Try stitching on cards! I’ll teach your kids four easy stitches that they can try out on paper for some sweet hand made notecards.
Materials for stitching on cards…
I think stitching on paper is such a simple way to start teaching your kids some easy stitches. The sturdiness of the paper makes the stitches easier to focus on, without the wrangling of soft, silky fabric. We used colorful notecards like these, but any card stock weight paper would work for this paper stitching!
These needles are my favorites for this type of beginning stitching. They’re big enough to thread easily but not to bulky to get through paper or fabric.
You’ll also need some thread. A thicker thread, like this colorful embroidery thread. Seriously, order a bunch of this stuff. We use it for making friendship bracelets, sewing, and more!
How to stitch on paper…
The best way to begin stitching on paper is to use a needle to punch a series of holes in the paper.
Map out where you want to stitch and draw a light pencil line where the stitches will be. Then punch a series of evenly spaced holes across those lines.
How to sew a running stitch….
The running stitch is the easiest and most simple stitch. It follows a simple under and over pattern, much like paper weaving.
Make sure to start with your thread coming up from the bottom of the paper. This way any knots or loose ends will be on the back of the paper. Continue on with the under and over pattern.
Want to see this stitch in action? Head to the bottom of the post for a video tutorial of the running stitch, the back stitch, the cross stitch, and the blanket stitch.
How to sew a back stitch….
I love the back stitch because it creates a solid line of stitching on your paper. The back stitch can outline any shape- letters, shapes, etc. in such a smooth way!
The back stitch should still start by coming up from the bottom. Go down through the next hole and up through the next. The first three steps are just like the running stitch.
Now that the thread and needle are on the top of the paper they go “back.” Go back and push the needle through the prior needle hole. Thread has already gone down through this hole. Continue the pattern of coming up through the paper and back down through the prior hole.
See the video lesson below to see these easy stitches in action!
How to create a cross stitch…
Start by drawing two pencil lines running parallel to each other. The cross stitches will run between these lines so space them accordingly.
Use your needle to punch sets of holes that match up between the top and bottom lines.
Start your thread on the bottom of the paper and come up through the first hole in the bottom row. Go down through the second hole in the top row. This will create a diagonal stitch. Come back up through the top row, first hole and finish that stitch by coming down through bottom row, second hole.
This sounds tricky but it’s not. Imagine your thread drawing an x onto the paper as you’re stitching.
If the written directions for these stitches are tricky head to the video toward the bottom of the post and we can learn these easy stitches together!
How to sew a blanket stitch on a card….
The blanket stitch is an easy stitch that follows along the edge of your paper. This is a stitch you might recognize from your favorite cozy blanket!
This stitch will be easiest to keep lined up correctly if the punched holes are somewhat near the edge of the card. Draw a line 1/4 to 1/2″ from the edge of the card.
Start on the bottom of card, some up through the first hole. Loop around the edge of the card to come up through the second hole. Before pulling the thread tight, loop through the first stitch. Continue on, every stitch coming from the bottom to the top and catching the stitch before.
Sounds tricky but it’s not. I promise. Check out the video below. I’ll walk you through these four easy stitches, whether you choose to practice them on paper or fabric!
Let me teach you these four easy stitches- hands on!
Follow along with the video above for a hands on demo of these stitching on cards examples.
I’ll teach you and your kiddos the running stitch, the back stitch, the cross stitch, and the blanket stitch. They’re in just that order in case you need to fast forward to a specific stitch!
