Angel Shape

• Begin by using graph paper to design the shape of one or more angel for your plastic canvas. Draw a circle and triangle on the graph paper. Dimensional pins can be made by cutting out each individual piece. You will need a head, body, hair, arms and wings. It will be important to line up both sides of the pattern. Erase the tip of the triangle and replace it with three horizontal plastic canvas squares for a neck. Fill in the pattern by sketching with colored pencils, illustrating each stitch from one square to the next. Keep the project neat by trimming the excess plastic away when you shape the head, gown and wings. Draw a face out on your pattern to give a guide for hand-stitching it with yarn or embroidery floss.
  
  

Color

• The skin, gown and wings can be any color you choose. The angels can be made to match a theme or holiday. For example, a Thanksgiving angel can be made with praying hands, brown or yellow hair, and an autumn-colored gown. Christmas angel pins can be made from a spectrum of gold, silver, blue, white and metallic fibers. Tiny satin ribbon bows, plastic instruments and flowers can be sewn to the angel for decorative touches.
  
  

Stitches

• Needlepoint stitches that are common with plastic canvas stitches work well for angel pins. The simple continental stitch is a filler stitch for the face, arms, hair and clothing of an angel pin. The wings and halo will have dimension when stitched with straight, long and scotch stitching. Choose fine yarn and embroidery floss--good fibers to use on a small item such as a pin. Sew safety pins to the back of the plastic canvas so the pins can be easily attached to the object on which you elect to display the angel. Use a large-eye point needle when working with plastic canvas.