Working with Waste Canvas

Working with waste canvas is great because it allows you to stitch any cross stitch design on anything from sweatshirts and baby clothes to curtains and placemats and anything in between. It really dosen't matter what fabric they are made of, almost anything can be used.

Waste canvas is an evenweave, mesh-like fabric, woven with threads stiffened with starch. To use it simply cut a piece of waste canvas at least 1 inch larger all around than the finished design. Pin the waste canvas into place on the right side of the fabric. Then using a contrasting thread, baste around the edges of the canvas and from corner to corner to hold in place.

Now stitch your design through the canvas onto the fabric, using the mesh like you would use Aida fabric. Some ideas would be to stitch angels on a shirt, fruit on placemats or kitchen curtains, stars or hearts on a denim purse, an initial on a little girls robe, a wolf on a sweatshirt, the list of things you can do goes on and on. Use your imagination and think of all the gifts you can make for the holidays.

When you have finished stitching your design, dampen the waste canvas with just a little water to soften up the starch, and then pull out the threads one by one. An easy way to do this is to use a pair of tweezers. After all the threads are removed your left with a beautiful design stitched perfectly on your fabric.