate pattern work. Most decorative threads and specialty stitches work beautifully at this scale. Plan on roughly four times the stitch count of 10-mesh for the same canvas dimensions.
24-Mesh and Up
Petitpoint. Tiny stitches, extraordinary detail, serious time commitment. A single square inch contains 576 stitches at 24-count. This is for miniature work, museum-quality reproductions, and stitchers who genuinely enjoy the meditative pace. Many petitpoint pieces use silk thread for its fine diameter and sheen. Not for the impatient.
Thread-to-Mesh Matching
The right thread fills the canvas holes completely without forcing the thread through or leaving bare canvas showing. Here is a practical starting point:
10-mesh
Tapestry wool, 3-ply Persian wool (full strand), chunky overdyed cotton
13-mesh
2-ply Persian wool, #5 pearl cotton, Vineyard Silk, Watercolours
14-mesh
2-ply Persian wool, #5 pearl cotton, Flair, Neon Rays
18-mesh
1-ply Persian wool, #8 pearl cotton, silk floss, Kreinik #4 braid, ribbon floss
Always stitch a test area first. Thread coverage varies by stitch type — basketweave covers differently than continental, and decorative stitches can require different strand counts than tent stitches on the same canvas.
How to Choose Your Canvas
Three questions will get you to the right canvas almost every time.
1. What are you making?
End use narrows the field fast. A pillow needs 10- or 13-mesh for durability. A framed piece can be any count. An ornament works well on 13- or 18-mesh. A belt needs the specific mesh count your finisher requires (usually 13 or 18). If you are buying a hand-painted canvas, the designer already chose the mesh count for you.
2. How much detail do you want?
More detail means finer mesh. If the design has small faces, intricate patterns, or fine lettering, you need 18-mesh or higher. If it is bold shapes and graphic patterns, 13-mesh handles it beautifully. Think about the smallest element in the design — that dictates your minimum mesh count.
3. How patient are you?
Be honest with yourself. A 10-by-10-inch piece on 18-mesh is 32,400 stitches. The same area on 10-mesh is 10,000 stitches. If you want something finished for Christmas and it is already September, pick a lower mesh count or a smaller canvas. There is no shame in choosing a project that matches your actual stitching pace.
Still deciding?
Browse canvases by mesh count in our design search to see what each count looks like in real designs. Or check out our getting started guide if you are brand new to needlepoint.