Welcome to the final installment of "In Stitches," where we're sharing the various ways Ella friends Brenda Johnston, Jennifer Larson, and I add stitching to our projects. Click on any of the images below for a larger view.
 

Faux Stitching

Faux stitching gives the look & appearance of real stitches. The simplest way to achieve this look is to simply draw the stitches in with a pen. Here are a few examples of how to achieve the sewn look without actually sewing:

Paper piercer + pen
This project features faux stitching around the edges. I simply drew the stitch lines around the perimeter of the cards, and then poked a hole in each end of each line. Instant stitches! (This technique also adds a subtle texture.)


 

Pen stitching
On these cards, Brenda did a variation on the straight ‘faux’ stitch. “Faux stitching is a great technique when you are short on time. Instead of the traditional straight stitch look, try adding a dot or two in-between each straight stitch. It adds a little something different and is eye-catching.

Quilter’s wheel & paint
This technique utilizes a tool from another hobby – a needlecrafter’s tracing wheel. Simply dip the wheel into a little acrylic paint and roll it onto the project. The wheel makes a neat, uniform line of dots. You can pierce them or not.




Other Tools:
As I mentioned previously, there are a lot of products that will help you add stitching to a project. Relatively new to the stitching scene is this tool from We Are Memory Keepers. It combines the pattern making ability of the stitch guides with the ease of the tracing wheel.


Don’t forget the multitude of stamps, rub ons, stickers and other faux stitched products out there. There is something for everyone!

With so many options for all skill levels, we hope we’ve inspired you to add some stitching to your projects, today!