There's all kinds of ways to go about stretching a canvas. This is my way.
Starting with a wooden frame. I bought this one, but just as often I'll build them from scratch. If I can find the size stretchers I want, it's so much easier just to use the factory made stretcher boards. They're very straight and even compared to lumber you buy from a builder supply.
I buy the stretchers with a bit of "lip" on the edge. Makes it easier to paint on the finished canvas. If I make my own frame I glue a strip of moulding to the edge of the wood frame.
Don't be surprised if, even with pre-made stretchers, you'll still have to do a bit of wood working.
Lay out the canvas and cut it, leaving plenty of edge to work with.
Some of the "systems" for stretching should only be done at the factory :-)
Some of the tools that I use from time to time, in addition to canvas pliers and staple gun. I actually ended up not using any of these on this canvas. Except the whisky. Definitely used the whisky.
At this point my main tools are canvas pliers and a staple gun. Get the pliers at the art supply store and they'll show you how to work them. Staple gun, any hardware store. I use the quarter inch staples. They're long enough to hold well, and not so hard to remove if you need to re-stretch later.
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Wrap the canvas around the wood and staple to the back. Starting in the middle of all 4 sides, work your way out to the corners.
Watch your pressure. You want it even and taught, but not so tight that you distort the frame. You have to feel it, and you'll get it with experience.
The rest is just finishing up the stapling, then trimming the excess canvas. Just ignore Stephanopolis in the background. That's what I did.
Finish to the corners, then trim it all around with scissors or a razor. You can see how close I stapled and how I folded over the corners. All nice and neat.
Some artists don't trim the excess. They just loosely staple it down to the back. That allows them to re-stretch at any point during the painting. For example, if they decide to re-center the painting a few inches left or right, they just pull it off and reposition. The excess canvas gives them that option. As for me, if I've gotten the composition that far off, I just start over.
Done.
