Use free-hand machine embroidery to make unique Christmas cards your loved ones will cherish

What you need...

• Fabric, cotton, various
  Thread, machine embroidery: black, red
  Sewing machine and quilting foot
  Interfacing, fusible, medium
  Fusible webbing
  Snips
  Pinking shears
  Card, white (or ready-made blanks)
  Craft knife
  Glue

instructions

1. Draw around your blank cards onto fusible interfacing. This will be a good template for the front. Cut loosely around this and iron on all three onto your plain white cotton.

2. Use pinking shears to cut inside the line so it’s slightly smaller than the front of your card. Next, use the templates provided and draw out each piece onto fusible webbing. Cut these out loosely and iron onto your various chosen fabrics.

3. Cut the shapes out carefully using fine snips. One by one, carefully remove the paper backing and arrange your pieces in place on your white cotton. Iron them on to secure. Use your machine
   embroidery to appliqué the shapes.

4. Put your normal machine foot back on and put the feeders back up. Then sew the piece to the front of your card with red thread. Go over it twice to create a bold stitched line. Use white card to cut out a piece to hide the stitches inside. This will also give the card stability.