Note: With any of these methods you may need to keep your top layer larger while working your design if you plan to use embroidery hoops or other stitching aids.
Labeling Your ATC
All ATCs include information about the artist on the back of the card. A fabric ATC is no different. When preparing the back of my ATCs I'm currently using a white piece of drill weight fabric which I have stamped with a design that has lines I can write on. Then I take a standard biro pen and write my information straight on the fabric.
There are other methods you could use, such as stamps, sewn on paper or cardstock, fabric pens, or embroidery. Choose a method that suits you best.
The back of all of your ATCs should include:
- ATC Name
- Your Name
- Date of Completion
You could also choose to write:
- Issue Number (ie "2/3" or "2 of 3" if part of a series of similar designs)
- Your Website Address
- Your Country
Preparing Your Design For Finishing
Unless otherwise mentioned this method can be used to construct your ATC up to the point of finishing.
1. Iron one layer of standard interfacing to the back of the fabric that will form the front of your ATC. Note: I recommend you do not cut the fabric for the front of your ATC until you have completed your decoration.
2. Iron two layers of standard interfacing to the back of the fabric that will form the back of your ATC.
3. Decorate the front piece of your ATC as desired.
4. Stamp or write onto the back piece of your ATC.
5. Choose a finishing technique below:
Finishing Method #1: Zig Zag Finish
This is a very simple method to complete your ATC and it takes less than 5 minutes to do. If you want to adjust the zig zag on your machine, use a scrap piece of fabric to test first.
1. Take your completed front and back.
2. With right sides facing out, place your fabrics together and zig zag around the outside. I choose to do a close together applique style zig zag in black and then I take a black sharpie to colour over any stray areas.
You could also use a wide zig zag for a softer edge.
Finishing Method #2: Fabric Binding
This method is a little more involved, but easy once you get the hang of it. If you're a quilter, you'll already know how to do this. It is the same method used when you bind a quilt, but on a smaller scale. The result is a solid fabric colour around the entire ATC like a 1/8" border.
1. Take your completed front and back.
2. Cut a strip of fabric that is 1.5" wide and 15" long (preferably thin cotton, cotton faille - thick fabric will be difficult to work with)
3. Fold the strip of fabric in half and press. You will be left with a strip of fabric that is 3/4" wide.
4. With the raw edge of the binding strip lined up with the raw edge of your ATC start sewing at about the centre of one side. Sew about 1/8" in from the edge.
5. When you come to the corner stop sewing about 1/8" from the end and remove the piece from the machine.
6. Fold the binding up (pic to come), then down (pic to come), then continue sewing along the next side (pic to come)
7. Keep sewing around each side. When you approach your starting point stop with about 1" to go.
8. Trim any excess and tuck your overlap into the starting piece, then continue sewing (pic to come)
9. Take your piece out of the machine. I like to hand sew the binding to the back. Start in the centre again, and hand sew around all 4 edges.
You can get some more tips on fabric binding from Old Red Barn's Quilt Binding Tutorial
(pic to come)
Finishing Method #3: Rolled Hem
Coming Soon...
I hope to add more techniques in the future. Check back!!