Stamp and Stitch
January 8th, 2007 by Jen LoveI love to combine crafts when I can. This idea has worked best for me to create embroidery patterns using my rubber stamps. Here I made a travel pillow for my son’s first birthday with a cowboy theme.
1. Use washable ink and press the rubber stamp firmly to make sure it shows up dark on the fabric. It needs to be dark because through the process, and because your hoop and hands will rub it, your pattern may disappear before you can finish embroidering it. (hence why my cowboy’s gloves are a little unclear) Also, I wouldn’t choose a stamp that was really tiny or detailed. The good side of using washable ink is that it will fade by the time you are done or you can wipe it off with a damp cloth. I like using this method because I can also alter the pattern, like I chose not the stitch the cowboys’ mustache.
2. Cut the fabric in the shape/size that you want if making a pillowcase, center the design and stamp. Then embroider the pattern Before sewing the pillowcase together.
3. I left the ends of my pillow case open so it could be removed and washed. The cowboy print side is flannel and the brown side that I embroidered on was a light-weight, suede-like material. This is the first time that I used fringe trim but it will not be the last! I thought it was so easy and cute and I have been looking around the house for what else I can sew it on to with the extra I had leftover.
4. The actual pillow I made using cheap white fabric and good old poly-fil, since I could not find the shape I wanted at the store. In total the whole project cost me less than $4.
Using rubber stamps for your embroidery pattern is also great because you can make things to match. For his party, for example, I made the pillow, cowboy birthday thank you cards, and gift bags for the other children.
This method has opened up tons of options for me since I often want to embroider but don’t trust myself to draw the pattern and don’t often like what there is for iron-ons (and I have hundreds of stamps).
January 8th, 2007 at 7:07 am
What a great idea! I have so many rubber stamps and I will have to try this
January 8th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Jen i love the pillow. I got to see it in real life. I know Judah loves having such a creative mom. I have so much fun thinking up new ideas with you! Thanks for the idea. I want to try it out.
January 8th, 2007 at 9:01 am
What a great idea!
January 8th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Brilliant! And it turned out great.
January 9th, 2007 at 6:56 am
You are such a genius! I will never look at rubber stamps the same way again. . . .
January 9th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I just inherited an enourmous amount of rubber stamps from my Mom, I now have a great creative way to use them!! Love the cowboy theme. Brilliant!!!
January 9th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Awesome, Jen!!! You make a mom very proud!!! Love you!
December 15th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
This is just fantastic. Thanks for taking the time to share such an inventive project. :0) Mel
February 4th, 2008 at 9:06 am
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