Unii's Plastic Canvas Tips & Tricks

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1. Plastic Canvas Circles and using the Tent Stitch: count how many holes there are in the regular mesh around your roll. Then count the number of holes on the outside of row on the circle of your round canvas. Now divide the number on the round canvas from the number on the square canvas. For instance if the square canvas is 80 holes and the round is 40 your answer is 2, so then you will need to put 2 stiches into each round hole. If you have an unequal answer like 72 holes divided by 30, equals 2 and 12 left over then you would distribute those extra stitches evenly around the circle. Or an extra 4 stitches in each quarter. So some holes would have 3 stitches. If it doesn't look right you can always rip it out and start over.
   
   
2. Plastic Canvas Circles and using the Tent Stitch: As you look at the circle, you will see that it is marked off in quarters. Begin your stitching at the center where there are four posts. Bring your needle up through one of the pie shaped holes. Push it down into one of the spaces in the row below. Bring it up again into the same pie shaped hole, then push down into the next hole in next row. Bring it up in 1st pie shaped hole again, and down into next hole in lower row. When that section of the circle is filled, move to the next pie shaped hole and keep on in the same manner. As you move around the circle you will find that you will have to put two stitches in several holes as you continue on. Instead of filling every stitch, you can make your stitches longer by skipping rows of holes. Begin in the same way, at the center of your circle.
   
   
3. Do you have a pattern that you use a lot? Cut a "template" of it from colored plastic canvas.
   
   
4. Use zip-lock baggies to store your project pieces, and keep finished parts clean while working on the rest.
   
   
5. To hold duplicate pieces still while cutting from a template, place them on a wooden cutting board, using stick pins (ie: quilt pins) to hold them in place.
   
   
6. To Clean your PC project, soak it in lukewarm water with Woolite or other gentle laundry detergent. Then, rinse thoroughly and hang dry.
   
   
7. Glue a magnet to one handle of your craft cutters for a handy holder for needles while stitching. Or, use a square tin, with a giant magnet inside, this will hold all of your PC supplies (ie: needles, scissors, pliers, etc.).
   
   
8. If you don't have a Hole Counter, use a plastic hair roller pick to count holes in PC.
   
   
9. For a decorative baby wipes container cover, use a boutique-style tissue cover pattern.
   Leave the top off, and Overcast top and bottom edges.
   
   
10. Keep and emery board handy for filing rough edges and nubs from PC edges.
    
    
11. A fabric-softener dryer sheet will remove grease pencil and crayon markings from PC.
    
    
12. If you prefer marking PC with a permanent marker, remove ink with a typewriter eraser.
    
    
13. Use a pair of cuticle scissors for trimming the small nubs from inside cutout section of your PC project.
    
    
14. If you have trouble cutting your PC shape accurately, try stitching the design first, and then cutting it out.
    
    
15. If the yarn on your favorite PC items "pills up" with use, shave it with a clothing de-fuzzer.
    
    
16. To prevent deformation, bowing, and cracking, always store your PC sheets flat!
    
    
17. Use cork or felt to back PC coasters for extra durability and protection.
    
    
18. There are about 42 yards per ounce of nylon PC yarn and about 50 yard per ounce of worsted weight yarn.
    
    
19. If you need several of the same shape of PC, cut one from colored canvas, then use as a pattern for cutting the remaining pieces.
    
    
20. Make sure to use all the same brand of PC within a project. Different brands can differ slightly in weight and mesh.
    
    
21. To repair accidental cuts on PC, fuse with the tip of a hot glue gun.
    
    
22. If yarn ends work loose on a finished project, secure with a bit of glue.
    
    
23. Keep a small pair of pliers in your needlework bag for pulling threaded needles through tight spots in PC projects.
    
    
24. If you are almost finished with a section of color and barely have enough yarn in your needle to finish, use a crochet needle hook to pull the yarn through the last stitch or two.