Alexei Volkov
Plastic canvas is a durable material used for needlecrafts, including cross-stitching. It is stiff and holds its shape, making it perfect for 3D projects. Unlike cloth, it will never fray and can be cut before or after stitching. However, marking and cutting plastic canvas can be challenging due to its stiffness and the need to ensure accurate measurements and avoid snipping holes with thread. When marking, it is essential to use a sharpie or a similar marker that won't rub off onto the floss. This guide will explore the techniques for marking and cutting plastic canvas to ensure a successful stitching project.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marking technique | Use a marker or a sharpie to mark the plastic canvas mesh. |
| Cutting technique | Cut the plastic canvas with scissors, either before or after stitching. Cut between the bars, leaving one bar between the stitches and the cutting line. |
| Stitching technique | Use a threaded needle and follow a chart or graph to stitch onto the plastic canvas. Start from the centre point and work outwards. Use a variety of stitches like the continental stitch, running stitch, backstitch, straight stitch, French knot, etc. |
| Threading technique | Thread a needle with yarn or embroidery floss and stitch through the holes in the plastic canvas. Use stranded cottons, tapestry wool, or any threads of your choice. |
| Advantages | Plastic canvas is durable, stiff, and holds its shape. It is easy to mark, cut, and stitch, making it ideal for beginners. It is also inexpensive and available in various colours and thicknesses. |
| Disadvantages | Plastic canvas cannot be folded or put into a frame or hoop while stitching. It has limited finishing techniques for ending threads. |
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What You'll Learn
Use a marker to mark the plastic canvas mesh
Marking the plastic canvas mesh before cutting is a crucial step in the plastic canvas crafting process. Here are some detailed instructions on using a marker for this purpose:
Choose the Right Marker Type:
Dry-erase markers are a popular choice for marking plastic canvas. They are easily removable, making them ideal for temporary guidelines. When using a dry-erase marker, look for one with a small, pointy nib for thin, precise lines. Ensure the marker has an eraser on the cap for convenient mark removal after cutting.
Marking Technique:
Before you begin, it's essential to measure both the horizontal and vertical dimensions of your plastic canvas with a ruler or tape measure. Identify the centre point and mark it with a pin or your needle. This centre point will serve as a reference for your cross-stitching.
When marking the plastic canvas mesh with a marker, use thin, straight lines to indicate the cutting path. Avoid pressing down too hard on the marker to prevent ink bleed-through, especially if using thin plastic canvas sheets.
Priming the Canvas:
For more advanced projects or when using markers as a primary art medium, consider priming your plastic canvas with gesso. Apply gesso with a brush using circular motions to create a smooth base. Allow the first coat to dry, then use fine sandpaper to create a fine finish before applying a second coat. Priming the canvas can enhance the appearance of your marker artwork and improve its longevity.
Marker Art Techniques:
When using markers for artistic purposes on plastic canvas, consider the following:
- Ink Flow: Choose markers with a smooth ink flow to ensure consistent and even coverage on the plastic canvas surface.
- Color Range: Opt for marker sets with a wide variety of vibrant hues to create visually appealing designs.
- Tip Shape: Markers come in different tip shapes, so select the one that best suits your desired line thickness and style.
Additionally, practice blending different colours directly on the plastic canvas to create gradients and mixed media art. You can combine markers with other media like charcoal, graphite, crayons, inks, and paint pens to create unique artistic effects.
Remember, always mark the plastic canvas mesh before cutting to avoid mistakes and ensure precise results in your plastic canvas projects.
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Measure dimensions with a ruler to find the centre point
When marking the centre point of a plastic canvas mesh, you cannot fold the canvas to find the middle. Instead, you must use a ruler or tape measure to find the centre. First, use your ruler to find the approximate centre of your canvas. Mark this intersection with a marker and place the centre point of your ruler on it. Ensure that the ruler is aligned with a single canvas thread. Measure out an equal distance on both sides of the centre point and mark the thread at these points. Repeat this process after rotating your ruler 90 degrees. With the threads on all four sides marked, you can now mark the threads to create the outer square.
You can also use a centering ruler to find the centre point of your plastic canvas mesh. Centering rulers are commonly used by quilters and carpenters but are also useful for needlepointers. These rulers have numbers ascending from zero in the middle, similar to elementary school number lines. Transparent centering rulers designed for quilters are best suited for needlepoint. Centering rulers with a grid and measurement markings can further aid in finding the centre point.
When using a centering ruler, place the ruler on your canvas with the centre point of the ruler on the approximate centre of your canvas. Measure out an equal distance on both sides of the centre point and mark these points. Rotate the ruler 90 degrees and repeat the process. With the four sides marked, you can confidently stitch your design, knowing that you have both the outline and centre point marked.
It is important to note that centering rulers are designed for use with square and rectangular shapes. They may not work effectively with other shapes or on stitched needlepoint. Additionally, due to their rigidity, some rulers may not lay flat on the canvas. In such cases, you can consider using flexible rulers designed for carpenters instead of quilters.
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Mark the centre point with a pin or needle
Unlike cloth, plastic canvas will never fray and you don't need to tape the edges. You can cut the plastic canvas before or after you stitch. If you stitch first, be careful not to drag the thread across where you need to cut later. You can also cut the canvas before you stitch, but you should mark it with a sharpie marker first and check carefully before cutting.
When it comes to marking the centre point of your plastic canvas, you can use a pin or a needle. This is because you can't fold plastic canvas in half to find the centre point, so you need to measure both the horizontal and vertical dimensions with a ruler or tape measure. Marking the centre point with a pin or needle ensures you don't run out of space for stitching at the edges of the canvas.
After marking the centre point, you can simply cross-stitch as normal following your chart and key, working outwards from the centre. You should use a tapestry needle, the same as cross-stitching on fabric, which you can lightly run over the surface of the canvas to feel the dips of the holes.
To finish a length of thread, work your needle through a few stitches on the reverse side, snipping off the ends of the thread close to the surface for a tidy finish.
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Cut the plastic canvas mesh before marking
When cutting plastic canvas mesh, it's important to remember that it comes in different sizes, categorized by the number of stitches per inch, or "mesh". The most common sizes are 7-mesh, 10-mesh, and 14-mesh, but it can also come in a size with 5 holes per inch. The canvas also comes in different varieties, including a standard clear version, a range of colours, stiff or soft types, and different levels of stiffness. Choose the type of canvas your pattern calls for, as the yarn might not cover a coloured canvas, and the grid may show through. For 7-mesh canvas, use a No. 16 blunt tapestry needle and worsted-weight or plastic canvas yarn; for 10-mesh, use a No. 18 needle and sport-weight yarn, embroidery floss, or similar; and for 14-mesh, a No. 24 needle with #5 pearl cotton.
Before cutting, you should transfer your needlepoint pattern by counting the number of squares or holes in the design chart and matching them to the holes in the plastic canvas. Draw an outline on the canvas as you count, marking each hole with a crayon, grease pencil, or washable marker until the canvas outline matches the design chart. You can then cut along this outline with sharp scissors to make a master pattern. Make sure to cut between the bars of the canvas, leaving one plastic bar between the stitches and the cutting line to ensure there is enough plastic for overcasting the edges when finishing.
When cutting out the shapes for your project, carefully snip any nubs on the edges to prevent yarns from snagging. You can use sharp scissors, kitchen shears, or craft cutters for long, straight lines and most diagonal shaping, and fine-tip scissors or nail clippers for inside cutouts or small items. Cut the pieces to match the graph provided, or count the holes as specified in the cutting instructions. Some patterns may feature square or rectangular pieces without graphs. Remove all marked lines with a damp cloth before stitching, and be sure to leave one bar unstitched around the design to use for joining pieces together and finishing edges.
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Mark the plastic canvas mesh with a sharpie
Marking the plastic canvas mesh with a Sharpie is a simple process. Firstly, carefully count and lay out each motif, leaving at least two squares between motifs. You can use a Sharpie to mark the plastic canvas mesh, as Sharpie markers can create vibrant marks on light and dark surfaces, including canvas. Their water-based ink also won't bleed through, ensuring your work stays clean.
Before you begin, ensure your Sharpie markers are stored horizontally, as recommended by Sharpie. You can then begin to mark your plastic canvas mesh, carefully following the gridded chart provided with your design. Each symbol on the chart represents a specific colour to be used, and the chart should indicate where to begin stitching.
It is important to note that, while Sharpies can be used on canvas, they may not be permanent. One user review on the Sharpie website noted that the ink washed off a ceramic mug and could be scraped off glass with a fingernail. Therefore, it may be worth testing the Sharpie on a small area of your plastic canvas mesh first to ensure it dries properly and does not come off.
Additionally, when using a Sharpie on plastic canvas mesh, you may need to redraw over your markings once the ink has dried, as one pass may not be thick enough. Always begin your stitching on an uncut piece of plastic canvas to avoid snagging yarn or floss on ragged edges, and start with the upper-left stitch.
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Frequently asked questions
You can't fold plastic canvas in half to find the centre point, so instead, measure both the horizontal and vertical dimensions with a ruler or tape measure. Mark the centre point with a pin or your needle.
You can use a marker to mark your plastic canvas mesh. If you're marking where to cut, you can use a Sharpie, which won't rub off on your floss after it dries.
If your plastic canvas pattern includes a graph, count the holes in the graph, mark the same number on your canvas, and cut. If your pattern includes a line to follow for cutting, follow this. Otherwise, leave one whole square of canvas around the edges.
When in doubt, leave your canvas too big. If it's too large, you can always cut it smaller. If you cut it too small, you will have to stitch that piece again.
