Alexei Volkov
There are several ways to finish the edges of a plastic canvas, including the overcast stitch, the lark's head knot, and the joining stitch. The overcast stitch is used to finish the edges of a single piece of plastic canvas, while the joining stitch is used to join two pieces of canvas together and finish the edges at the same time. The lark's head knot is used to create a fringe edge. To finish the outside of a plastic canvas, you can also add a backing, such as felt, or turn your creation into something functional, like a keyring, pendant, or magnet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stitching technique | Backstitch, Scotch stitch, Continental stitch, Straight stitch, Running stitch, French knot, Overcast and joining stitch, Whipstitch |
| Stitching tips | Stitch over the tail to secure the row, avoid loose threads, start at the centre, avoid fabric scissors, cut freehand, avoid snipping into holes with thread, overstitch with coordinating thread, cut after stitching to avoid snags, trim corners for smoother edges |
| Materials | Yarn or floss, tapestry needle, felt, felt glue or hot glue, masking tape, marker, sharpie marker, nail file |
| Properties | Durable, stiff, holds its shape, slightly flexible, uniform round holes in a grid pattern, clear or coloured |
| Uses | 3D designs, greeting cards, ornament hangers, tote bags, coasters, change purses |
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What You'll Learn
- Start with the basics: master simple stitches and understand required materials
- Avoid loose threads: secure your stitches and avoid bulky knots
- Cut with care: ensure you don't cut any holes with thread in them
- Overstitching: use thread to cover exposed edges for a seamless finish
- Joining stitch: join multiple pieces of plastic canvas for 3D projects
Start with the basics: master simple stitches and understand required materials
Plastic canvas is a great craft for beginners as it is easy, fun, and inexpensive. It is a lightweight plastic material with regularly spaced holes, imitating embroidery canvas. The holes come in various sizes to accommodate different thicknesses of yarn. The plastic canvas itself comes in different colours, shapes, and levels of stiffness. You can buy everything you need for a plastic canvas project at your local craft store or online.
Before you start, it is important to master the basic stitches and understand the materials required. The first step is to thread your needle with around three feet of yarn or floss. Threading the needle can be challenging at first, but with practice, you will get the hang of it.
To start a row of stitches, insert the needle through the backside of the canvas, leaving a two-inch tail of yarn. Hold the tail against the back of the canvas along the stitch line and execute your stitches over it to secure the row. You can create a backstitch by inserting the needle up through the even-numbered holes and down through the odd-numbered holes. This stitch can be of any length and go in any direction.
To finish a row of stitches, flip the canvas so that its back is facing up. This will ensure there are no bulky knots or hanging tails on the front of your work.
To finish the edges neatly, use an overcast stitch. Follow the edge of the plastic canvas with your needle and yarn, giving your project a polished look.
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Avoid loose threads: secure your stitches and avoid bulky knots
When creating a plastic canvas, loose threads can be avoided by stitching over the tail. Thread your needle with around three feet of yarn or floss, leaving a two-inch tail at the back of the canvas. Hold the tail against the back of the canvas, running along the stitch line, and then stitch over it until it is completely covered. When you finish a row of stitches, you can avoid bulky knots by inserting the needle and yarn through several completed stitches on the back of the canvas.
To finish the edges of your plastic canvas, you can use either the lark's head knot or the overcast stitch. The lark's head knot creates a fringe edge, while the overcast stitch creates a clean edge. For the lark's head knot, insert the needle through the top of the canvas at an edge hole, pull the yarn to the left, and then pull the needle up through the same hole from the back of the canvas. Create a loop in the yarn and insert the tails through the loop, pulling it tight. For a clean edge, use an overcast stitch by pulling the needle up through the back of the canvas at an edge hole and wrapping the thread or floss tightly against the edge.
To avoid loose threads, it is important to weave them under the back of the stitches. Always keep yarn on your needle when you lay it down, as it is easier to find a piece of yarn than a lost needle. It is also recommended to cut yarn to a manageable length, as yarn can get ratty if it is too long. Additionally, pulling off no more than your wingspan can help prevent fraying, especially with plastic canvas.
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Cut with care: ensure you don't cut any holes with thread in them
When cutting plastic canvas, it is important to be mindful and careful to avoid cutting any holes with thread in them. Here are some tips and guidelines to ensure precision and prevent any unwanted cuts:
Firstly, always cut your canvas between the bars, leaving one plastic bar between the stitches and the cutting line. By cutting between the bars, you ensure that there is enough material left for overcasting the edges neatly. It is crucial to cut as close to the bar as possible to prevent any tiny bumps that could catch your thread.
Before cutting, it is advisable to mark the plastic with a Sharpie or a marker. This helps to outline the cutting path and prevent any accidental snips. Remember to check carefully before cutting, and when in doubt, leave it too big. You can always cut it smaller later, but if you cut it too small, you will have to start over.
Another important tip is to cut the plastic canvas after you have finished stitching. This helps to avoid snagging your thread on any ragged edges. If you need to join multiple pieces of plastic canvas, use the joining stitch or overcast stitch to create a seamless connection.
Additionally, when creating a row of stitches, ensure that there are no loose threads hanging. You can secure the row by stitching over the tail of the thread, pulling it taut, and trimming it closely. This technique will give your work a clean and tidy finish.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you don't cut any holes with thread in them when working with plastic canvas. Precision and careful planning will help you achieve a neat and professional result.
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Overstitching: use thread to cover exposed edges for a seamless finish
Overcasting is a popular method for finishing the edges of plastic canvas projects. It is a simple technique that involves stitching over the edges of the canvas to create a seamless finish. This method can be used to join two pieces of canvas together or to finish the edges of a single piece.
To execute an overcast stitch, start by bringing your needle up through the back of the canvas at an edge hole. Then, wrap the thread or yarn tightly against the edge of the canvas and insert the needle into the next hole, pulling it through. Continue this process, wrapping the thread or yarn tightly and stitching through each hole along the edge of the canvas. For the outer corners, create three stitches to cover each side and the corner, and for the inner corners, one stitch per hole is usually sufficient. However, you may need to add extra stitches on curved or angled seams where the holes do not align perfectly to ensure full coverage.
When joining two pieces of plastic canvas with an overcast stitch, it is important to align the holes and edges of the two pieces before beginning to stitch. Anchor the end of your yarn in one of the pieces next to the joining point and hold the pieces together, lining up the matching holes. Pass the needle through both holes two or three times and continue along the join, weaving the yarn underneath the stitches to secure it.
Overcasting is a versatile technique that can be used for a variety of plastic canvas projects, from creating keychains and phone pouches to larger 3D designs. It provides a clean and seamless finish to your creations while also securing any loose threads. With its simplicity and effectiveness, overcasting is a valuable skill to have in your plastic canvas stitching repertoire.
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Joining stitch: join multiple pieces of plastic canvas for 3D projects
Joining pieces of plastic canvas together allows you to create 3D projects, such as phone pouches, badges, keyrings, and project bags. Here is a step-by-step guide to joining multiple pieces of plastic canvas using the overcast stitch:
Firstly, anchor the end of your yarn to one of the pieces, next to where you want to join them. You can do this by holding the last inch of yarn to the back of the canvas and passing the needle through each hole from the back to the front two or three times per hole to cover the tail.
Next, hold the two pieces of canvas together and line up the matching holes. Pass the needle through both holes two or three times, continuing along the join. On curved seams where the holes don't line up, you may need to add some extra stitches, passing the needle through all the holes, both stitched and unstitched.
Finally, to finish off, weave the end of the yarn underneath the backs of the stitches in several directions to secure it.
You can also join pieces of plastic canvas by making small cross or running stitches. First, make a crease along the length of the two canvases, aligning the grids of both. Then, use a needle and strong thread to make cross-hatches along the edges to unite the pieces. When you have finished stitching down the length, travel up the edges again to make a complete cross stitch.
It is important to note that when joining canvas pieces together, you should make back stitches between the threads, using a strong matching thread to make the union.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few ways to finish the edges of a plastic canvas, including the lark's head knot, the overcast stitch, and the joining stitch. The lark's head knot creates a fringe edge, while the overcast stitch and joining stitch create a clean edge.
The overcast stitch is done by pulling the needle up through the back of the canvas at an edge hole and wrapping the thread or floss tightly against the edge of the canvas. This stitch is used to finish the edges of a single piece of plastic canvas or to join two pieces together.
Finishing the edges of a plastic canvas can be used to create various items, such as keyrings, pendants, magnets, badges, and earrings. It can also be used to join multiple pieces of plastic canvas to create larger projects or 3D designs, such as a box or phone pouch.
