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Stitched Up

A Compilation of Stitched Mixed-Media Projects from North Light Books

Stitched Up. Copyright 2010 by North

Light Books. All rights reserved. No part
of this book may be reproduced in any
form or by any electronic or mechanical
means including information storage
and retrieval systems without permission
in writing from the publisher, except by a
reviewer who may quote brief passages in
a review. Published by North Light Books,
an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East
Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236.
(800) 289-0963.
The projects in this book are copyright
by the authors of those books:
Anatomy of a Flower Kimberly Santiago, Collage Playground (North Light
Books, 2010)
Jewlery Gift Folder Kelly Snelling and
Ruth Rae, A Charming Exchange (North
Light Books, 2008)
Hanging Out Giuseppina Cirincione,
Bent, Bound & Stitched (North Light Books,
2008)
Resolutions Wall Quilt Jennifer Swift,
Creative Bloom (North Light Books, 2010)

Metric Conversion Chart

Concertina Book Ruth Rae, Layered,

Tattered & Stitched (North Light Books,
2009)
Starry Eyed Giuseppina Cirincione,
Collage Lost & Found (North Light Books,
2010)

To convert
Inches
Centimeters
Feet
Centimeters
Yards
Meters

to
Centimeters
Inches
Centimeters
Feet
Meters
Yards

multiply by
2.54
0.4
30.5
0.03
0.9
1.1

www.fwmedia.com

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Table of Contents

Anatomy of a Flower

Jewelry Gift Folder

Hanging Out

Resolutions Wall Quilt

13

Concertina Book

16

Starry-Eyed

20

Resources

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Introduction
Theres something so appealing about bringing two surfaces
together with thread. At the onset, two cut pieces of fabric or
paper lie quietly independent, functioning just fine on their
own, yet you know theyd be even happier joined together.
And so needle and thread push and pull their way up and
down through the previously separate pieces and just like
that, they are joined as one. But the beauty lies beyond
their newly developed physical bond. Needle and thread
have created the beauty of a line. A line that can tell a story,
suggest a feeling, create nearly limitless texture suggestions.
As artists, we love the beauty of the line itself so much, that we
sometimes even fake the look with pen on paper, or actual
thread stitches that dont really hold two layers together.
Six stitched projects from top-selling North Light titles have
been handpicked for you here and I know youre going to
appreciate all of them for their tactile nature and incorporation of lovely sewn lines. Whether its on paper or fabric; sewn
with the help of a machine or with your own hand, these
mixed-media projects are all easy enough to complete in an
afternoon, yet pretty enough to display proudly in your home
or give as a special gift to a friend. Enjoy each stitch.

~Tonia Davenport
Acquisitions Editor,
North Light Craft

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Anatomy of a Flower
M at e r i a l s
flower image
vellum
color copier
copy paper
scissors
Double Tack Mounting Film
vintage paper, ledger sheet
with handwriting
pencil
lace fabric
sticker paper
metal ruler
craft knife
cutting mat
7" 7" (18cm 18cm) black
paper
sewing machine

From COLLAGE PLAYGROUND by Kimberly Santiago

From the author:

I wanted to use a combination of textures to emphasize the beauty of

flowers. Looking around, I had a piece of lace, handwritten script and a
graphic illustration of a flower. Bingo!
After you have completed this project, continue with other
approaches. What different materials can you merge together? Think
about opposites: sandpaper and silk, vellum and cardboard. Now
think about the subject of the art: Look at images that interest you and
colors that excite your senses.

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 ake a color copy of the flower image on a vellum

M
sheet. Make a black-and-white copy of the flower
image on white copy paper. Using the scissors, cut
out the black-and-white flower.

Using the scissors, cut out the flower shape following

the pencil outline.

 pply Double Tack Mounting Film to the front of the

A
vintage paper, leaving the backing on the double
tack. Lay the cut out flower over the piece of Double
Tack Mounting Film. Using the pencil, trace around
the flower.

F lip the vellum paper facedown (you should be

reading the image backward). Peel the backing
off the vintage paper flower shape and adhere to
the back of the vellum flower, allowing the words to
show through on the front of the flower.

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 eeping the flower facedown, apply a 6" 6" (15cm

K
15cm) piece of Double Tack Mounting Film to the
back.

Peel the backing from the sticker paper. Center the

image over the black-paper support and adhere it.

 ake a black-and-white copy of the lace on a

M
sheet of sticker paper. Peel the backing from the
flower-vellum piece and adhere to the front side of
the lace sticker paper. Using the ruler and craft knife,
cut the lace paper to the size of the vellum paper.

Using the sewing machine, stitch a basic stitch

around the outer edges.

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Jewelry Gift Folder

M at e r i a l s
scissors
sewing machine
rubber stamps
felt
quilting thread
cheesecloth
tulle
book text
muslin or other fabric scrap
vinyl
ribbon scraps
StazOn ink pads

From A CHARMING EXCHANGE by Ruth Rae and Kelly Snelling

About the author:

Ruth is not only an exciting jewelry artist but also a talented fabric artist. For
her, presentation is an essential component of the creative process. A winning
example of this is her jewelry presentation folder. She always creates a lovely
textile home for each piece of jewelry that she gives as a gift.
Ruth loves to get lost in the small details of her fabric pieces. She adds layer
upon layer of jewels and treasures within netting, dyed cheesecloth, vintage lace
and felt. She joyfully enshrouds them, creating little secrets for the lucky recipient
to discover.
She swears these are a snap to make, even for someone who turns thread
into knots just glancing at a sewing machine. The fun part is that you can add as
much or as little to them as you like in the way of details and embellishments. This
wrap not only heightens the beauty of the gift but becomes a part of the gift as
well. Just imagine the expressions of happiness on your friends faces when you
present them with gifts that are so exquisitely wrapped.

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 ut a piece of felt to 9" 9"

C
(23cm 23cm). Fold it in half to
crease it, then unfold. Using a
sewing machine threaded with
quilting thread, sew a straight
stitch around the perimeter of
the piece and along both sides
of the fold. Then sew a free-form
zigzag stitch across the width of
both halves.

F rom this point it is a layering

process, and its really up to you
how you want to embellish your
folder. (Here, I have made a
stack of several layered things.)
Sew all the layers together at
once. Sew around the small
pocket piece, leaving one side
open to fill with a small amount
of batting.

 ou can repeat a similar process for the inside of

Y
the cover. I sewed a layer of vinyl over my layers. To
create a place for the jewelry, sew a scrap of fabric
(such as muslin) to the back, layered over two small
strips of ribbon on either end.

 hen youre done sewing the

W
layers together, sew the piece
to the front of the folder.

Lastly, tie the jewelry onto the ribbons to finish.

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Hanging Out
M at e r i a l s
20-gauge annealed wire
scrapbook papers: Striped
Ledger Paper (Foofala),
Rulers (Design Originals),
Whats Cookin (Design
Originals), Train Schedule
(Rusty Pickle)
cardstock
vintage photocopy
Palette inkpads: Burnt Umber
(Stewart Superior), Ballet
Blue (Stewart Superior)
cosmetic sponge
double-sided tape
glue stick
hook and eye tape
cotter pins
sequin waste
sewing machine
pliers pack

From BENT, BOUND & STITCHED by Giuseppina Cirincione

From the author:

While walking down the aisle at the hardware store, I spied a drawer labeled
cotter pins. Of course, the first thing that came to my mind was the theme song,
Welcome back. The dreams are yours, take them back . . .
I had to stop and look. Here, simple hardware store cotter pins take on a new
life as clothespins and hangers to suspend featured elements. In a similar fashion,
hook and eye tape (hook only) takes on a life of Shaker-peg molding. Use leftover
sequin scrim to stencil different circles and colors on your paper.

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 ut a piece of the Train Schedule paper to serve as

C
the upper portion of the background and glue it to
a trimmed piece of cardstock. Cut a piece of the
striped ledger paper for the larger, lower portion of
the background and glue it to the cardstock as well.
Cut a length of the hook portion of the tape, slightly
longer than the width of the card, and adhere it at
the paper seam, using double-sided tape.

 ount your photo onto a piece of cardstock, then

M
add a strip of the Train Schedule paper and a strip
of ruler from the Rulers paper to the bottom of the
photo. Trim the excess, then sew some lines around
the photo piece, using a sewing machine.

10

 ew a series of vertical lines down the piece. Sew a

S
line around the sides and bottom, and then attach
a second piece of cardstock by sewing along the
top.

 ut a piece pf sequin waste to use as a stencil, and

C
pounce Ballet Blue ink onto sections of the card.
Sometimes its fun to use more than one size.

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 se a sponge to dab Burnt Umber onto the edges

U
of the card. Cut out a few spice jars and bottles
from the Whats Cookin paper and adhere them at
the top edge of the tape.

Bend the wire to create a basic hanger shape.

11

T o create a cute clothes hanger, cut about 12 (30

cm) of wire and straighten it out as best you can.
Wrap one end around a pen to create the hook.

T hen wrap the end around the base of the hook

about three times and trim the excess. Attach two
cotter pins to the hanger.

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 lide the photo piece into the cotter pins, and then,
S
add some glue to the back of the photo to reinforce
the hold. Let the glue dry.

10

Hang the hanger on the hook tape to finish

Cotter pins are a great way to display a single image or a series.

I also like using them to display letter tiles.

12

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Resolutions Wall Quilt

M at e r i a l s
adhesive-backed hook-andloop tape
16-gauge dark annealed
steel wire
embroidery floss
fabric scraps
fusible interfacing
glue stick
inkjet printable
paper-backed fabric
quilt backing fabric
quilt batting
quilt top fabric
Ranger Distress Ink
14" (35.5cm) tree branch
wire clothes hanger
wire word made from
19-gauge craft wire: growth
ink applicator

From CREATIVE BLOOM by Jennifer Swift

inkjet printer

From the author:

iron

In the last couple years Ive discovered what an impact goals could
make in my life. It makes a difference to set short-, medium- and
long-term goals. It feels good to achieve my short-term goals and make
significant steps toward my long-term goals as well. Now I love to write
down my goals.
This is a good project to try if youre ready to set and achieve
some goals. Its also an ideal way to become familiar with art-quilting
techniques. If trying something new is one of your goals, creating this
project will allow you to cross it off your list. Talk about motivation!

13

ironing board
needle-nose pliers
scissors
sewing needle
spray bottle with water
wire cutters

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L ayer a 18" 25" (47cm 63.5cm) piece of quilt

top fabric over a 17" 24" (44.5cm 61cm)
piece of quilt batting and stitch them together with
embroidery floss and a running stitch.

Position the title text over a slightly larger strip of

fabric and use a glue stick to tack the text in place.
Using embroidery floss, stitch the title to the quilt top
with a running stitch. Take out your previously made
wire word,growth. Cut a piece of fabric slightly
larger than the word and stitch it at the top of the
quilt top. Stitch the wire word over it.

14

 sing an inkjet printer, print a list of resolutions and

U
a title onto paper-backed fabric. Cut the resolutions and title text apart with scissors. With an ink
applicator, rub Distress Ink onto the edges of the
text pieces. Spritz water onto the inked areas to give
the text pieces a distressed look. Remove the paper
backing.

 ith a glue stick, adhere the resolution text to

W
slightly larger fabric strips, creating panels. Add
decorative stitching around the edges of these
panels with embroidery floss.

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F or each text panel, cut a

slightly smaller piece of fusible
interfacing. Cut a piece of
backing fabric the same size
as each panel. Following the
manufacturers instructions,
iron the fusible interfacing to
the back of each text panel.
Remove the paper backing.
Place the backing fabric, right
side up, on top of the panel.
Iron them together to form one
strip.

 ut 1"2" (4cm5cm) strips

C
of adhesive-backed hookand-loop tape. Peel the paper
backing from 1 side and press it
to the back of each resolution.
Position 1 piece at each end of
the panel. Stick the other side
of each piece to its corresponding place on the quilt top.

 ut 2 " 23" (1.5cm 58.5cm) fabric strips to

C
create ties to hang the quilt. Fold each strip in half
and stitch the fold securely to the quilt top. Stitch
between the layers of fabric to conceal the fold.

15

 lace 2 19" 26" (49.5cm

P
66cm) pieces of quilt backing
fabric on top of each other,
wrong sides together. Center
the quilt top on top of the
backing fabrics. Using embroidery floss and a needle, stitch
the layers together.

 rap 16-gauge wire around a 14" (35.5cm) tree

W
branch and a wire clothes hanger to create 1
piece. Use the fabric ties at the top of the quilt to
attach it to the hanger.

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Concertina Book
M at e r i a l s
acrylic paint Golden iridescent
bronze)
brush (foam)
embellishments (assorted)
eyelets (sixreen 1/4" [6 mm])
and setter
fabric: craft or woolfelt in
complimentary colors, muslin,
other scraps as desired
fabric glue stick
fiberfill
four 4 x 6 (10 cm x 15 cm)
pieces heavy cardstock, thin
cardboard or Grungeboard
freezer paper or prefabricated
fabric sheets for printer
images of your choice
fabric ink (dark brown)
iron and ironing board
(optional)
paper towels
quilting machine needle, size
14/90

From LAYERED, TATTERED & STITCHED by Ruth Rae

From the author:

quilting machine thread

This delightful book can become just about anything you want it to be. It has
a simplistic form that can be altered effortlessly in a multitude of ways suited
to just about any need or theme.
Family photos or photos from your garden or of a family pet can be
printed onto specially treated fabric. Just think of the joy you could bestow
on new parents or grandparents with photos of their little ones compiled into
a book made just for them!
Because of the nature of the folds in the book, there is no need to worry
about the thickness of your pages. Just let your imagination run wild and
create your own masterpiece.

16

rubber stamp (text)

sewing machine
trim: lace

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 pply gold acrylic paint with a foam brush to both

A
sides of all 4 pieces of board. Work in small sections
at a time.

Stamp onto th dried boards with a text stamp.

17

 ith a paper towel, quickly rub the paint off before

W
it dries or seeps into the board too much. Do this for
all 4 boards.

 et two " (6mm) eyelets into the corners on the

S
right side of the front cover board and 2 into the
corners on the left side of the back cover board.
Set the same eyelets into each of the 4 corners on
each remaining board. Make sure that the position
of the holes correspond on all of the boards.

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 reate 8 collages, 1 for each side of each board.

C
Assemble your first collage, laying out assorted
scraps of lace, felt, fabric and embellishments.

 ew the fourth side of the main image. To add a bit

S
of texture, I like to sew around all 4 sides a couple
more times.

18

 nce your collage is layered as you would like

O
it, machine-sew it together. Start with the layers
beneath the main image. Next, sew 3 sides of the
main image, then stuff the image a little with fiberfill.

Hand-sew final touches, such as adding decorative

stitches or buttons.

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 reate the collage that goes on the backside of

C
the page. If you are using a collage with small
pieces of text, first adhere them to the collage with
a fabric glue stick before stitching them into place.

11

10

 gain, start with the bottom layers, machineA

stitching them down. Next, secure all of the
words on the image piece. Finally, sew the
image piece to the layers piece, adding a bit
of fiberfill if you like. Sew 1 collage onto 1 piece
of board. Turn the piece over and sew the other
collage on the backside. Be careful to avoid
sewing through the eyelets.

 epeat for the remaining pieces of board,

R
creating a collage for each side. Tie the pages
together using strips torn from scraps of the
fabric you used in the collages. Stamp on some
pieces or notits up to you.

19

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Starry-Eyed
M at e r i a l s
background paper to stamp
on (ideally, something
perforated or that has been
punched for a
coil binding)
Distress inkpads (Tim
Holz-Ranger: Black Soot,
Tea Dye, Walnut Ink)
duster (stipple) brush
Courting rubber stamp
black inkpad (Versafine)
heat gun
cardstock
slide cutter (or craft knife,
ruler and cutting mat)
scoring attachment for
slide cutter
bone folder and ruler
black permanent marker
pencil
1/16" (2mm) anywhere
punch
From COLLAGE LOST & FOUND by Giuseppena Cirincione

hammer
cutting mat

From the author:

You dont have to use images cut from books or magazines to create
collage. Rubber-stamped images are a great alternative. I search for
images that are reminiscent of the period and style of photos and
ephemera I like to use.
One of my favorite stores, Stampotique Originals, uses actual
photos to create some of their rubber stamps. The image for this card
is straight out of 1950s Brooklyn. It reminds me of one of my favorite
movies, The Lords of Flatbush.a

20

Vintage Script rubber stamp

needle
colored thread of your choice
decorative punch
label maker
cellophane envelope (to mail
card)

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F irst choose a paper that you want to rubber-stamp

on. You dont always have to use plain, solid paper.
Here, I am using a piece from an old bridge score
pad that I found at an antique booth. Distress your
paper using distress inkpads and a duster or stipple
brush. I like to use a variety of colors together.

 fter the stamp is well-inked, press it onto your

A
paper. It is easier to stand up and put your weight
into it.

21

T o use a large rubber stamp, tap it over a raised

inkpad. I like to use black.

Swiftly lift up the stamp and voil!

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Heat-set the ink with a heat gun so you dont have

to wait for it to dry.

 core the card down the center using either the

S
slide cutter and the scoring attachment or a ruler
and a bone folder. Then fold the card and crease it
with the bone folder.

22

T rim cardstock for your card to a size that is

compatible with the envelope you will be using. I
like to use a slide cutter because its quick and easy.

 dge the card to give it some definition by going

E
around the outside with a black permanent marker.

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 cool way to attach the stamped image to the

A
front of the card is to sew it. For this card, Im going
to sew along the perforated edge of the paper. First,
mark where the punched holes are with a pencil.

11

 efore sewing on your

B
stamped image, you may
want to first distress the
card front using the duster
brush and distress inks. Use
script or other background
stamps to add interest to the
background of the card.

10

Punch out the holes using an anywhere punch

and a hammer, over a cutting mat. Here, I used
a 1/16" (2mm) punch.

12

 sing a needle and four

U
strands of thread (in a
contrasting color from the
paper), sew the stamped
image to the top of the
card through the prepunched holes.

23

13

Add tiny embellishments,

such as stars punched
from a sheet of cardstock.
An easy way to create your
own text is by using an
old-fashioned label maker.
Punch out your words, peel
and stick.
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To learn more about the artists or

purchase any of the books featured in this publication, please visit
the web addresses listed below:

Resources
COLLAGE
PLAYGROUND

CREATIVE BLOOM
by Jennifer Swift

by Kimberly Santiago

KIMBERLYS WEBSITE

JENS WEBSITE

KIMBERLYS BLOG

JENS ETSY SHOP

BUY IT

BUY IT

A CHARMING
EXCHANGE

LAYERED,
TATTERED &
STiTCHED

by Kelly Snelling
and Ruth Rae

by Ruth Rae

RUTHS BLOG

RUTHS WEBSITE

A CHARMING
EXCHANGE BLOG

RUTHS ETSY SHOP

KELLYS ETSY SHOP

RUTHS ETSY SHOP
BUY IT

BUY IT

BENT, BOUND
& STITCHED

COLLAGE LOST
& FOUND

by Giuseppina Cirincione

by Giuseppina Cirincione

JOSIES WEBSITE

JOSIES WEBSITE

BUY IT

BUY IT

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