Incoherent Scribblings

Materials needed:

1. Stitched piece
2. Scissors
3. Thread (I use two strands of embroidery floss)
4. Needle
5. Matching cording or ribbon
6. Potpourri

Instructions:

Step 1: On your stitched piece, count upward from your stitching anywhere from 10 to 24 threads, depending on the size of your design. Completely remove the next three threads. This will be the row in which you insert your ribbon or cording. (Depending on how wide your ribbon or cording is, you may need to remove four or five threads instead of three.)

Step 2: Count upward 10 to 24 threads from the pulled area and completely remove the next two threads. This will be the row in which you hemstitch.

Step 3: With the wrong side facing you, make a rolled hem (fold the end halfway between the raw edge and the outer withdrawn area, then fold the end again so that the first fold touches the outer withdrawn area) and finger press.

Step 4: With the wrong sides still facing you, hemstitch the edge. (Diagram)

Step 5: Determine how much space you want between your stitching and the edges and then with the right side of your stitching facing you, backstitch around the remaining three sides.

Step 6: Trim the edges of the fabric to around 1/2 inch beyond the backstitching and fold all the edges to the back of the fabric, mitreing the corners as you go.

Step 7: Fold the fabric lengthwise with wrong sides together and with another length of thread, whip the backstitches on the sides together.

Step 8: When you reach the bottom, flatten the piece so the whipped backstitch that you have just done becomes your lengthwise seam.

Step 9: Continue by whipping the backstitches on the bottom together.

Step 10: Fill with potpourri.

Step 11: Insert ribbon or cording by weaving it in and out of the threads that you pulled in Step 1.

Step 12: Tighten the ribbon or cording and tie.