How to Embroider Fabric Postcards for the Holidays

Embroidery dresses up a fabric postcard for the holidays.

Holiday postcards are a treat to receive but embroidered fabric postcards are even more special. When you send an embroidered fabric postcard, you send a holiday greeting that will surely become a treasured keepsake. The United States Postal Service sends embroidered fabric postcards through the mail system just like card stock post cards. Be sure to keep the fabric postcards 4x6 inches or smaller and keep the corners squared rather than rounded.

Things You'll Need

• 4x6-inch fabric for front
• 4x6-inch light/neutral solid color fabric for back
• 4x6-inch heavy weight interfacing, such as Peltex or Timtex
• 2 pieces of 4x6-inch fusible webbing with peel off backing, such as Wonder Under
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Selected embroidery design
• Selected embroidery flosses
• Selected embroidery needles
• Embroidery hoop (optional)
• Fine tip permanent marker or ballpoint ink pen

Instructions

Prepare The Fabrics

1. Iron one 4x6-inch piece of fusible webbing according to manufacturer's instructions to one side of the heavy interfacing.

2. Iron one 4x6-inch piece of fusible webbing according to manufacturer's instructions to the wrong side of the backing fabric.

3. Transfer the selected embroidery design to the right side of the top 4x6-inch fabric.

Put It All Together

1. 

   Skeins of embroidery thread come in various colors and can create stunning holiday postcards.

   Embroider the selected design on the top fabric piece using the embroidery needle and selected flosses.

2. Iron the heavy interfacing to the wrong side of the top fabric according to the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Iron the back fabric to the other side of the heavy interfacing to create the embroidered postcard.

4. 

   This zig-zag stitch is one way you can finish the edges of your embroidered fabric postcard.

   Finish the edges of the embroidered postcard with an embroidered blanket or zig-zag stitch. The blanket stitch is commonly used as a decorative finish on fleece blankets but will close out the edges of your fabric postcard nicely. The zig-zag stitch, when performed by hand, is a line of stitches in which each pair resembles a "V" shape.

Sending Your Embroidered Fabric Postcards

1. Write your holiday message or greetings, your return address, and the address of the person to whom the postcard should be delivered on the backside of the card. Refer to USPS postcard guidelines to know where you should write and which areas must be left vacant on the card.

2. Deliver your holiday embroidered postcards to your local post office and inquire about the postage rate. The fabric postcards should easily keep the self-adhesive postage stamps in place.

3. Adhere the correct amount of postage to your embroidered fabric postcards and drop them in the mail.

Tips & Warnings

• These hand embroidery instructions are easily adapted to machine embroidery projects.

• Use cotton fabric for the backing because it is easier to write on than other kinds.

• Unless the embroidery design you choose is very heavy, you will probably not need to use an embroidery hoop for this project.

• Always be careful when working with scissors and other sharp craft items.

• Be certain to keep your fabric postcard corners straight rather than rounded.

References

• Debi Richardson: How to Make a Fabric Postcard DebR Style
• Killer Bee Desighs:General Fabric Postcard Instructions
• Overnight Prints: USPS Regulations

Resources

• Embroidery Designs Guide: Hand Embroidery Guide Essentials Guide