So here’s a very easy use of Kraft-Tex and machine embroidery to create a charming village.
I re-upped this border design which I used on my last quilt project. Some simple white Kraft-Tex and an exacto knife, and I trimmed the whole thing.
I attached it with crazy glue to a 1 x 1 block painted white. Honestly, the simplest of ideas. And yet, it’s really effective. For anyone who’s not familiar with Kraft-tex, it’s a tough, durable leather-like textile. It withstands a lot. It won’t rip. It’s washable, if that’s what you want to do.
But I just used a sticky-back tearaway stabilizer (Stabilstick) with a piece of the white Kraft-Tex on top. This particular design is ideal for this application. It’s not stitch heavy, but enough to hold its visibility.
I created three of these village scenes, added some fairy lights, with a backdrop of a white birch, which I already owned.
A bit of white filler which I found in the basement (for making stuffed shapes, pillows, etc.)
And when I was done, I had a charming village which would look lovely on a mantle. I have it on a book shelf in our hallway.
It took very little time to create this scenario, and of course, I wished there had been a series of these borders with other shops and scenes all in the same profile. But this worked out on its own.
I hope your holidays are peaceful and calm. May you enjoy your craft and create beautiful things. Happy Stitching!
The center is basically quilted. The outside two rows of blocks are still undone all the way around. And then there’s the border. And then I’ll need to add the binding. Progress is slow, but I AM making progress. Those hand stitches are so cozy-looking up close. Everyone needs a long-term project. If nothing else, it teaches me patience and perseverance. It reminds me that work done by hand is still precious, still relevant and still worthwhile.
I selected a decorative stitch and added it to the edge, and finished everything off with a triple stitch. Because it doesn’t fray, you don’t have to finish the edges.
The only caution I would offer is to be careful about the decorative stitching you choose. Because Kraft-Tex behaves like leather, the stitching causes perforations, and you don’t want to use a very heavy satin stitch as it will separate along the holes. You want the project to hold together well, so the lighter the stitching, the better.