Stitching on Waste Canvas

Need a quick and special way to embellish a pillow or a shirt? Try stitching a design on the article using waste canvas. This is a nice way to "jazz up" an otherwise dull garment for a child, or to make a regular button-down shirt special and one-of-a-kind for an adult. This is also a way to create an original baby shower or wedding gift. It produces an unexpected and personalized gift for that someone special, without taking up all your time or hard-earned cash.

First question: What the heck IS waste canvas? Waste canvas is a variation of Aida cloth, which is typically white with blue strands running through it. It is used to stitch a pattern onto an otherwise "unstitchable" item, such as a t-shirt. The Aida cloth typically comes unstamped, but they do come with patterns stamped on them as well. When the stitching is complete, the waste canvas is then dampened and removed, leaving the design on its own.

Next issue: What can you stitch on, using waste canvas? I have stitched many items using waste canvas. It takes a little getting used to, but once you adjust, it opens up a whole new world of opportunity in the stitching medium. Try stitching on a canvas tote bag, a baby's sleeper or romper, or try a button-down shirt or a sweatshirt. This is a wonderful way to dress up a t-shirt for a little one, or to coordinate tops and bottoms on sweatsuits. You can make a nice set of matching cloth napkins and a tablecloth. Try coordinating a t-shirt and a pair of shorts with a storybook character for that special little one in your life. And then even try coordinating a pair of canvas tennis shoes for a very little one! I've even heard of people stitching cloth shower curtains with waste canvas! So many options.

Okay, the big question...How the heck do you do it?! Really, it's not such a big mystery. First off, cut the waste canvas an inch or two bigger than the size of the design. Find the center of the canvas, then loosely baste it on to the garment using a contrasting color thread. Begin stitching the design, being careful to center the design as you would if stitching on regular Aida cloth. Be careful of your tension...you need to pull the stitch taut, but not overly taut, as this would cause the design to pucker and would have an undesirable effect on the overall piece. Also, bear in mind that this is a piece that will most likely get some wear and tear, so make sure that the ends are secure. When the design is complete, dampen the waste canvas with a cotton ball moistened with tepid water. This will break down the sizing on the material and allow it to come apart. Remove the threads of the waste canvas using your fingers or a pair of tweezers. Be especially careful of the areas with a lot of stitching...you don't want to stretch the embroidery floss and ruin all your hard work. Continue this process until all threads are removed, leaving the design all on its own. (This is the moment you've been waiting for!)

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic