Monday Tutorial on Paper Craft Planet - Machine Stitching on Paper!

 

 

Here's an all-in-one tutorial showing several different ways to machine stitch on cards.  Each tag is an example of a stitching design that could be used on a card.  The tags are purposely left ‘unfinished’ in order to show the basics of the stitches.  We’ll begin with the easiest stitching and work our way to more intricate stitches.

TIPS BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

•  Dedicate a sewing machine needle to paper only.
• Machine stitching on paper creates dust and fuzzies in your sewing machine.  Clear out any particles after stitching on paper.
• Use good thread.  Start with one color at first.
• Check your machine’s tension on scrap paper.  Stitches should look correct on top and on the reverse side. 
• To turn a corner while stitching, leave the needle in the down position, raise the presser foot, turn the paper 90 degrees, lower the presser foot and resume stitching.
• Stitch slowly for optimum straight stitches.  Use the presser foot as a guide.  Watch the edge of the paper rather than the stitches.  Draw a light pencil line if all else fails.
• After stitching is done, pull all threads through to the back of your work and tie off and trim ends.  My preference is to skip making a knot and tape the trimmed ends in place with adhesive tape as it’s all going to be covered up anyway.
• Paper pierce with no thread in the machine.
• By practicing using these stitching techniques, you’ll be ready to add stitching to your cards in no time!

 TAG 1:  Straight Stitch Strips

 

Yep, that’s all there is to it!  Straight stitch down the center of paper strips.  They can be any width, or a variety of widths and lengths.  Again, this is the technique and I’m leaving it up to you how to incorporate this onto a card front.

 TAG 2:  Straight Stitch Objects and Borders

 

Arrange punched shapes, circles, squares, etc. and straight stitch through the center.  Stitch a border around the tag (or card).

TAG 3:  Stitching a Pocket

 

Layer a panel over the tag or card and stitch around 3 sides!  Additional stitching can be added to the tuck-in tag as well as around the perimeter of the large tag.

 TAG 4:  Stitching a Diecut

 

Diecut a shape and stitch around it.  To achieve stitching around the curves, the needle is in the down position before lifting the presser foot.  Turn the paper ever so slightly and repeat the steps until you are out of the curves.  Stitch around the tag perimeter as well.

 TAG 5:  Double Stitching a Diecut Negative

 

Double stitch around the negative with no worries about being perfect!  The wavier the better!  Next, stitch around the tag perimeter and add a little zig zag stitch to the very bottom edge!

 TAG 6:  Inchies and Diecut or Punched Borders

 

Stitch a straight line down the center of the diecut border strip.  Punch out squares and affix to hold in place with one tiny dab of liquid glue being careful to avoid the areas that will be stitched.  Starting at one corner, stitch in a downward diagonal and turn the paper to continue the diagonal pattern.  I cheated and drew faint pencil lines to help the stitches land in the corners of the squares!

TAG 7:  Zig Zag Stitch a Panel

 

Run a zig zag stitch along the top and bottom edge of a panel.  For added interest, run a straight stitch inside the border of the panel.  You could also straight stitch around the tag too.

TAG 8:  Double Wavey Lines and Zig Zag Edges

Here’s the fun and random double wavey line trick!  Do not over think this and just have fun with non-straight lines.  In addition, zig zag stitch the top and bottom of little word strips.

 TAG 9:  Single and Double Zig Zag Edge

 

Zig zag around the perimeter of the tag.  As in straight stitching around a corner, leave your needle down and the presser foot up prior to turning the corner.  I added a second zig zag edge for interest.  The flower was a sticker that I unstuck by rubbing powder over the adhesive.  It was then ready to be stitched around the edge.

 TAG 10:  Appliqué

 

Diecut hexigons and affix them in place on the tag with a dot of liquid glue in the center.  Proceed to zig zag stitch as far as possible without having to stop and re-position the needle.  I didn’t do that and had a million threads to pull through at the end!  Do this using squares, rectangles, crazy quilting, sun rays, strips, etc.

Supplies Used:  Paper Echo Park This & That Graceful; Diecuts:  Sizzix; Adhesives:  Zig 2-Way Glue Pen, Scotch ATG Tape Runner; Ribbon: Misc. scrap