I'd like to create my own needle point for myself or for friends. I
can buy "blank canvas" from craft shops, but I'm having trouble
finding the right stuff to use for creating the image. Regular marker
ink comes off on my hands and clothing. I tried "paint pens" but the
colors are too faded.

I was told to use actual acrylic paint but this is messy and more
trouble than its worth. I'm wondering if I can use a printer for this
sort of thing. Completed needlepoints are often soaked in water for
blocking and framing, so the cannot colors cannot run.

If anyone can provide me with some guidance as to how I can do this,
it would be most appreciated.

Hi shoell,

Thank you for your question.

Most of the articles I found referred to the following site:

Cats Who Quilt - Where Quilters & Cats Meet on the Web
http://www.catswhoquilt.com/needlepoint.html

How to Print Custom Needlepoint Canvases in Your Inkjet

"Print needlepoint canvas in a computer printer? Why not? Here?s how
to create dazzling canvases with the help of your inkjet printer

The trick is to pretreat the canvas with colorless stenciling ink
before you print on it, then heat-set it.

Using stenciling ink you can easily create needlepoint canvases that
are easy to stitch and to see. And they're just as good as any canvas
you buy in a store. And the colors are permanent--remarkably so. You
won't need to worry about ink bleeding on your needlepoint wool as you
stitch the canvas. Nor does it matter what kind of inkjet printer you
use to print the canvases."

Step 1: Select the Art, Scan It" 

[See article for Instructions Steps 1 -10.]

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Lazertran and Inkjet Printers
http://needlepoint.about.com/cs/techniques/a/transfer_2.htm

Transferring Designs to Canvas the Easy Way

[Scroll to Inkjet Printer for instructions]

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More at the following links: 

http://needlepoint.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=needlepoint&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dotcalmvillage.net%2Fnowwhatzine6%2Fdjfamilytransfer1.html

http://needlepoint.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=needlepoint&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcgpaper.com%2Ffabriccarrier.html

http://needlepoint.about.com/cs/projects/a/designcopy.htm

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keywords:
print on needlepoint canvas create pattern printer

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Best regards,
tlspiegel

Good material, this will provide me with some guidance.