Thursday, October 30, 2014

Tutorial - make this simple Stitcher's Friend gift card!

We have moved house 20 times in 23 years.
We have moved towns 11 times in 23 years.
We have moved states 5 times in 23 years.
And we're fairly sure we may move again in 2015.

One thing I like to do is send a Christmas card each year to the far away friends who made an indelible mark on my heart over those 23 years.
Last Tuesday when Mr E and I spent 8 hours driving to and from Cooktown I thought how nice to add something small and useful inside the Christmas cards that will be posted to sewing friends, and as the hours passed by and I stitched carefully on my knee over every bump the old outback road offered up, this idea came to pass.

With 2015 just over the hill, a useful gift for Christmas is a set of fresh sewing needles! 
This little 'Stitcher's Friend' card will fit easily inside your regular Christmas cards, or would be a great addition to swap parcels.

I've made up these pretty labels for the cards...
 There are six on the sheet, which you can download HERE as a free gift.

Gather some supplies. 
I've raided Blossom's papercraft box and found that a pack of 6½” square papers will allow me to make two cards per sheet.
 You'll also need:
* a roll of double sided tape (or glue)
* rotary cutter (use an old blade, not the one you're currently using for your fabrics)
* cutting board and ruler
* some scraps of cotton or wool quilt wadding/batting
* an assortment of needles - both hand sewing and machine are a good choice
Use your rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting board to accurately cut out the six Stitcher's Friend labels from the free sheet you have printed.

Cut the 6½” square of scrapbooking paper in half.
Place strips of double sided tape across the back of a label, covering the four side edges. Peel the backing from the tape and position the label inside the right hand half of your scrapbook paper...
Fold the paper in half to create a card...
 Machine sew a line just inside the folded edge of the card. This helps to keep the card closed when you have finished it...
Gather your assortment of needles. Three or four needles will be enough...
Sew a scrap piece of cotton or wool quilt wadding/batting inside the card. A straight line across the top edge is all you need. Place the needles in the wadding...
A nice touch is to write what size needles you've added...
How easy was that!?
I've made two, only four more to go! 
But, maybe I'll keep making them, after all they will be lovely additions in birthday cards too, don't you think?


If you'd like to stitch a sewing set for a more substantial gift I've just re-released my pretty "Linen Rose" sewing set as a pdf pattern...


The embroidery is quick and easy - simple backstitch and two strands of red thread!
It's also an easy pattern to machine sew once the hand work is complete, and can be made up in an afternoon...


The 'Linen Rose' pattern and your free  'Stitcher's Friend' labels are HERE in the shop now as instant pdf downloads.

Enjoy your day!
I have secret stitching to attend to...

hugs

20 comments:

cucki said...

wow i love the card so much..
and the scissor fob is a super cutie..i love it..
bug hugs and love x

Melody said...

Thank you so much. This is brilliant. PS It would be wonderful if you moved to Melbourne, it's lovely down here.

Christine M said...

What a great gift card, Jenny. They would certainly make a lovely gift. Thank you for sharing your great idea with us. xxx

the gathering girls said...

Jenny - thank you so much! These are perfect gifts!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Jenny, I love your needle card idea! Thank you so much! That would be a nice little something for those friends I don't really buy a gift for but I'd still like them to know I was thinking about them. You are such a great idea woman!

Fee said...

You are such a clever gal :)

Terry said...

What a sweet little gift...I'm sure your friends will be thrilled to find one of those in their Christmas cards this year. :0)

HelenS said...

Thank you, Jenny, for the lovely pattern for this needle card.

Anonymous said...

Jenny,

What a little gift to use for a "STOCKING STUFFER" now to get busy making several of them, from the heart <3 .

So, you & Mr E might be moving in 2015 would this be for his job? I know, you want to move to the states, he he he, it'll be where ever your hearts take yous.

Chris - USA

e said...

Thank you for sharing such lovely inspiration. Can't wait to print and get started :)

Bev C said...

Hello Jenny,

Thanks so much for the card, a wonderful idea for stitching friends.

Happy days.
Bev.

Createology said...

Very clever of you to include this little needle card within your Christmas cards for special freinds. Thank you sew much for sharing. I agree with the Birthday, Mother's Day and any other occasion for giving. Creative Needle Bliss...

Allie said...

Too too sweet, dear one, you are amazing!

Kaylee said...

Thank you Jenny, the Stitcher's Friend labels are gorgeous. I love the red you have used in the needle book Linen Rose Set, is it just red felt or something else ?

Thoeria said...

That's such a clever and thoughtful gift Jenny! Thanks!
That's a LOT of moving! And I thought we were bad moving 5 times in 10 years!! We may also be moving in 2015....we've been house hunting but have yet to find *the* house :)

Teresa said...

Love this. Thanks Jenny! Very thoughtful little gift xx

KimM said...

How creative and clever! Thank you for sharing!
hugs
xxx

Cattinka said...

Thank you for the free download, that is defenitely something I want to make for my friends.
KATRIN W.

Kathleen said...

I wish I had a bunch of stitchy friends to make those cards for. I don't have friends who love to sew like I do. Not even relatives. Kinda sad when I think about it. But your card is adorable!

Baa. xxx said...

Those needle books will be wonderful to add to presents for some quilty friends. Great idea - love it.