Sewing Machine Cross Stitch Tag Card with Envelope

 

Oval window front accent layered and cross-stitched tag 
features a vintage sewing machine decorated with posies. 

Use temp tape to secure completed tag in place 

when giving, to allow tag to be removed for hanging 

or use as separate ornament or decoration. 

Coordinated envelope has tiny stitching holes in flap overlay 

which provide framework for cross stitching 

stylized heart with posy, leaves and background. 

Card measures approx. 5x7 when top-fold closed. 

Tag measures approx. 5.5” long x 3.87” wide. 

Envelope measures approx. 7.25” long x 5.25” wide.

Cross stitching charts for each included 

in respective files. 

NOTE: The cross stitch car will be shown first

with the envelope flap assembly begins in Step 20.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card base (top fold 5x7)

B front accent "frame" for tag

(NOTE that an alternative frame is included which is

adjusted a bit closer to left side edge.)

C cross stitch tag [shown rotated 180 degrees]

(cut 2 to layer for strength for stitching)

D buffer layer for stitching thickness

E back layer to finish backside

F envelope base

G envelope flap

H flap underlayer to cover stitching backside

2. Assemble six colors of 6-strand embroidery floss

to complete cross stitching. 

The sample used these DMC Colors:

medium blue 3810

light medium blue 598

gray 535

white 3866

red 309

green 988

To complete the project, use size 22-24 tapestry

(blunt tip) stitching needles.

3. Prepare the two stitching hole-punched tags

by making sure that all "chads" or cut out "crumbs"

are removed. One way to do this is to bend 

a standard paper clip end straight then use it

to poke through all holes not already vacant,

then brush or scrape away extra bits.

4. Position the two prepared tag layers and join together, 

working quickly, attach together, taking care

that ALL outer cut edges plus stitch holes and

hang hole edges align as precisely as possible.

One way to check that the holes align is to use

the paper clip tool to poke through various holes

across the panel, particularly at edges and corners, etc.

Immediately place the glued-up unit on flat work surface

and press flat under a heavy flat object such as

this thick book volume, possibly with something else

heavy placed on top. Leave pressure on until

glue is dried completely and NOT still cool to touch.

Pressing flat like this will help minimize warping or

curling of the liquid-glue attached unit.

CROSS STITCHING

5. Refer to the instructions for a similar 

cross stitch project HERE for floss and 

needle preparation, in Steps 4 & 5.

6. For this project, begin at the bottom left where 

 the first cross stitch will be created.

Each square on the pattern chart represents 4 holes that

would be needed to create both the right and left slants.

Needle will be inserted UP at top left of the left square

that represents the sewing machine base "foot",

then insert diagonally down & right for first, left-most stitch.

On backside, pull the floss through UNTIL 

about 3-2 inches of the loop end remains, 

then insert the needle diagonally to complete 

the first right slant stitch.

On the backside of work, insert the needle

through the loop and pull the loop tight to remove all slack.

This is the "tying on" process.

7. Complete the second right slant stitch to complete

the "foot" on this end of design, then . . .

. . . return back toward left with left-slant stitches

to complete the bottom row two stitches. 

8. Move upward as indicated on chart to begin

next row 2 stitches farther right, and . . .

. . . complete the long row of right-slant stitches.

Return back along the row with left-slant stitches,

pausing to drop down to complete . . .

. . . the "foot" two stitches on the bottom row. 

Then move needle insertion back up to the long row and 

complete stitches back to beginning of row.

9. As stitching proceeds, thread length will 

eventually be used up. Before length is 

unmanageably short, pause when the needle is on 

the backside of work as a slant stitch is completed. 

Slip needle under 3-4 stitches on the backside, then . . .

. . . slide the needle off, and . . .

. . . trim the tails close

to the surface of the work.

This is the "tying off" procedure.

10. Continue to follow the chart, moving upward

to skip the "light medium blue" long row to begin

the second long "medium blue" row, including the 3 stitches

that flank the front end of the "gray" row . . .

. . . and at the end of that row . . .

11. Next, follow the chart to move upward and complete

the machine's backside "medium blue" rows/stitches.

12. Switch to a needle-load of "light medium blue" floss

to work and complete the long row at bottom of machine,

then move upward to machine base, then to complete

all of the stitches of that color. Skip the "squares" where

other colors will stitch in the flowers and leaves.

13. Load needle with "medium blue" to complete the stitches

at machine head.

14. Load needle with gray floss to complete stitches

that complete "needle", then jump down and across

to complete the long row near bottom of design.

When "jumping" - or carrying floss across backside of

work, take care that line of floss does not cross behind

open stitch holes where it might show through to front.

15. Load and complete stitches for remaining portions

of design, including posies, leaves and heart.

16. Position the buffer layer behind  the tag . . .

. . . and align outer oval and hang tab edges,

then glue in place, paying particular attention to

edges of the machine and heart cut out. 

17. Position and attach the tag back layer. Press

the assembly under a heavy flat weight until

thoroughly dry. 

18. Finish tag by threading a length of ribbon through

hang tab hole, cinching, wrapping and tying bow

above hang tab as shown.

19. Position completed tag within card front accent

window with even margin all around, and use

temp adhesive dots or equivalent to hold tag in place.

STITCHED ENVELOPE

20. Prepare the envelope hull shape by bending back

on all perforation lines.

21. Prepare the hole punch portions of flap and hull

in same manner as for tag stitching holes, Step 3.

22. Position and attach flap overlap on top of hull flap

with hole punches aligned as precisely as possible.

Check for hole alignment using tool as described

for tab in Step 4.

23. Follow stitching prep, tie-on, stitching and tie-off

to complete the stitches for the flap design.

24. When the stitching is complete, position and

attach the camouflaging oval on backside of flap

to hide the stitch designs. Press with flat weight

until secure and thoroughly dry.

25. To complete envelope, fold flaps inward,

bottom flap upward, apply adhesive to overlapping

margins, then secure flap seams.

Here is the completed envelope.