This class is an optional paid part of the Jingle Ball. You will need an entrance ticket to the Jingle Ball as well as a class ticket to attend. Jingle Ball tickets and class tickets go on sale on October 16th. Class previews are so you can see what classes will be available for you to purchase on that date.
All classes will be recorded so that paid students may access them for up to 30 days after the Ball concludes.
- CLASS: Christmas Postcards with Shakespeare's Peddler
- TIME: See this class on our official schedule here, or in your time zone here
- COST: $35 PDF / $95 KITTED
- AVAILABLE: PDF worldwide or U.S. Only kitted
- TICKET TYPES: PDF Only or Kitted
- DURATION: 1.5 hours
Students will learn a flat-finish technique to make a stack of Christmas postcards for decorating, along with a little strip of postcard stamps as an embellishment. I’ve used this flat finish technique to finish many projects, and so it can easily be used or adapted for other small projects.
The class has been designed to baby-step participants into the process, so that after completing a relatively risk-free postcard using just quilting fabric (and no stitching!), they can use that new skill to finish two more cards with a stitched postcard back and a postcard front. These will form a stack of three, with the “My Best to You” postcard front on top, a quilting fabric-only middle layer, and a bottom layer that shows the back of another postcard. A sweet little perforated PVC set of stamps can be tucked under some twine or ribbon on top, to complete the stack.
Please note: the stitching techniques used for the charts are full cross stitch and some padded satin stitches for the spools. These spools can also just be cross stitched. There is no over-one stitching, no backstitching, and no other specialty stitching for these projects.
Class kit price is $95.00 and includes:
* Exclusive full-color charts and instructions for postcard front, back, and stamp strip
* Class video instruction
* 1/8th yard 36-count Natural Edinburgh linen by Zweigart
* (12) hand-dyed cotton flosses by Classic Colorworks and Weeks Dye Works
* (6) heavy-duty 5 X 7 inch chipboard pieces
* Two Bohin French needles (size 26 and size 28)
* 18-count perforated PVC
* USPS shipping to US addresses only
Students will need to provide:
* Quilting fabrics of your choice
* Thin quilt batting (natural cotton is suggested)
* Sharp sewing needle
* Polyester or poly-blend sewing thread in natural brown color
* Glue gun and glue sticks
* Fabric and paper scissors
* Fabric iron
* Thimble (suggested)
* Washi tape or scrapbook paper and a glue stick (to cover the back of the stamps strip)
* Ribbon, twine, or trim to tie the bundle together (I’ve used brown twine, which can be found at craft stores)
Class price without the kit (PDF only): $35.00
— Please note: chart PDF included with this option will list a DMC conversion, so students can stitch with either DMC or the over-dyed threads. It is suggested you stitch on 36 count linen, over-two, or 18-count Aida, but you will have enough instructions to be able to complete this on a different size (either smaller or larger!) Because this design uses basic holiday colors, you can also brighten up the palette, or muddy it up, to your liking. While the class kit comes with pre-cut 5 by 7 inch chipboard pieces, you can substitute several layers of regular chipboard, or even cut-to-size cracker or cereal boxes.
Postcard one has the stitched postcard front with a quilting fabric backing.
Postcard two has quilting fabric on both sides.
Postcard three has quilting on one side and the stitched postcard “back” on one side.
You will end up with THREE flat finishes. When you stack them, postcard one goes on top. Postcard two goes in the middle. Postcard three goes on the bottom with the stitching facing down. This way, when you pick up the tied-together stack of them, you are seeing stitching on the top and bottom. This way, you aren’t stitching them and then hiding the stitching in the pile. I finished mine as three postcards, because I was also going to want to photograph both stitched pieces together, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that if it was a double-sided postcard finish.
Students may decide to stitch the front AND back and finish them on either side of one postcard. But the class will be taught using just quilting fabric, so that you learn the technique before putting your stitching on the line.
Class prep:
Because we are starting with the middle layer that is ONLY quilting fabric, you actually would not need to have your stitching completed! You can learn the technique with just your middle layer, then more carefully finish your top and bottom layers, which include your stitching. I will be showing how to finish off the stamps strips as the last part of class, and since that is fairly easy, you could have that finished in time to do that along with me.
