National Sewing Month is here! In this class we will make unique custom greeting cards for any occasion with a hand sewn touch! You will learn how to sew a simple saying using the stem stitch and how to add it to a greeting card made from scratch. This is a great class for beginners, new sewers or to practice your sewing skills!
Stem stitch is a popular technique for stitching script or handwriting style fonts because of its smooth and flowing effect.
Let’s craft together! Join our FREE class on September 13th 2:00-3:00 est. Register here!
Materials:
- Fiskars Essentials Sewing Kit
- Scissors
- Rotary Cutter
- Cutting Mat
- Acrylic Ruler
- Paper Trimmer
- Fiskars Gifting Board (optional to make envelopes)
- Cardstock (color of your choice to make card)
- Scraps of Denim or Fabric
- Embroidery Thread
- Tracing Paper
- Embroidery Hoop
- HeatBond Ultra Hold Iron-On Adhesive
Prep:
- Place your denim in the embroidery hoop. Tip: Cut your denim down with fabric scissors if its too long, this will make it easier to work with.
- On tracing paper draw out your word or trace one from printed out text. If it’s your first time try something simple like “hi”.
- Cut out the tracing paper and tack it to the denim by by adding one long stitch on each side of the tracing paper.
How To Stem Stitch:
- Start by bring the needle up at the starting point, then back down about a stitch and a half length away.
- Bring the needle back up halfway between the stitch and along the stitch line. Keep the thread to one side, and make another stitch by coming back through the last stitch hole.
- Insert the needle down about a stitch length from the last stitch.
Tips:
- To reduce strain on the thread, pull the loop on the front through to the back before pulling the thread all the way through.
- When stitching a curve, bring the thread up on the right side if it’s going that way, and on the left side if it’s a curve that goes both directions.
- The more strands used, the thicker and more textured the stem stitch will look.
After Stitching:
- Once done, snip off the tacked down tracing paper.
- Place the denim on the cutting mat and use a rotary cutter and acrylic ruler to cut the denim in a rectangle that will fit on your card.
- To add it to your card use a heat bond adhesive patch. Place the patch it on the back of the denim and heat it with an iron. Peel the back of the patch and place it centered on your card and heat again. (Follow your heat bond instructions for best results.)
- Create an envelope e using the Fiskars Gifting Board and you are done!
