Needlework
Danielle Nester
Hillary Olivier
Plastic Canvas
$1.29
3” x 3”
Hobby Lobby
$1.59
Hobby Lobby
$.59
10.5” x 13.0”
Hobby Lobby
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/search/?keyword=plastic%20canvas&match=AND&F_Sort=2&perpage=36
Needlework Examples
Supplies
• Plastic Canvas ($1.29/10 pack)
• Yarn ($3.99)
• 1.5 yards orange
• 1 ft. green
• Adhesive Magnets ($4.99/roll)
• Plastic Needles ($.99/2)
• Scissors ($1.99)
• http://shop.hobbylobby.com/search/?keyword=plastic%20canvas&match=AND&F_Sort=2&perpage=36
Continental/Tent Stitch Overview
• Bring threaded needle UP at 1 and all ODD numbers
• Bring threaded needle DOWN at 2 and all EVEN numbers
Cognitive Upgrade/Downgrade
• Motor Skill: Sequencing
• Baseline: Sequencing the steps to needlework solid orange pumpkin
with green stem using continental stitch
• Upgrade: Sequencing additional steps and stitches to needlework
jack-o-lantern face on pumpkin using additional colors (black)
• Downgrade: Sequencing less steps to needlework orange pumpkin
with green stem by having the OT begin the first row of stitches. The
client will watch the OT perform the first row, then try themselves
with assistance and verbal cues when needed. (Scaffolding when
necessary)
Motor Upgrade/Downgrade
• Motor Skill: Fine Motor Control
• Baseline: Have the client thread his or her own needle
• Upgrade: Have the client thread needle multiple times with different
color yarn (for jack-o-lattern eyes and mouth, or yellow vertical
stripes as lines on the pumpkin)
• Downgrade: Thread the needle for the client and tie knot, or tape
end of yarn to make easier to thread (keep yarn from unraveling)
Population
• Ages 8+
• Females, males (and
sometimes highly skilled
cats!!)
• Helpful for clients with:
• Depression
• Poor Fine Motor Skills
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Stress
• Poor Pain Management
• Asthma
• Panic Attacks
Therapeutic Benefits: Rehabilitative
• Uses fine motor control of movement
• Increases hand-eye coordination
• Improves cognition
• Sequencing
• Clients with Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel
Therapeutic Benefits: Psychosocial
• Increases self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-expression
• The repeated movements and rhythmicity can cause a
decrease of stress hormones, which can increase
serotonin and dopamine levels  relaxation
• Slows down client’s thought processes so they can “zone
out” and only focus on the task at hand
Precautions
• Needle point can be sharp
• Scissors can be sharp
• Be aware of the rough edges of the cut plastic canvas
• Be aware that you are following the pattern on the handout
Ziploc Bag
• Plastic Canvas
• Needle
• 1.5 yd. of orange yarn
• 1 ft. green yarn
• Magnet
• Template of Pumpkin
REMEMBER!!!
• UP at 1 and ODD numbers
• DOWN at 2 and EVEN numbers
Design Template
Step 1:
• Thread your needle with the orange yarn provided. At about 1 inch
from the top, tie a double knot to secure yarn onto needle. Pull tight.
Step 2:
• Following template handout, count five spaces
down and five spaces over from the upper right
corner. This will be the first hole you insert
needle into (labeled 1), coming from the back
side, forward through to the front (REMEMBER: 1
and odds, back to front- 2 and evens, front to
back!)
Step 3:
• Pull yarn through until there’s
about 1 inch left on the backside
of your plastic canvas (tail); hold in
place with finger for the first few
stitches. You will end up stitching
over this tail to cover it.
Step 4: Continental
Stitch
• Refer back to template handout.
Notice hole 2 is at a upper
diagonal from hole 1. Since you
came through to the front on hole
one, you will now thread through
to the back in hole 2. Your needle
should finish on the back side of
your plastic canvas.
Step 5:
• Refer back to template
handout. Locate hole 3 on
handout. Thread needle (from
back to front since odd
number) through hole 3. Your
needle should finish on front
side of plastic canvas.
Step 6:
• Thread back through hole 4 in
same manner as hole 2
(because even number,
remember to go from front to
back). Your needle should
finish on the back side of the
plastic canvas.
Step 7:
• Repeat continental stitch
across canvas, from right
to left, as shown on the
design template handoutfor a total of 9 diagonal
stitches across.
Step 8:
• Refer back to design template
handout. Notice that to drop down
to second row (hole 19) you need to
move over to the left one space from
where your top row of stitches are.
• To be certain you are starting your
second row in the right place, count
down 6 spaces and over 3 spaces
from the upper left hand corner. You
will now bring your needle through
this hole from back to front, finishing
with your needle and thread on the
front side of the plastic canvas.
Step 9:
• Refer back to design template
handout. For the next step, (labeled
20) you will thread your needle in
the same fashion as before, but this
time the top stitch will share a hole
with a bottom stitch from the top
row (20 shares hole with 17).
Continue this pattern across, from
left to right, for a total of 11
diagonal stitches across. You will
end this row on the same side that
you started (upper right hand side).
Step 10:
• Now you have 2 completed rows
of your pumpkin!
Congratulations!
• To move down to the 3rd row, you
will work in the same manner as
transferring from 1st to second
row, but again- one space below
and over to the right. REFER TO
DESIGN TEMPLATE HANDOUT!!
Step 11:
• Continue this process, following
the design template handout
carefully, until have completed
the base of your pumpkin. Once
you’ve stitched your last and
final row of orange, you will turn
to the backside of the plastic
canvas. Thread your needle
underneath and through the
outer 3 stitches and pull
through. Tie a small knot closest
to the canvas as possible, then
cut the remaining yarn.
Step 12:
• If time permits, thread the
green piece of yarn provided
through needle and tie off in
same manner as with the
orange. Following the design
template handout, stitch the
stem of the pumpkin in the
same way as before using the
continental stitch. Tie off at end
following same method as
before. This is the final step of
stitching to complete your
pumpkin!! PAT YOURSELF ON
THE BACK!
Step 13:
• With the black magnet provided,
use hot glue gun to glue magnet to
back side of plastic canvas.
• HANG ON FRIDGE TO SHOW
YOUR HALLOWEEN SPIRIT!!!!
Resources
• http://www.prlog.org/10179509-knitting-and-crochet-offer-longterm-health-benefits.html
• http://www.cancerlynx.com/handcraft.html
• http://www.hobbylobby.com/home.cfm
• http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=plastic%20canvas&rs=ac&
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