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Sunday, November 15, 2009

Stage One complete


A total of 1 hour frogging, 7 for the border, 2 for the text and 1/3 for removing the waste canvas and I'm done!



You'll notice that some parts look puckered. They are. I'm trying to figure out how to flatten it. Possibly an iron and some interfacing?

Assembling the bag will either be tomorrow or Tuesday.

Thinking of using waste canvas? Learn from my experience:
1. Try finding an alternate way. Maybe stitch it on your linen/evenweave/Aida of choice and patchwork it?
2. Baste around the edges and then baste in a grid pattern. This will hold the waste canvas close to the fabric and reduce buckling/puckering.
3. Use a frame/hoop. Also to keep everything flat.
4. Use a very pointy needle.
5. Use tweezers to pull out the waste canvas. Might just have been the waste canvas I had, but when wet the canvas feels very gluey, utterly disgusting, and hurts your fingers when you pull it out. It has to be thread by thread because it's too tricky trying to pull multiples.
6. Try finding an alternate way.

Will I use waste canvas again? Probably. Do I like it? No.

Anybody have any waste canvas tips/experiences?

8 comments:

imnverted said...

I used waste canvas to cross stitch on sweatshirts. I dont recall getting it wet to remove the canvas but did use tweezers and after a while my hands and fingers were killing me. I did use a hoop, making sure it was big enough so I didnt have to try and rearrange it. I may use it again but havent since.

Kttycat said...

The few times I've tried I got so frustrated that I stopped whatever it was I was working on. I've wanted to try it again since its been a few years since the last time. It looks good though!

Carol said...

Cute! Cute! I only used waste canvas once (way back before you were even born, Blu!!!!) and I never used it again...

Annie said...

I've only used waste canvas on one T-shirt. Not a pleasant experience. I didn't bother wetting the canvas and just patiently removed the threads one by one. I can't remember if I used tweezers. But that part of the process wasn't as bad as the stitching. T-shirts are just too stretchy. Some say you should use some iron-on interfacing on the back before your stitch. I might try that sometime.

Hopefully steam ironing will help block your piece. i like the design.

Anonymous said...

I have used waste canvas to stitch some kitty eyes on a sweat shirt for my mom. Definitely using interfacing on the back prior to stitching helps. I totally agree with the slimey mess waste canvas develops. BLECH! To help with the puckers, try steaming a bit as you are pressing from the back. That is my only idea :( It turned out great though! I love the quote!

Pumpkin said...

Cute :o)

I've never used it before but thanks for the tips!

Meari said...

Hmm.. When I used WC, mine was not gooey. Tweezers definitely help in removing it. I also used a hoop and a pointy needle to stitch.

Rachel S-H said...

I found it easier when I used a very large hoop and didn't have to move it around. I only use it for small designs--I just can't handle messing with that waste canvas for long.