Buzzings from a quilter who bumbles her way through life!

Friday, November 30, 2012

Adding Words to Your Project

Giveaway!
Did that get your attention? Words can be very powerful things. After all, a single word can make your day, break your heart, scare you half to death, or spur you on to do your best!
I'm going to be the hostess for a blog hop called In Your Words. (Thank you, Mdm. Samm for that great title and idea!) Yes, there will be a fantastic "grand"giveaway and many small ones!What a great start to the new year! To encourage you to join us, I'm going to show you just how easy it is to put words on your projects.

  I have always loved adding words to my quilts and wall hangings. I have entire fairy tales on some, recipes, songs, rhymes, and even Bible verses on others. 

You might be wondering, though, just how to add those words. There are many ways and I will show you a few easy ones here. You can do any of these quickly and have your project finished in time for the blog hop!
Embroidery:
You can choose to embroider your words either by hand or machine. I often hand embroider words on my quilt borders. I write them on with a mechanical pencil very lightly and then embroider over the pencil lines. You can print them out on your computer and use a light box to trace them onto your fabric. Both the sample above and below are done in simple embroidery, stem stitch.

Rubber Stamps and Acrylic Paint

The sample above was stamped using the simple foam stamps below. Quilting around each letter, which is NOT as difficult as it sounds, gives each letter a finished look.
These stamps were from Michael's and were sold as an inexpensive set. I bought them several years ago, so I'm not sure what is available now, but the fact that they are on a clear plastic backing is VERY helpful in placing the letters. 
I simply brush acrylic paint on the letter, stamp it on where I want it, and if there is a void I fill it in carefully with a small artist's paintbrush. (I don't try to realign it and restamp it, but you may be able to do that.) Here are the craft acrylics I use: (Heat setting them with an iron makes them permanent on your fabric.)
If your fabric is dark, paint first in white and then in your color. 

Acrylic Paint and Fabric Paint  

Here is a sample where I have painted the words on. Quilting around them later will make them pop and will "clean" up the lines. Simply use an artist's paintbrush. (Do not use the cheap type sold for kids. You will not be able to get a good point on them. Use one that is small and tapers to a nice point.) I use the paints above. You can also use fabric paints the same way, but they are usually transparent, so keep that in mind.
fabric paint
 Paint Pen

I love using a paint pen and then embroidering or quilting right at the outline of the letter. It looks almost appliqued, but is VERY easy to do. Here are the pens I use:
They come in Fine, Medium, and Thick points. I use the medium. I taught school and can just write with these as if they were chalk, but if you aren't that confident, trace off your words with chalk first. Drawing off a top, middle, and lower line for each letter is helpful in keeping them uniform. Again, heat setting will make this permanent.

Applique
 
The sample above was done in fabric applique. I use my freezer paper method, where I cut out my shapes, iron them to the FRONT of my fabric, cut out the fabric leaving my seam allowance, and then turn the edges to the back using a glue stick. You can go to my tutorials and see a picture by picture tutorial of this method. It makes it EASY!!
(The "on earth" is embroidered and quilted around.)  You can also choose to trace off your words to a fusible product and iron them on. You would then want to sew around the edge to make it truly permanent. 

Felt

The word above has been blanket stitched onto felt. These letters were purchased craft felt. I could only find it in yellow, so I used fabric dye and "painted" them orange. If possible, use the letters that are NOT adhesive. It is very difficult to sew through that adhesive! You could also cut out your own felt letters!

This should be enough to get you started! I will have even more methods, some very untraditional, next week! 
If you would like to join in the "In Your Words" blog hop, just send me an email here.  It is going to be FUN and easy. You have no pattern to buy, no specific fabric, and you can do anything you want with fabric as long as you include at least one word. It will start January 7. I'll be taking names this week until we fill up, so be sure and send me your name, email address, and blog address. ( If you don't have a blog, we have a blog just for that, but there is only room for 15 of you, so let me know quickly!) 
Until next time....
Bee Blessed!   

24 comments:

  1. You make it look so easy! Might just have to jump in and join the fun :)

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  2. thankyou for sharing linda.xx

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  3. I would like in (but can't use the link to send you an email). Can you sign me up anyway? natilittlethings[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot[uk] Thanks!

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  4. What wonderful ideas, thank you so much.

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  5. Wow, awesome blog format! How lengthy have you been running
    a blog for? you made blogging glance easy. The whole glance of your site is excellent,
    let alone the content!
    my web site - http://www.youtube.com/

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  6. terrific ideas Linda....YES YOU ARE most certainly the perfect choice for our cheerleader...YES I am in lol

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  7. I'm in...I love words...thanks for being our cheerleader!

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  8. Thank you for hosting...as I told Madam Samm
    3 words....I AM IN!

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  9. I think I have tried all of those methods you listed at least once before and they are all great. I'm in and already sent you an email.

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  10. Thank you for the ideas on adding words! I'm pretty excited about this and can't wait to get started. Thanks for hostessing!

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  11. Great ideas and you will make another phenomenal cheerleader in Madame Samm's Cheerleader Hall of Fame! Can't wait to get started! :)

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  12. You are a great cheerleader! I learned alot reading this post. I hope to start my block this weekend! Thanks Linda!

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  13. Thanks for these ideas- had no idea what I would do!

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  14. Punjab Technical University CollegeDecember 1, 2012 at 1:05 PM

    Very nice blog. Well done. I want to subscribe to it. I am studying and learning a lot from your blog. Will you teach me?

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  15. I do not have enough confidence in my skills to play IN the blog hop, but I will be paying attention, for sure!!! Love what you showed here!

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  16. Oh Linda, These are great ideas! Thank you for sharing. This is going to be fun!

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  17. This sounds like a great no stress hop to start the new year. Your ideas for getting the words to fabric are wonderful.

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  18. I am interested in participating in your Blog Hop. I sent you an email with my information, but am not sure if it went through or not. Can you let me know if you got it, please?

    blessings, denise :D

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  19. Please sign me up to participate in the "In Your Words" Blog Hop!
    I tried to email you....but the link would'nt open. :(
    I currently do not have a blog...one ofo my goals for 2013.
    Light bulb!
    I shall 'give' myself a blog for Christmas! :) And have it in place in time for the hop!
    Oh now I am excited.
    Please sign me up...obviously I will be new to all of this....
    Looking forward to more details...

    Thanks!

    sowingstitches [at] gmail [dot] com

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  20. I am Back!!! Hi Linda - I would like to sign up for the "In Your Words" hop. I think I just might have something to say and show - Taking small steps back into the sewing room for me. Please let me know if I am in and thanks. Judy C in NC at ShadeTreeQuilting.com

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  21. I love all this information - I learned lots today.

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