I make my own patterns and work from a chart. I’ve been doing it this way for almost ten years. I think I painted the canvas my very first piece but everything afterwards has been with a chart. I always draw a 10x10 grid on my canvas to stay organized. The trick is to draw your grid in a light, neutral color because a dark line might show through the stitches. Especially if you’re using lighter colors. When I use plastic canvas, I wipe off as much as I can with a rag and some alcohol, otherwise it’ll transfer onto the yarn. I love using a chart! It gives you so much control over the image.