Daily Paper Prompt #32: Re-Purposed Papers
Sat, September 1, 2012 at 11:07AM Let's sit at our sewing machines and sew paper.
Cut out strips of paper of about the same length. No measuring needed - guesstimate about 1/2" x 5" inches. Just cut freehand. Imperfection, right? Cut about 10-12 strips of scrap patterned cardstock (aka scrapbook paper), stuff you've painted, paint swatches etc. This is a great way to use up papers you've {shall we say...} accumulated over the years. Hide papers you don't adore amid papers you adore, to use them up.
Align one strip under the sewing needle and put the needle in the down position. Slide the second strip under the first, about 1/3 overlap. Stitch through both.
this is the front, showing the papers loosely attached
this is the back, just one paper under the one before it
front, finished
back, finished
Then we cut the papers to be somewhat similar and sew back and forth with the machine. You can sew curves if you are an advanced paper sewer deluxe. Just move the paper back and forth slowly while the machine sews and you will get waves. Don't jerk the paper, just smooth movements.
Another option is to sew the papers to a strip of paper, a little easier for beginners. You might feel like you have more traction, less paper moving about. Follow the same process. Put a strip on the white paper, put the needle down, slide the next strip 1/3 under, stitch. If you go too far and forget to add the next paper, just stitch backwards, then add it on top instead of under. Feel free to add fabric, ribbons, anything, even a tea bag!
the back of the one where i sewed to a strip of white paper instead of leaving the strips of paper loose
Here are some similar projects with fabric: Square Scrap Fabric + Ribbon Buster and Leafy Scrap Fabric Buster
Learn How to Sew Stripe Paper where Hanna sews in the direction of the stripes, rather than across.
Find ALL of the prompts at this link: Daily Paper Prompts
Reader Comments (6)
So inventive of you -- you're vastly inspiring!
Love it Tammy! An even easier option for beginning sewers would be to iron all the fabric onto a thin layer of interfacing. ;-)
{Wendy} Yes, but this is paper, my dear, not fabric! Cheers! ~ Tammy
I loved doing this prompt :D Thank you!! http://stitchnmaille.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/septembers-first-prompt-32-re-purposing-paper/
Thanks for the mention, and for all these amazing images that you're sharing. Makes me wanna sew papers again, soon. There is so many awesome things you can do with your free time sometimes I forget fun little things like this. Just sewing, making your own papers/pages/art. Thanks for the reminder!
I enjoyed this prompt! http://livegrownourishcreate.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/sewing-on-paper/