How to Do a Backstitch on Plastic Canvas

The backstitch is used in plastic canvas crafting. Mainly an outline stitch, it's done in the opposite direction than a normal running stitch. It's important to create this stitch properly, to keep the yarn from pulling out of the canvas and ruining the piece. The backstitch may be the outline for a letter or character on a project. It is very useful, in that it shows you where the boundaries are on an item. If you are making a plastic canvas project that includes a lot of detail, you need to know how to backstitch.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Diagram 1

   Start at the far right side of your plastic canvas. Insert the needle from the back and into the second square from the end. (See Diagram 1.)

2. Pull the needle through to the front at Square 1, as in Diagram 1.

3. Stitch over Square 2, which is at the far right. Go down through Square 2 as shown in Diagram 1.

4. Bring the needle up through Square 3 as shown in Diagram 1. Stitch over to Square 4 and go down and through.

5. Continue going up through the back and moving toward the right to complete each stitch. When a row is completed, you will be finishing on the left side of the character or canvas piece.

Tips & Warnings

• If you make a mistake, pull out the needle and yarn right away. Restitch the area.