Maya Ellison
There are several ways to back plastic canvas projects. One way is to backstitch around the edges. This can be combined with other techniques to create keyrings, earrings, and tags. For instance, you can stitch two identical pieces back-to-back and stitch them together, or you can glue and stitch a piece of fabric like felt to the back. Another method is to overcast the edges of your work to protect the raw edge of the plastic canvas and add another layer of thread. This technique can be used to make 3D pieces like phone pouches, badges, and keyrings.
Characteristics of backing plastic canvas projects
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Backing material | Felt |
| Backing method | Overcasting, backstitching, whip stitching |
| Advantages | Hides stitching, gives a cleaner look, protects raw edges of canvas |
| Disadvantages | Adds another layer of thread, may cause the design to be lost |
| Alternative methods | Using two identical pieces of canvas, stitching them together back-to-back |
| Tools | Yarn, needle, glue |
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What You'll Learn
Using felt to back plastic canvas projects
There are several ways to use felt to back your plastic canvas projects. One way is to use self-adhesive felt. First, place your plastic canvas on a sheet of felt and cut a rough outline, leaving some extra felt around the edges. You can then trim the excess felt after attaching it to your plastic canvas. If you are planning to stuff your project or attach a magnet, make sure to do so before stitching the last side.
Another method is to use a running stitch. Choose a thread color that matches your felt or is from the 'border' of your design. Hold the felt behind your project and stitch around the border of your design, going up one hole and down the next while piercing through the felt. This will create a dashed line effect. If you don't like the dashed look, you can use a backstitch to create a solid line. You can also use a contrasting color to make the border pop.
If you want to avoid the extra layer of thread that comes with overcasting the edges, you can backstitch around the edges of your plastic canvas. This works well if your project is not meant to be seen from both sides, such as a magnet, pendant, or needle minder. However, if both sides of your project will be visible, you can create two of the same designs and stitch them back-to-back, ensuring that your design is vertically symmetrical.
Additionally, you can use glue or double-sided tape to attach the felt to the back of your plastic canvas. However, be cautious as glue may seep through to the front of your project.
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Overcasting the edges of your work
To overcast the edges of your plastic canvas work, follow these steps:
- Secure the end of the yarn by holding the last inch to the back of the canvas.
- Pass the needle through each hole from the back to the front two or three times per hole to cover the tail. At corners, you may need to pass the needle a couple more times to fully cover the canvas.
- If you run out of yarn or complete the section you want to overcast, secure the end by passing it underneath the overcast stitches at the back or by passing it underneath the back of stitched areas.
If you are joining two pieces of plastic canvas together, follow these steps:
- Lay the two pieces you want to sew together on top of each other, taking care to line up the threads and holes of the canvas.
- Anchor the thread in the back of the stitches and pass the needle through each set of holes.
- Sew through both layers of canvas simultaneously to join them.
Overcasting is a simple stitch that is essential for 3D plastic canvas projects and for finishing 2D pieces neatly. It is also useful for joining two pieces of plastic canvas together on a right angle, which is necessary for creating 3D pieces like a phone pouch or a project bag.
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Backstitching around the edges
To backstitch around the edges, you can start by backing your work with the same cross-stitch. You will need to swap the pattern over if it is not symmetrical. By doing this, you can make keyrings, earrings, tags, and more, as both sides might be seen. If you don't want the back to be seen, you can simply backstitch an unstitched piece of plastic canvas to it.
You can also attach felt to the back of your work. This can be done by first backstitching an outline and then attaching the felt as you do so. The felt can be cut out to make a hole and mount a pin behind it, allowing you to turn your project into a badge or pin.
Another method is to stitch your pattern, then jump up 8 to 10 rows and stitch the back upside down. After this, you can cut the whole thing out, fold it over, and backstitch the two sides together. This will create a loop that can be used to attach a key ring.
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Joining two pieces of plastic canvas together
Preparing the Yarn
Secure the end of your yarn by holding the last inch to the back of the canvas. Pass the needle through each hole from the back to the front two or three times per hole to cover the tail. At corners, you may need to pass the needle through a few more times to fully cover the canvas.
Joining the Pieces
- Anchor the end of the yarn in one of the pieces next to the point of the join.
- Hold the two pieces together and line up the matching holes.
- Pass the needle through both holes two or three times. Continue along the join.
- On curved seams where the holes don't line up, add extra stitches as needed. Ensure you pass the needle through all the stitched and unstitched holes.
- To finish, weave the yarn end underneath the backs of the stitches in multiple directions to secure it.
Alternatively, you can join two pieces of plastic canvas by stitching them together with a whip stitch. This method can be used to create two identical projects and stitch them back-to-back, ensuring that the design is vertically symmetrical. This results in a cleaner look with no wrong side. You can also use a combination of glue and whip stitch to attach a piece of fabric, such as felt, to the back of your plastic canvas to hide the stitching.
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Covering raw edges of plastic canvas work
There are several ways to cover the raw edges of plastic canvas work. One way is to use an overcast stitch, which involves passing the needle through each hole two times and three times on the corners. This will add another layer of thread along the edge, protecting the raw edge of the plastic canvas. However, this may cause the cross stitch to be lost.
Another way to cover the raw edges is to use masking tape to avoid snags. You can also try to backstitch around the edges. This method can be used to make keyrings, earrings, tags, and more, as both sides of the canvas will be seen. If you don't want to see the back of the canvas, you can simply backstitch an unstitched piece of plastic canvas to it.
If you want to back your work with fabric, you can use felt. Cut out a piece of felt with the same dimensions as your plastic canvas and attach it with translucent thread along the backstitch line. Trim the felt to the edge of the trimmed plastic canvas. You can also whip stitch the edges of the felt to the plastic canvas for a cleaner look.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few ways to back plastic canvas projects. One way is to make two of the same project and put them back-to-back, stitching them together. Another way is to glue and stitch a piece of fabric, such as felt, to the back. A third option is to stitch the back with the same pattern, which works well if the design is symmetrical.
Felt is a good option for backing plastic canvas projects because it is easy to cut, soft, and simple to sew. It can also be cut to include a hole for mounting a pin, allowing the project to be turned into a badge or pin.
To finish the edges of a plastic canvas project, you can use an overcast stitch. This involves passing the needle through each hole from the back to the front two or three times to cover the tail of the yarn. At corners, you may need to pass the needle a few more times.
