POSTCARD TUTORIAL PART TWO

FINISHING THE POSTCARD - MY WAY

Here then is how I finish the EDGES of my Postcards. You will think I am a fussy old bird, but this is how I do every single one, I do like them to look nice and acceptable. Again, if you 'click' on the pictures you will get a better view of what I am talking about. I am sorry there are so many, I tried to get every step pictured as I went along. It made for a LOT of pictures.
ABOVE

Picture 1 - I am auditioning fabric for the back, plus there is a piece of Bondaweb and pelmet Vilene. Don't forget the wrong side of your fabrics, that could be just what you are looking for. I opted to use the lilac mix fabric for the back.

Picture 2 - Pressing the Bondaweb to the back of the picture.

Picture 3 - I have already pressed the pelmet Vilene, to the fabric I shall use for the address side, and am now trimming the edges.

BELOW...
Picture 4 - peeling off the Bondaweb's backing
Picture 5 - placing the pelmet covered Vilene onto the Bondawebbed front
Picture 6 - pressing well to stick it down.




Picture 7 - trimming off the excess Vilene, there is always a bit over the edges
Picture 8 - Ready to stitch edges
Picture 9 - auditioning thread for edge, I like this one it kind of matches the Dragonfly




Picture 10 - machine showing how it is set for first round of stitching,
Picture 11 - I use an open zigzag to go round first to set the edges
Picture 12 - All edges zigzagged but look, some stray ends always appear

Picture 13 - So I take my trusty curved scissors and snip them all away, it is now ready to have the closed zigzag stitching done, or satin stitch if you prefer

Picture 14 - Machine showing the settings I have altered for the satin stitching
Picture 15 - and off we go




Picture 16 - About an inch from the corner I start to 'turn' the card
Picture 17 - see what I mean, just swing it round so when you hit the corner
Picture 18 - You are at a 90degree angle, like a mitre if you see what I mean




Picture 19 - Now swing it round straight and continue stitching down the long edge
Picture 20 - Another corner coming up, start swinging that card

Picture 21 - To get the mitre edge again, it doesn't look as though your stitches have altered on the card, so don't go looking for a mitre, go all the way round but swinging it at all four corners.

Picture 22 - Hmm this hasn't come out very well, I wanted you to see that occasionally you get a little white showing through at the corners, or indeed sometimes along the long edges...what to do?

Picture 23 - Get your kids or in my case, my GD's felt tips and use a colour that matches your thread, colour over the white and no-one will ever know your stitching didn't cover the corners perfectly!! Neat trick huh! You will never have whitey corners again folks.

Picture 24 - OK its all nice and zigzagged round the edges, but this is where sometimes I feel it needs, just a little more. So I get my sparkly threads, and wind some onto a bobbin. Yep, a bobbin.

Picture 25 - I alter my TOP TENSION to a higher number, because I want the bobbin thread to run smooth, if I leave it at a normal tension it will pull tight. No good.

Picture 26 - I alter the width and length, I open them up, I do not want a satin stitch for this, it is just a decorative sparkle I am after.

Picture 27 - Again not a good picture, sorry, it is just showing you the OPEN zigzag I use to go round, ON THE BACKSIDE of the card, remember the BOBBIN has the thread you want to see on the front of the card so you have to work UP SIDE DOWN. You get used to it.

Picture 28 - You may be able to see this a bit better if you click on it, its showing the open stitch on back of card, sparkle thread is underneath don't forget.

Picture 29 - TADA..all finished ready to post.
Picture 30 - says it all.

I have really enjoyed doing this 'class' it did 'stretch' my imagination as to how to do the pictures for it. I have to tell you that I was taking the very LAST ONE, and hubby casually said,

"Why didn't you do a video on your camera and download that?"

You can fill in the blanks!!

Actually I didn't know my camera did that. You live and learn, well I will when I find out how to do it.
Any queries? Please do feel free ask me, as I tell my ladies at my group, that is what I am here for.