Plastic Canvas Stitch Guide.pdf

Plastic Canvas Stitch Guide Plastic canvas has rapidly grown into a well-known and much-loved form of needle crafting. It's a simple technique that lends itself perfectly for introducing pre-teens and beginners to the joy of creating something with their hands and imagination. This often leads to the desire to learn other crafts, such as embroidery, crochet, and so forth. A lifetime of stitching tantalizing home decor and personalized accessories are yours for the making, not only for yourself, but for friends and family. Once you pick up a needle and a piece of plastic canvas, it will soon become a constant companion.

Tip: Always bring needle up through the canvas at odd numbers and take it back down through the canvas at the even numbers.

Basic Stitches •

Backstitch

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Continental

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Cross Stitch

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Fly Stitch

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Lark's Head Knot

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Long Stitch

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Overcast

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Reverse Continental

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Running Stitch

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Scotch Stitch

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Straight Stitch

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Whipstitch

Backstitch

Continental

Appearance in pattern - backstitch or backst

Appearance in pattern – continental

Stitches can be any length and go in any direction. Typically worked bringing needle up at odd numbers and down at even numbers.

Work horizontal rows, bringing needle up at odd numbers and down at even numbers. Stitch from right to left on first row, then from left to right on second.

Cross Stitch

Fly Stitch

Appearance in pattern - cross stitch or xs

Appearance in pattern - fly

Two diagonal stitches over one intersection as shown. Half Cross Stitch is one diagonal stitch.

Lark's Head Knot

Long Stitch

Appearance in pattern - larks head

Appearance in pattern - long stitch

The Lark's Head Knot is used for a fringe edge or for attaching a hanging loop.

Parallel straight stitches, can be of varying lengths covering two or more bars.

Overcast

Reverse Continental

Appearance in pattern - overcast

Appearance in pattern - reverse continental

Used to finish edges. Make one stitch in each hole along straight edges and in inside corners, and two or three stitches in outside corners for complete coverage.

Running Stitch

Scotch Stitch

Appearance in pattern - running stitch

Appearance in pattern - scotch stitch Stitched into a square shape, this stitch is useful for filling in large areas of canvas.

Straight Stitch

Whipstitch

Appearance in pattern - straight stitch

Appearance in pattern - Whipstitch

Stitches can be any length and go in any direction. Straight Stitches typically do not touch each other.

Used to join two pieces of canvas. Make one stitch in each hole along straight edges and in inside corners, and two or three stitches in outside corners for complete coverage.

Beyond Basics •

Condensed Mosaic

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French Knot (Bar)

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French Knot (Hole)

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Lazy Daisy

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Modified Turkey Work

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Smyrna Cross

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Smyrna Diamond

Condensed Mosaic

French Knot (Bar)

Appearance in pattern - condensed mosaic or cond mosaic

Appearance in pattern - Fr knot or FrK If dot is across a bar, come up in one hole and go down one hole over.

French Knot (Hole)

Lazy Daisy

Appearance in pattern - frk(hole) If dot on graph is in hole, come up and go down with needle in same hole.

Appearance in pattern - lazy daisy or lzd A Lazy Daisy can be any length and can go in any direction. Usually added as an embroidery stitch to add detail. Bring yarn needle up through canvas, then back down in same hole, leaving a small loop. Then, bring needle up inside of loop; take needle back down through piece on other side of loop.

Modified Turkey Work

Smyrna Cross

Appearance in pattern - modified turkey or mod turk

Appearance in pattern - smyrna cross

This is an effective stitch for giving a project dimensional hair.

Large cross (over two diagonal intersections) with upright cross (over two horizontal and two vertical intersections) on top.

Smyrna Diamond Appearance in pattern - smyrna diamond

Slanted Gobelin •

Slanted Gobelin (Horizontal)

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Slanted Gobelin (Vertical)

Slanted Gobelin (Horizontal)

Slanted Gobelin (Vertical)

Appearance in pattern - slgobh

Appearance in pattern - slgobv

Worked over two or more intersections, this is a long, diagonal stitch.

Starting Your Project Helpful plastic canvas tips! As you stitch, try to maintain an even tension on the yarn. Loose stitches will look uneven, and tight stitches will let canvas show through. If your yarn twists as you work, you may want to let your needle and yarn hang and untwist occasionally. Do not carry yarn across the back from one section of a color to the next. Carrying yarn across the back can cause the piece to bow or colors to show through to the front. When you end a section of stitching or finish a thread, weave the yarn through the back side of your last few stitches, then trim it off. Work embroidery stitches over needlepoint stitches after canvas piece if filled in.