Information, Help & Tips for Plastic Canvas Crafters

Ok, all you plastic canvas nuts can you help me? PLEASE!!!



1) How on earth do you thread the mettalic plastic canvas yarn? I have a needle threader, and have used pliers to pull it throu, but doesn't always work. Tonight I broke two needles.



2) I found this pattern that calls for "Radiant Raffia Straw Satin". It's for making a fashion doll (yes Barbie) beach set, that I'm making for my granddaughter (well one of them anyway lol).





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You are using the metal big eye yarn needles, correct? If you haven't purchased them yet, you need to do it and while you are there get a SOLID METAL needle threader(not one that has a thin wire). I think Needlecraft is the manufacter. Cut your length of yarn, insert the threader into the eye and catch the yarn near one end (make sure you have all the yarn in the loop of the threader, otherwise you will have a snag in the yarn)--then pull gently through. Using metallic yarn with plastic canvas will "eat away" at the canvas, so be careful or you will be breaking the dividers if you aren't careful.

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On the Raffia question--your question was not quite clear. But I'll see if I answer it anyway.

The Raffia Satin is a shiny raffia and found in most craft stores. To use it in plastic canvas, you will need to make strips. Cut a length of raffia--unfold it--make several small snips at one end--gently pull the raffia at those snips--it SHOULD tear in a straight line--if not, you will have to cut the straight line with your scissors or rotary cutter--the strips can be anywhere from 1/2" to 1" in width--now you are ready to thread the strips into the eye of the needle and stitch.

It will be a little bit bulkier than yarn--pull taut, but not so taut as to break a divider. You might want to practice on a small scrap first.

Do you know of any place to get a free/shareware program for designing needlepoint canvas patterns?

If you do, is it fully workable, letting you save and print?

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Here are a couple for trial you might like to try



http://www.plasticcanvassoftware.com/Default.htm



http://www.lewran.com/index.html

mawmaw: I have bought and used many different types and brands of scissors in the last 12 years cutting plastic canvas. No matter how, no matter what, I would end up with a blister or my hands so sore that I couldn't use them the next day. I even purchased some therapy gloves, but no go! About 10 months ago while shopping, I went to a store (Big Lots) and was in the garden department. I needed something to cut back some vines that had got out of control. I bought the cheapest I could find. They worked great, and the next day my hands weren't too sore. Several days later, I had to cut out a turkey pattern and there were a million pieces! I remembered the vine trimmer and got it out and used it. Well needless to say, I went back and bought 3 more(just in case). For the plastic canvas crafter--go to the garden center of any store--find the vine/shrub trimmers--make SURE that they are similar to scissors--lightweight--and with a carbon blade. Buy only one--try it--if it works for you--go back and buy several more (just in case).