Flat ornament finishing

HI all
Many stitchers have asked about my ornaments flat finishing. Here is a tutorial on how I make mine. Keep in mind I am not a professional.
This is a Lizzie Kate Halloween piece I finished in 2013 and couldn't decide what to do with.

 Supplies needed, including plenty of straight pins for keeping materials in place. Make sure you iron your backing fabric and stitched piece so there are no wrinkles. Have at least 2 inches of fabric, to work with, on each side of your stitched piece. This allows for folding over foam board and glueing together.

 My stitched area measures 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" . I cut 1 piece foam board 3 1/2"x 6 1/2". Cut another back piece 4 3/4"x 6 3/4". This means I added 1 1/4" to the foam board size for the for the back piece. And 1 inch to the top foam board for the stitched piece. Then glue one side, of each piece, with quilt batting for the padding. Allow to dry for 24 hours so the glue will not soak through to the fabric pieces.






With the batting side down glue the fabric to the larger piece of fabric. Use the white glue.


 Fold down, and glue the sides first. Then you can work on folding the bottom.
I use straight pins to hold  fabric in place. They make great "fingers".
 Once you have the corners neat and tidy, fold over, add more glue if you need to, and secure with pins


 Cut the trim for hanging the ornament. Measure to the center. Pin in place and glue.


 Use the smaller cut of foam board for the stitched piece.
 Pin onto the batting covered foam board
 Measure each side to get a centered pice.
 Insert straight pins, on the sides of the foam board, when your measurements are correct.

 Flip the piece to the back. Glue the sides first.

Secure with pins

 Flip to the front to see if you like how the piece looks. The glue is still wet and adjustments can be made.
 Add some white glue to keep the folded bottom in place.
 I didn't have quite enough fabric for gluing the bottom.
 Make sure the folds are straight and will not be seen from the front.



 In this case I had stitched this piece in 2013, before my flat ornament phase. As a result I did not have enough fabric to make a sharp edge on the top and bottom. Nice trims, and buttons will go a long way to conceal this. So don't be too worried if your first ornament is not exactly as you want it.
 I like to add my trims while the two pieces are still wet with glue.
 Use white glue and apply to the two pieces.


Glue the two pieces together.
I use clear glue for my trims. Can use it where I need it and dries clear.
Also keep the bottle upside down in a glass. Insures the "glue flow" when I need it. Nothing like standing there, hands full of a project and trying to shake the glue out of a bottle.
 Using metallic rick rack. Tuck the end of your trim under the stitched piece.
Edited to add that I now insert the rickrack trim at the top of the ornament as the bow will cover up the entry point of the trim.
 When working with rick rack I fold the trim over when I get to a corner, This lets the trim set down smoothly for a nice corner.

 Apply the trim under the fabric folds to have a smooth fit.

 Use pins, next to your trim, to hold it in place. 
 Use the clear glue and apply between the stitched piece and trim.
 Make adjustments, with the pins, to keep rick rack in place.
I use the pins as a guide for the second trim around the edges. Apply glue where needed.
 When I stitched this, a few years ago, I wasn't sure how this would be finished. As it stands I really did not have enough fabric, on the top and bottom, for a flat finish. Embellishments will help conceal my bad top and bottom. Always allow at least 1 1/2' to 2" on each side for ornament finishing.
Let set for about an hour to let the glue soak in. Carefully remove pins.  Cover with a clean cloth, or napkin, apply some sort of book/heavy object to apply weight to your ornament. Allow to dry 24 hours so everything stays in place. Do not hang you ornament until after the 24 hours. If the ribbon hanger is not dry it will slide out and trying to get another ribbon inserted will ruin any of the work you have in the piece.
Thread a sewing needle with matching thread for the ribbon for your bow. Gather your bow and use thread to secure the ribbon into a bow. Dip a stick pin in white glue and insert through the back of the pumpkin button and into the top of the bow. Dip the pin in glue again and inset in the foam board at the top of your ornament.Add embellishments. Not my best work because of a simple thing, like not leaving enough fabric on each side of my stitched piece, has made my bottom uneven. I know fabric is expensive. But not worth skimping out when your finish is not a proper one.

3 comments:

Christina G said...

Excellent instructions and thank you for publishing them! Hugs, Christina

gwendal said...

I've learned a lot by reading these instructions step by step . It's probably very difficult but your instructions are so clear that everything seems a breeze .
Michelle

Rosemary said...

Your finishes are so nice and thank you for this tutorial. Very easy to follow and concise!