You’ve made a cup of tea. Your playlist is on. You open your new paint by numbers kit and... Your canvas has a crease through the middle.
But don’t panic. A curled or slightly creased canvas is usually very easy to fix, and you definitely don’t need any fancy equipment.
If you ordered a Rolled canvas on Kiki's Club, your canvas travels rolled up without a wooden frame. This makes it lighter and easier to ship, but it also means your canvas might want to stay a little curly when you first open it.
Completely normal.
Here’s what to do:
Method 1: Just Lay It Flat
Start with the easiest option.
Lay your canvas on a clean, flat surface and leave it alone for a few hours. Overnight is even better.
You can put a couple of clean, heavy books around the edges if they keep curling up.
Then walk away.
Yes, we know you want to start painting immediately.
Consider this your first exercise in slow living.
Method 2: Give It a Gentle Iron
Still creased?
Time to bring out the iron.
But before anyone gets enthusiastic, low heat is the vibe here.
Turn your canvas over
Put the canvas printed side down so you're working from the blank back.
Never iron directly over the numbers and printed design.
Add a clean cloth
Place a clean, thin cotton cloth or tea towel between your canvas and the iron.
Canvas sandwich.
Keep the heat low
Turn off the steam and use a low temperature.
We are gently encouraging the crease to leave. We are not cooking it.
Keep the iron moving
Move slowly over the back of the creased area. Don't leave the iron sitting in one spot.
Then leave your canvas flat while it cools.
Check it.
Still a little creased? Repeat gently rather than turning the iron up to volcanic.
For more useful things to know before starting, read our 8 paint by numbers tips for grown-ups.
Method 3: For a Seriously Stubborn Crease
If your crease has apparently decided this is its permanent home, there is one more thing you can try.
Turn the canvas over and very lightly mist the blank back with water (we said very lightly!).
Smooth the canvas flat and use low-tack tape around the edges to hold it gently taut while it dries.
Once completely dry, remove the tape and check the surface.
We'd only try this after the dry methods above. When in doubt, less water is always better.
Can I Just Put Books on It?
Absolutely.
For a gentle curl or small wrinkle, putting the canvas beneath some clean, heavy books overnight can work perfectly well.
For a deep fold, though, you may need the iron method.
So:
- Curly canvas: lay it flat.
- Small wrinkle: add books.
- Proper crease: gentle iron.
- Crease from hell: very light mist + flatten.
There. No engineering degree required.
Should I Flatten My Canvas Before Painting?
Yes.
Please resist the urge to think, I'll just start and it'll probably disappear.
It probably won't.
A crease can still be visible underneath your finished painting, especially when light hits the canvas from the side.
Fixing it beforehand takes a few minutes and makes the painting process much nicer.
Can I Iron the Canvas After I've Started Painting?
We'd avoid it if possible.
Once you've added acrylic paint, heat and moisture become much riskier. The paint itself can react differently from the unpainted canvas.
This is why we're being annoyingly responsible and telling you to flatten everything before opening those tiny paint pots.
Future you will be grateful.
Do I Need to Stretch a Rolled Canvas Before Painting?
Nope.
If you ordered Stretched, your Kiki’s Club canvas already arrives mounted onto its wooden frame, so you're ready to go.
If you ordered Rolled, you have options.
You can paint it flat on a table, temporarily secure it to a board, or stretch it onto a frame yourself.
There isn't a correct answer. Choose whichever setup makes you most comfortable.
And if this is your first ever painting, our guide to how to start painting as a hobby will help you get going without turning it into another thing you need to be good at.
Before You Start Painting
The canvas is now flat? Excellent news.
Now find somewhere comfortable, get some good light, organise your brushes and paints, and put something nice on in the background.
If you want your finished painting to look even better, read our guide on how to make paint by numbers look better.
And when you're finished for the day, please don't abandon your paintbrush in a glass of murky water until tomorrow. Our guide to cleaning paint brushes properly exists for a reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get wrinkles out of a paint by numbers canvas?
Start by laying it flat for a few hours or overnight. If the wrinkle remains, turn the canvas over and gently iron the back using low heat and a clean cloth between the canvas and iron.
Can you iron a paint by numbers canvas?
Yes, but always iron from the blank back of the canvas, use low heat, turn off the steam and place a clean cloth between the iron and canvas.
Why is my rolled canvas curling?
Because it has been rolled for shipping. Once unpacked, leave it flat for several hours and it should gradually relax.
Is Rolled or Stretched better?
It depends on what you prefer. Rolled is lighter and gives you flexibility around how you display the finished painting. Stretched arrives already mounted on a wooden frame and ready to paint.
Can I put books on a creased canvas?
Yes. Books can work well for gentle curls and small wrinkles. For a more defined crease, gentle ironing from the back is usually more effective.
Should I flatten my canvas before painting?
Definitely. Starting with a smooth canvas makes painting easier and helps your finished artwork sit beautifully once you're ready to display it.
A Crease Is Not a Crisis
Opening your kit and finding a crease can feel slightly tragic when you'd mentally allocated the next three hours to doing absolutely nothing except painting.
But it's usually an easy fix.
Lay it flat. Give it some time. Add a book or two. If necessary, introduce the iron.
Then make your tea, put your phone somewhere else and get painting.
And if your next tiny painting emergency involves opening a pot to discover something resembling a colourful rock, we've got you covered there too: here's how to fix dry acrylic paint.
Stop stressing. Start painting.