A Coarse on Stitching :: Davinie Fiero

Hi there! Davinie here, to give you some insider tips on my layout creation process.  First, I wanted to do a layout with School Spirit that was not school related.  This color palette and the fun designs are easily transferable to other parts of your life.  For me, because of the shirt I was wearing this particular day, it was extremely easy for me to use this line for a layout about a roller coaster ride my family went on recently:

The patterns, warm color tones, and fun elements were great to work with.

The first tip I wanted to share was about the circular pattern I used in my layout.  To create that, I didn’t get a fancy tool or template.  I simply dug around in my kitchen cupboard and came up with Princess Genevieve, lunch style (I’m sure Superman, or Buzz Lightyear would work equally as well).

 

On the B side of the Ruler paper, I traced the circular pattern on the lower have of the paper.  I then trimmed it out creating the pattern here.

 For this layout I also used a 1.5 inch strip of the A side to the Ruler paper, as well as a 1 inch strip of Chemistry, along with the B side of Homeroom as the base for my layout.  I also added some decorative cardstock strips I had in my stash.

After I adhered these strips and the circle to my layout, it was time to machine stitch them down.  With that I wanted to share a tip or two about machine stitching.  It really isn’t as hard as you think.

 

Instructions for Machine Stitching:

1. You really don’t need a special thread, or a special needle.  But if you do both scrapbooking and fabric sewing with the same machine, use a different needle for each.  Also, if you sew on paper a lot and it goes through adhesive, after time it will gum up your needle so try and avoid that (although it won’t hurt anything really, and I do it all the time)

2. Set your machine to space your stitches fairly far apart (on my Kenmore it’s set between 3 and 4).  The closer your stitches are together, the more likely you are to perforate your paper, and we don’t want that.

3. There is no need to backstitch. The very first time I sewed on paper, my stitches were close together, AND I backstitched out of habit. What a mess that layout was!

4. I've included some photos here of my 4th tip. When you sew on paper, begin with a trail of thread, and when you're finished, leave a trail of thread. In order to avoid unraveling, tearing, etc, I always tie knots in my thread and snip the end. I never have needed to worry about my stitching again. I know some people tape the thread on the back, but this way is a no fuss and requires no additional product. 

 

To tie your thread:

1. Turn your project over, and grasp the thread that is on the back, pulling it gently to lift the last stitch, which is that little loop at the end:

2. Pull that loop out. All of your stitches are still in place. You will not be creating a space in your stitched row by pulling this thread through.

 

3. Tie a knot in your two pieces of thread and trim. 

Voila! You stitched a row and made your thread secure.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the techniques I have shared.  Here’s the layout in further detail:

One last note regarding the title on this layout:  I have been using curved titles a lot on my work recently.  What I have found is that the best way to make them look clean and uniform is to keep the letter perpendicular to the circle you have made, whether it be the circle paper I used here, or a traced line you are following.  Otherwise you will have one letter “leaning” too much, and another needing to lean a bit more.  If you keep all the letter perpendicular to the path you are creating, they will all look perfect.  

Have a great day! - Davinie

Comments

[NanaBeth]

Big thank you! I just got a machine so I could start sewing on my layouts and cards-but I've been hesitant to try. This was just what I needed.

[Marcy]

LOVE the layout! Great inspiration to try stiching myself - I'm not a sewer, but you make it sound easy. Thanks!

[Jojojorenee.blogspot.com]

Thanks for the tips I have been looking for help for months now!

[Kate Vickers]

Hi! Love this tutorial. I really want to try this out. Just an FYI... 'Coarse'(rough) should actually be spelled 'Course' (class), unless you were going for a pun, in which case feel free to ignore me.

[Helene]

Now I need a sewing machine! :-D

[Amy]

I definitely learned something new today! Thanks girl!

[Lisa Dickinson]

awesome tips miss dav. i must ask, what size (or number?) is your needle??

[Jessica R.]

Thanks so much for this!!!!