Maya Ellison
Plastic canvas is a versatile craft that allows you to create both 2D and 3D objects, from wall hangings and coasters to tissue boxes and napkin rings. It's a cheap, fun, and easy way to get into stitching and embroidery. The canvas comes in pre-cut rectangular sheets or various shapes, like hearts and circles, which you can cut down to size. You can use yarn or cotton embroidery floss to stitch your designs, which are stitched from a gridded chart. There are a few different types of stitches you can use, including the lark's head knot, the overcast stitch, the reverse continental stitch, and the cross stitch.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stitching plastic canvas | Easy, fun, and inexpensive |
| Plastic canvas | Comes in rectangular sheets that can be cut down as needed |
| Shapes | Hearts, circles, and purses |
| Threading the needle | Can be challenging at first, but gets easier with practice |
| Finishing edges | Lark's head knot and overcast stitch are two basic stitches used |
| Reverse continental stitch | Sewn from left to right |
| Cross stitch | Looks like an "X" and is created by making two intersecting diagonal stitches |
| Cutting the canvas | Cut on the holes, leaving the bars fully intact |
| Plastic canvas for needlepoint | Also known as mesh plastic |
| Common sizes | 5-count, 7-count, 10-count, and 14-count |
| Perforated plastic | Has circular holes, which create a full-coverage look for cross-stitch |
| Canvas colors | Clear and white are common, but other colors are available |
| Stitching process | Begins on the back of the work |
| Stitching order | Start with the upper-left stitch |
| Sewing technique | Sew by hand or use a sewing machine with a thick needle |
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What You'll Learn
Threading the needle
To create a fringe edge, start by inserting the needle through the top of the canvas at an edge hole. Pull the thread or yarn to the left, then bring the needle up through the back of the canvas at the same hole. Create a loop with the thread or yarn, which will hang from the backside of the canvas. Finally, insert the tails through the loop and pull tight.
If you prefer a clean edge, use an overcast stitch instead. Pull the needle up through the back of the canvas at an edge hole, then wrap the thread or floss tightly against the edge of the canvas. This will give you a neat finish.
When working with plastic canvas, it's important to remember that you are limited in how you can end your thread. Pin stitches are not possible due to the lack of fabric fibres to weave the tail through. Burying the thread under the front stitches will also be noticeable, so it's best to tuck the tail under the back stitches. Additionally, the plastic canvas is moulded, so there are no fibres to stitch between, only bars.
To make the process of threading the needle easier, you can use a paper clip. Open a paper clip and use the smaller middle loop as a needle threader. Pass the paper clip loop through the eye of the needle, then insert your yarn and pull the clip out. Alternatively, fold a small piece of tape over the end of the yarn and press it flat. Thread the needle, then cut off the excess tape with scissors.
It's also important to choose the right type of needle for plastic canvas. The canvas will not stretch like cloth, so a smaller needle is needed to fit through the holes. A size 24 tapestry needle is recommended for 14-count canvas, while a size 22 tapestry needle is suitable for 10-count perforated plastic.
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Creating a fringe edge
To create a fringe edge, you can use the lark's head knot stitch. This stitch is used to finish the edges of your plastic canvas and create a fringe effect. Start by inserting your needle through the top of the canvas at an edge hole. Pull the thread or yarn to the left, then bring the needle up through the back of the canvas at the same hole. This will create a loop that hangs from the backside of the canvas. To secure the stitch, simply insert the tails through the loop and pull tight.
The lark's head knot is a simple stitch that adds a decorative touch to your plastic canvas project. It is important to note that this stitch will create a fringe edge, so if you prefer a clean edge, you may want to consider using a different stitch, such as the overcast stitch.
The overcast stitch is another basic stitch used to finish the edges of plastic canvas. To create a clean edge, pull the needle up through the back of the canvas at an edge hole and wrap the thread or floss tightly against the edge of the canvas. This will create a neat and finished look to your project.
When working with plastic canvas, it is recommended to start stitching on an uncut piece to avoid snagging your yarn or floss on ragged edges. You can also cover the edges of the canvas with masking tape to further prevent snags. Additionally, remember to leave one bar on the outside of all the stitches as these bars hold the stitches together.
With these instructions and tips in mind, you can confidently create a fringe edge on your plastic canvas project using the lark's head knot stitch or opt for a clean edge with the overcast stitch.
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Creating a clean edge
To create a clean edge when sewing loops on plastic canvas, you can use an overcast stitch. This stitch is used to finish the edges of your plastic canvas neatly.
Begin by pulling the needle up through the back of the canvas at an edge hole. Then, wrap the thread or floss tightly against the edge of the canvas. This will create a clean edge without any fringe.
It is recommended to start stitching on an uncut piece of plastic canvas to avoid snagging the yarn or floss on ragged edges. You can also cover the edges of the canvas with masking tape to prevent snags.
When cutting the plastic canvas, it is important to cut on the holes, leaving the bars fully intact. This helps to ensure that there are no tiny bumps that can catch your thread. Trimming or filing down the corners can also make it easier to sew pieces together for 3D patterns.
By following these steps, you can achieve a clean and professional-looking edge when sewing loops on plastic canvas.
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Finishing thread ends
When stitching on plastic canvas, you are limited in how you can finish your thread ends. A pin stitch is impossible as there are no fabric fibres to weave the tail in between. If you try to bury the thread under the front stitches, it will show by raising the stitches. This means you are limited to burying the tail under the back of your stitches.
One way to do this is to use a lark's head knot to create a fringe edge. Insert the needle through the top of the canvas at an edge hole and pull the thread or yarn to the left. Pull the needle up through the back of the canvas at the same hole and create a loop in the thread or yarn. The loop will hang from the backside of the canvas. Insert the tails through the loop and pull tight.
If you prefer a clean edge, use an overcast stitch instead of a lark's head knot. Pull the needle up through the back of the canvas at an edge hole. Wrap the thread or floss tightly against the edge of the canvas.
Another way to finish thread ends is to use tape. Fold a small piece of tape over the end of the yarn and press it flat. Then, thread the needle and cut off the tape with scissors.
You can also sew plastic canvas by hand or by using a sewing machine. If sewing by hand, you can use a zig-zag stitch and go slowly so that your needle slips over the mesh. If using a sewing machine, use a thicker thread and a longer stitch length to avoid any problems.
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Stitching techniques
Stitching on plastic canvas is a fun, easy, and inexpensive way to create both two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects. Here are some stitching techniques to help you get started with sewing loops on plastic canvas:
Starting the Stitching Process:
- It is recommended to begin stitching on an uncut piece of plastic canvas to prevent snagging yarn or floss on rough edges. Start with the upper-left stitch.
- You can cover the edges of the plastic canvas with masking tape as an extra precaution to avoid snags.
- When threading your needle, practice is key. You can use a paper clip or a small piece of tape over the end of the yarn to help guide it through the needle's eye.
Basic Stitches for Edges:
- The Lark's Head Knot: This stitch creates a fringe edge. Insert the needle through the top of the canvas at an edge hole, pull the yarn to the left, and then bring the needle up through the same hole from the back. Create a loop and insert the tails through before pulling tight.
- The Overcast Stitch: This stitch creates a clean edge. Pull the needle up through the back of the canvas at an edge hole, then wrap the thread tightly against the edge.
Other Common Stitches:
- The Reverse Continental Stitch: Sewn from left to right, this stitch is the reverse of the standard continental stitch.
- The Cross Stitch: This stitch forms an "X" shape by intersecting two diagonal stitches.
- The Joining Stitch: Used to sew pieces together for 3D patterns, this stitch works best with smoother corners.
Additional Tips:
- Remember to leave one bar on the outside of all stitches. The bars hold the stitches together. Cutting the last bar will cause the stitches to fall off the canvas.
- When using plastic canvas, you are limited in how you end your thread. Burying the thread under front stitches will make it visible and raise the stitches. Instead, you can bury the tail under the back stitches.
- The plastic canvas is molded, so there are no fibers to stitch between, only bars. This limits the types of stitches you can create.
- The size of the plastic canvas is indicated by the "count," which refers to the number of square holes per inch. Common sizes include 5-count, 7-count, 10-count, and 14-count.
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Frequently asked questions
Threading a needle for plastic canvas can be challenging, but there are a few tricks to make it easier. One way is to open a paper clip and use the smaller middle loop to pass the yarn through the eye of the needle. Another method is to fold a small piece of tape over the end of the yarn and press it flat before threading the needle.
There are several types of stitches that can be used for plastic canvas, including the reverse continental stitch, cross stitch, lark's head knot, and overcast stitch. The lark's head knot creates a fringe edge, while the overcast stitch creates a clean edge.
When sewing plastic canvas by hand, it is recommended to use a thicker thread and stitch through an uncut piece of canvas to avoid snagging. For machine sewing, it is possible to sew through the plastic canvas with a zig-zag stitch, but it is important to go slowly to avoid breaking the needle.
