Fabric/Fiber Postcards
Have you ever made fabric or fiber postcards and sent them in the mail? I have done quite a few of these over the years and thought you might like to see some that I have made and received. They are fairly simple to make. You just need to make a piece of fabric artwork that is 4″ x 6″, fuse it to a stiff backing such as Timtex or Peltex, fuse a white piece of muslin to the other side and then zigzag stitch around the edges. Write the address, return address and a short note on the white side and it’s ready to send. I actually sent all my postcards without an envelope except one that was heavily beaded and they made it all over the world without a problem.
This one is machine needle felted and one of the first postcards I ever made.
This one used a piece of rusted fabric for the background plus a machine stitched applique and some free motion machine embroidery. These are a great way to make small compositions and practice your stitching skills.
More needle felting and then FME.
This one was a bit of a private joke as I saw a paramecium in the middle of the rustiness so I stitched a microscope. I have no idea if the recipient understood it or not.
This one I used a bunch of fabric scraps that I had and it says “do what you love”.
This is the one that I mailed in an envelope due to all the beads. All of these got sent to other people all over the world.
I think this one came from Australia. It is really cool and you can’t really tell that from this photo.
This one was needle woven and I think it’s from the UK.
Here’s one that was painted and stitched. I can’t remember where it’s from but I really enjoyed getting all of these in the mail. If you are interested in being in a postcard exchange try this site art2mail or they also have postcard exchanges on Stitchin’ Fingers.
P.S. I forgot earlier that if you want to feel safe with sending these type of postcards in the mail, you can seal them in clear plastic envelopes or ask the post office to hand stamp the postcard. It usually costs a bit more for hand stamping but then it won’t get caught in the postal machine.
23 thoughts on “Fabric/Fiber Postcards”
That’s a great idea, and so nice to give and to receive. 🙂
Thanks – it is wonderful to get little fiber goodies in your mailbox.
They’re all pretty Ruth – my favourite is ‘Do What You Love’.
In the 60’s we were fascinated by postcards sent from Spain as they often featured flamenco dancers with skirts of real fabric and we’d only ever seen plain, printed postcards.
Thanks! I would love to see one of those flamenco postcards. I bet they are collectibles now.
They are all lovely. A great idea for using scraps for small projects and honing skills. Thanks!
Thanks Marilyn, they are great small projects and they don’t take very long to put together.
I have sent and received some of these. I always do beading on them, so I send them in an envelope. People are always amazed to receive one of these.
They are fun, aren’t they? I always like the faces on the people at the post office. They are amazed as well.
Lots of fun designs. I do have the supplies, now I need to try some.
Debbie
Thanks Debbie! Go for it 🙂
These are great Ruth. It’s on my list of things to do. I wonder if the paper fused ones would go through the mail as well as the ones sewn around the edge.
Fused paper holds together very well so I see no reason why they wouldn’t work.
They’re all really nice, Ruth 🙂
I used to do handmade painted postcards and people loved getting those.
Thanks! Painted postcards sound really nice. I bet people did really love them.
I think there gorgeous Ruth, i’ve never done a postcard swap but i’d love to get something like this in the mail, maybe down the track these would be nice little things i could do to keep the hands busy and the mind occupied 🙂
They are good little projects for working out a design or process. I am sure you could come up with some mixed media applications that would be cool.
I have sent only one felted postcard and I machine stitched it onto a cardstock backing. I like your plan much better because the entire postcard is some sort of fabric. Very cool! I am not familiar with Timtex. Is it adhesive on both sides? Is there like a paper backing that you tear off prior to attaching the muslin? I especially love the blanket stitch around your heavily beaded card. How many strands of floss do you use?
Thanks Jackie – I like that they are all fabric as well. Timtex is a very heavy interfacing. It can have fusible web on one side or both depending on what kind you buy. But you don’t have to have it as you can just use your own fusible web on the fabric back. Most of the heavy interfacing don’t have a paper backing. I think I used perle cotton on the beaded card. But I actually don’t remember because it was a few years ago. Generally, on a postcard with blanket stitch I would probably use at least 3 strands of floss and maybe 4.
What a variaty, many ideas !
Ruth you gave enough ideas for the card to make.
I like it. !!
Glad you liked the post. The variety is only limited by your imagination. Almost any technique can be used to make a fiber/fabric postcard.
Hi Ruth, thanks for this lovely post! When you say you write on the white side, do you just use a ballpoint (biro) pen, or something else? Does the ink run or the fabric bunch up when you write? Im just thinking of the mechanics, but there’s nothing like getting my hands wet and trying it for myself.❤️
You’re welcome! I usually use a pen that is permanent and won’t run on dry fabric. I use the Faber Castell Pitt pens. The fabric is fused down to the back side of the postcard so it doesn’t move at all. Hope that helps!
It does help, thanks! By the way, I thought the microscope on the paramecium postcard was a witch on a broomstick and the orange was an homage to Halloween. Lol 😍