How to edge plastic canvas?
Edging plastic canvas projects provides a neat, finished look and protects the edges. One common and effective method is the Whip Stitch.
The whip stitch is a fundamental technique used to finish the edges of plastic canvas. It involves wrapping yarn around the raw edge of the canvas through the pre-punched holes, creating a clean border.
Based on instructional resources, the process is straightforward:
- Start with Yarn: Begin by securing your yarn. Leave a tail of about an inch or so, holding it against the edge of the canvas where you will start stitching. This tail can be stitched over to secure it.
- Bringing the Needle Up: As demonstrated in basic tutorials, the whip stitch is "nothing more than this bringing the needle up through the hole in the edge of the canvas."
- Wrapping the Edge: Insert your needle from the back of the canvas through a hole near the edge. Pull the yarn through, leaving the starting tail on the back. Then, bring the needle back around the edge and insert it into the next hole along the edge, coming up from the back again. The yarn should wrap over the edge of the canvas between the two holes.
- Repeat: Continue this process, bringing the needle up through each subsequent hole along the edge, always wrapping the yarn over the edge of the canvas. This creates a continuous, solid line of yarn along the border.
Essentially, you are creating diagonal stitches that wrap around the edge of the canvas, connecting one hole to the next.
Practical Tips for Edging
- Yarn Choice: Use yarn suitable for plastic canvas, typically worsted weight or craft yarn. The thickness should be enough to cover the plastic mesh adequately.
- Needle: A blunt tapestry or plastic canvas needle is ideal for this stitch as it passes through the holes without splitting the yarn or the plastic.
- Corners: When you reach a corner, you will stitch into the corner hole. You may need to make two or three stitches into the same corner hole to ensure it is fully covered and the transition is smooth. Stitching into the corner hole multiple times helps turn the corner neatly.
- Securing Yarn: When you run out of yarn or finish the edge, weave the tail into the stitches on the back of the canvas to secure it neatly. Do the same for your starting tail if you didn't stitch over it.
By using the whip stitch, you can create a durable and attractive border that completes your plastic canvas project.
