So You Want to Sew? Part I

I have heard from many of you over the past several months about my stitching. You want to know HOW I get it so straight. I assure you I am NOT a seasoned seamstress. In fact, I have only sewn on fabric a handful of times and the results were less than desirable. :)

I will be doing a series that I have named, "So You Want to Sew". I will be posting several tutorials showing different ways to sew on paper.

I hope my tutorials will help you with your sewing-on-paper creations.

I use the Janome sew mini. It retails for about $60. I got it on sale for $39.99 with free shipping. Watch Hancock Fabrics.com for deals. That is where I ordered mine from.

I think the Janome Sew Mini is the perfect choice for paper crafters. Here are some features:

• lightweight (only about 5 pounds)
• small, portable
• is a "real" sewing machine
• offers 8 stitches
• includes foot pedal that is an ON/OFF switch and does not control speed

A few things I don't like about it:

• does not have a light attached
• only offers 8 stitches

So, you want to sew? Let's get started! Today, I am going to show you how to sew a strip of paper to a larger card base sized piece.

Here is my finished product

I started with a piece of card stock that I stamped houndstooth on with Versamark. I always add some adhesive to the piece I am on sewing on. I don't want it to shift during sewing and it give me one less thing to think about as I am stitching. Add the adhesive where you are not stitching (usually the middle). I use mono adhesive for this.

Stick the strip of paper where you want it.

I am going to use the biggest zig zag, H. Turn the dial until the H is even with the little nib.

On the presser foot (the clear thing that guides the needle) there is a "split" on the front of it so you can slip your thread through it. THAT is going to be your best friend when zig zag stitching 2 pieces of paper together. You are going to place your paper exactly as shown in the picture below. Make SURE that where your 2 papers meet, is EXACTLY aligned with the split on the presser foot. Place your paper so that the needle will begin at the edge of your paper.

Now, press down on the foot pedal and start stitching. DO NOT WATCH THE NEEDLE. You don't want to be hypnotized do you? Or get motion sickness? LOL ONLY watch the split in the presser foot and the area where your 2 papers meet. Your goal is to keep that centered AT ALL TIMES. Put your hands lightly on the paper as it glides through the machine. You can make subtle corrections by LIGHTLY moving the paper if it starts to get off course.

Here, I have gotten almost to the edge of the paper. When you are getting close, take your foot OFF the foot pedal and start turning the wheel on the side toward you until the needle is *almost* to the end of the paper. This will give you more control and make it less likely for you to sew THROUGH the end of the paper.

See how close it is? That's where you want to end.

Now, lift your presser foot and PULL some thread out. I didn't even cut it, I just pulled enough thread to be able to turn my paper around and sew on the other side of the strip of paper. Remember to start right at the edge of the paper.

Keep it nice and centered with the split in the presser foot.

Here I am at the end. Now, pull your paper and snip the thread leaving at least 6 inches of thread hanging off your piece of card stock.

Oh look, I finally found a use for my SU arrows punch. LOL See that area (follow the arrow). The thread is pulled through to the back already. (no thread is sticking out on the front side of the card stock)

Flip your paper over and scotch tape the loose thread tails to the back of the card. I typically try not to tape over the holes because *sometimes* you can see the gloss of the tape through the holes on the front side.

This is how it looks after you have tapes the tails to the back side. Nice and clean.

On this part, we have a thread tail sticking out on the front side of the card stock. DO NOT snip it off.

This is what the back side looks like right now. You know that preschool worksheet activity where you follow the balloon strings that are all mixed up to find the balloon it is attached to? Well, that is what we are going to do with the thread.

Start tugging lightly with your paper piercer in the general vicinity of the thread tails. You will find a loop. Watch the front side of your card as you pull on the loop. When you find the loop that makes the thread tail on the front of your card start being pulled to the back, go ahead and pull it all the way through to the back side of the card.

Now tape those thread tails down.

See? No snipped off ends, no funky wrapping it around to the back, just nice and clean. Now, do that to the rest of the ends.

When you are done pulling the thread tails to the back of your card, this is what it looks like. Give it a hair cut. Just snip off all the loose stuff.

Here it is all nice and trimmed on the back side.

Here is the finished piece. See how there is no crazy threads popping out anywhere? YAY!

So, what do you think? Can you sew a strip of paper on and keep it straight? Can you keep all your thread tails hidden? Give it a try! :)

I have more installment of "So You Want to Sew" coming soon. :)

I hope you enjoyed it. If this helps you, please leave me a comment and let me know. Have a specific question you would like answered? Leave me a comment! :)

Have a wonderful day!