Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards

Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain

Don’t throw away your leftover fabric scraps! Instead, save them to make these unique patchwork fabric cards. By using baby shower or Christmas or Halloween, etc.-themed fabrics, you can easily customize these cards for a one-of-a-kind holiday or special occasion greeting card.

Materials:

  • Fabric scraps
  • Plain cardstock (you can get this at your local crafts or paper store)
  • Coordinating thread (I used white colored thread in the bobbin to match my cardstock)

Instructions:

  1. Start by cutting your fabric scraps into random size strips. Make sure the strips are at least ½ an inch longer than the front of your cardstock. You will trim the extra fabric later (in step 4).
    Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain
  2. Starting from the right end of the cardstock, place one strip of fabric on top of the front of the card. Take a second strip of fabric and place it to the left of the first strip, overlapping the first strip by at least ¼ inch (shown in figure 1). Next, sew along the edge of the second strip making sure to stitch through both layers of fabric (shown in figure 2). When you sew, start and end your stitch with a backstitch.
    Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain
    Figure 1
    Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain
    Figure 2

  3. Continue the process above using the rest of your strips until the front of the card is covered (shown in figure 3). Be creative and place the strips however you like – you can make the strips extra wide or perfectly straight; you can even use a zig-zag stitch or your favorite embroidery stitch if you wish. For this example, I used a simple straight-stitch. Figure 4 (below) is how the stitching on the back of the card will look after the front is covered.
    Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain
    Figure 3
    Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain
    Figure 4

  4. Turn your card face down, and trim off the excess fabric around the card (shown in figure 5). I used a ruler and rotary cutter for a clean cut. Lastly, sew a ¼ inch seam around the border of the card to stitch the fabric in place (shown in figure 6). Start and end your stitch with a backstitch.
    Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain
    Figure 5
    Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain
    Figure 6

  5. And that’s all there is to it! Now you have a beautiful, one of-a-kind patchwork card! =) The 2nd picture below is how the back of the card top will look. I think it looks really cool and emphasizes that it really is patchwork, while showing off your awesome sewing skillz (yes, with a “z”, because you’re that kewl). But if it bothers you or if you wanted that extra space to write in, simply glue in a sheet of card stock or paper cut to size and cover. Enjoy!
    Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards - Quilting Tutorials and Fabric Creations - Quilting in the Rain

Oh and one minor note – set aside a sewing needle for your patchwork cards only as paper will dull your needle.

25 Responses to Patchwork Fabric Greeting Cards

  1. lia. May 7, 2010 at 5:46 pm #

    Love this, Made two last night already. & just noticed I used one of the same fabrics as you did in one of the examples! Love your blog! Can't wait to read onnn.

  2. Anonymous May 18, 2010 at 6:54 pm #

    These are very unique cards, very personal and conveying the gift-giver's true gift of thought and time.

  3. Eileen July 14, 2010 at 12:04 am #

    great idea! love them…definitely going to give it a try!

    http://eileen-themissingpiece.blogspot.com/

  4. Trudy January 9, 2011 at 10:44 pm #

    Do the edges not fray?

  5. Quilt-n-StitchNY May 20, 2011 at 8:14 pm #

    This is a great idea for all those scraps you just don't want to throw away! I just found your website and I love it. You have a lot of great tips. I will be on your website a lot!

  6. rafaellebernardo September 14, 2011 at 3:18 pm #

    Ideia maravilhosa,gostei muito mesmo.

  7. Anonymous November 4, 2011 at 11:15 pm #

    I've never really thought of that, but it trully is a great idea… =)

  8. Anonymous April 7, 2012 at 5:35 pm #

    Love your website thanks for sharing all this good stuff with us.

  9. Anonymous April 26, 2013 at 6:39 pm #

    Loved this idea. Good use for the scraps I can't seem to part with. Going to try some spray starch on the fabric before stitching. It helps me keep my seams when I'm handling smaller projects.

  10. StasaLynn April 26, 2013 at 9:53 pm #

    This is fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing and making a great tutorial….. I will definitely be making these….I have been looking for a way to combine both cardmaking and my new love for quilting!

  11. Unknown April 27, 2013 at 2:54 am #

    Need to make a cover for wedding vows, this just may do the trick.

  12. Maria November 26, 2013 at 7:11 am #

    Thanks so much for the idea. I'll be making some Christmas cards using this method, they're lovely.

  13. Gill Swain May 12, 2014 at 8:14 pm #

    Fabulous idea and thank you for sharing such a good tutorial!

  14. Kathrin Kurth February 2, 2015 at 10:54 pm #

    Simply great and what a lovely thing to use up ALLLL those little scraps.
    Thanks so much and hugs from switzerland, Kathrin

  15. Dotty February 11, 2017 at 1:38 am #

    I did this card using the stitch and flip method and it came out great! I’m so excited to make more and will probably demo this at our quilt weekend next month. Thanks so much!

  16. joyce duarte March 11, 2017 at 10:59 pm #

    Wonderful idea, what do you do about envelopes?

  17. Laura June 7, 2019 at 9:57 pm #

    I love this idea. I’ll be making some tonight!

  18. amy February 10, 2020 at 4:50 pm #

    i sew mine of scraps of batting and then just sew that onto the card. Less stitching on card and if looks truly quilted.

  19. Glynn Peterson May 11, 2020 at 3:02 am #

    Hi, I found at Target 10 blank cards w/envelopes for $1. Yes!
    They came in kraft brown and white. They were in clearance section.
    Hope you can find them too.

  20. Carol Stewart May 15, 2020 at 12:47 am #

    Thank you for being so cleaver and sharing your talent with us.

  21. Donna Merritt December 1, 2021 at 12:20 am #

    Thanks much. I enjoyed your tutorial.

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