Fabric Postcard Tutorial

Posted on September 5, 2015 by thequiltedcat

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!

Recently, I participated in an Instagram-based modern fabric postcard swap. Check out the great pictures under the hashtag #modernfabricpostcardswap!

Several people asked me how I made my cards so I thought a step-by-step tutorial would be helpful to post here on my blog with some pictures.

Fabric postcards are quick and easy to make and you can use leftover scraps from other projects. You can piece them traditionally, paper-piece them, or use applique. My one suggestion is to not embellish the cards with any 3-D type materials if your intent is to mail the card by itself. You don’t want the postal machines to get jammed up!

These cards are suitable to mail by themselves. You don’t need to put them in an envelope, and you only need 1 first-class stamp for domestic postage. If you are mailing them internationally, you’ll probably need a little more postage.

Here are the 3 postcards that I made for the swap:

Modern Fabric Postcards

Materials

(1) 4″ x 6″ piece of white cardstock (or white fabric)
(1) 4″ x 6″ piece of Heat n’ Bond lite (or any light weight, double-sided fusible)
(1) 4″ x 6″ piece of Timtex interfacing (or any firm, one-sided fusible)
(1) 4″ x 6″ fabric top (any technique)

Fabric Postcard Materials

How to Make the Fabric Postcard

Step 1: Piece the fabric top of your postcard using any technique – improvised piecing, paper-piecing, applique. No pattern needed just use your imagination! I often start with a focus fabric and then build from there.

Step 2: Press your fabric top to the Timtex interfacing. I use a towel to protect my ironing board from any adhesive.

Iron fabric top to Timtex

Step 3: Quilt the fabric top to the interfacing to give it structure and stability. You can straight-line stitch or practice your free-motion quilting. It’s up to you!

Quilt the postcard top

Step 4: On the white cardstock or white fabric, write the word “POSTCARD” across the top portion on one side. Add a divider line and address lines. If you use white cardstock, then any archival thin-tipped marker works well. I use a Micron pen. If you use white fabric, practice on a scrap first because you may need a special fabric marker.

Step 5: Press the Heat n’ Bond lite (double-sided fusible) to the backside of the white cardstock or white fabric.

Iron double-sided fusible to backside of cardstock

Step 6: Peel off the paper from the remaining side of the Heat n’ Bond lite.

Step 7: Stack the quilted postcard top onto the cardstock so that the remaining fusible side faces the back of the Timtex interfacing. You are essentially making a “postcard sandwich” much like layering a quilt. Press.

Center the postcard top to the bottom and then press.

Step 8: Stitch around all outside edges of the postcard to seal it. You can use a zigzag stitch or a satin stitch. I like to use a zigzag and go around the whole card two times.

Zigzag stitch on all edges!

Step 9: On the backside, you can write your note and the lucky recipient’s address. Add a sticker-style stamp, and drop it in the post box!

Finished Fabric Postcard

Admire your finished fabric postcard!

Ready for your note, address, and stamp!

I hope you found this tutorial helpful! Fabric postcards are fun and addictive to make, and you’ll be an expert in no time!

Happy stitching!

~Jennifer

Doggie Poo Bag Holder Tutorial

Posted on June 2, 2014 by thequiltedcat

This weekend while walking our dog, we discovered that our usual doggie poo poo bag holder was missing. In the past, I’ve tried the plastic ones that you can buy at the store, but they always break or I can’t get them open in certain weather conditions.

I decided to stitch up a little bag this weekend. It is the perfect size for a holding a roll of doggie poo bags plus some treats.

I used a cute dachshund dog print fabric for the main bag body and an Essex Yard Dyed Linen in Black for the trim. I used black 1/4″ cording that I had on hand and green Aurifil thread for a fun pop of color.

Here is what you’ll need:
(1) 9 x 6 inch piece of print fabric
(1) 9 x 3 inch piece of trim fabric
(1) 21-inch length of cording
Thread
Basic sewing supplies

Doggie Poo Bag Holder Supplies

Assembly instructions:
1. Sew the trim to the print, right sides together, along the top edge. Sew with 1/4″ seam allowance.
2. Press the seam towards the trim.
3. Add button holes or other sturdy stitching on the lower portion of the trim, about 1/2-inch away from the raw edge. Cut the button hole slot opening with scissors.

Trim Stitched Down to Print Fabric

4. Fold the unit in half, right sides together, and stitch around 3 sides but leave the top edge open for turning inside out.
5. Keep the unit wrong sides out, but fold the trim down to the previous seam line to form the casing. Sew along the casing edge.
6. Turn the bag inside out so that the right side is facing out.
7. Press.
8. Insert the cording through the holes in the casing.
9. Optional. Tie the cord ends together after securing the doggie poo bag to a leash, backpack, or belt.
10. Add in your doggie poo bag roll and treats and take your pooch for a walk!

Doggie Poo Bag and Treat Holder

I use a carabiner type clip to attach my doggie poo bag holder to the leash handle. The doggie poo bag holder is removable so I can later tie it to a backpack or belt, if needed.

Doggie Poo Bag Holder Attached to Leash

Ta da! You now have a fun little holder to carry a not-so-fun roll of doggie poo bags.

Enjoy,
~Jennifer

Easy Charm Square Halloween Table Runner Tutorial

Posted on October 16, 2013 by thequiltedcat

With Halloween just a couple weeks away, I thought my living room table needed a little festive decor! I decided to stitch up a quick and easy table runner using a charm pack.

Here’s a look at the completed runner:

Easy Charm Pack Halloween Table Runner

I’ve created a tutorial if you want to make one of these fun Halloween table runners for yourself. I made my table runner single-sided, but you could easily make it double-sided and extend its use into the Thanksgiving holiday by picking out a second autumn-themed charm pack.

Supplies Needed
1 charm pack or 27 5-inch squares (Boo Crew by Sweetwater for Moda is used in my runner)
1/2 yard backing fabric (or make a double-sided runner)
1/2 yard batting
1/4 yard binding, black
black thread
ruler, rotary cutter, mat, pins, and marking pencil

Halloween Charm Pack and Fabric!

Tutorial
Note: Use a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

1. Lay out your charm squares into 3 rows of 9 squares each. Move the charm squares around until you find a color arrangement that you like. Note: If you have a cat “assistant,” you may find your squares re-arranged! See figure 1.

3 Rows with 9 Charm Squares Each

2.Sew 9 charm squares into a row. Press seams open. Repeat for the other rows.

3. Sew the first row to the second row, taking care to match seams. Press seams open.

4. Sew the third row to the completed unit from step 3, taking care to match seams. Press seams open.

5. Cut each right and left end square on both the top and bottom rows so that the squares become triangles. Tip: Use your ruler and marking pencil to draw a diagonal line before cutting the triangles. See figure 2.

Cut End Squares into Triangles

6. Press the quilt top. The quilt top should resemble figure 3.

Halloween Runner Quilt Top

7. Prepare quilt top for quilting by layering backing, batting, and quilt top. Baste with pins.

8. Quilt as desired. I quilted my runner using my domestic sewing machine by using my 1/4-inch foot and sewing square shapes in each charm square.

9. Prepare binding. I like to use 2-1/4″ binding strips and then press them in half.

10. Sew on binding strips. Press. Hand-stitch binding to the backing.

11. Remember to add a quilt label!

12. Optional: Add embellishments such as hot-fix crystals or Halloween themed buttons.

I think this little table runner really adds a festive touch to my coffee table. I added a pumpkin shaped bowl and filled it with chocolate candies. Mysteriously, those little candies seem to disappear quickly in my house!