If you are making a lot of cards with the prick and stitch method it is well worth getting one of the purpose made pricking mats that will be sold by your favourite craft store. Pricking mats are usually made from compressed fibre, felt or polyurethane foam. The size will be around 9 x 6 inches (22 x 16 centimetres) and ½ inch (1 centimetre) thick…

You want to try the prick and stitch technique but do not want to spend out on a purpose made pricking tool until you are sure you will enjoy this card making technique. The solution is to look for a sharp pointed object that you already own. Here are some suggestions…

This corner scroll pattern is easy to stitch directly on to a greetings card. The simple design is worked in stem stitch. The photograph below shows the scrolls on a hammered cream card stitched in green thread. I have added a photograph of an iris that I took in my garden. You could add a picture with decoupage, rubber stamping, teabag folding etc.

Corner scroll card with an iris picture.The corner scrolls could also be used on a square card by repositioning the pricking pattern…

A by-product of a prick and stitch design is the holes that the thread passes through. Some people regard them as an important part of the design that should show and others think that they are better minimised…

Two different names for a method of stitching that at first glance seems to do the same job. So what is the difference?

On backstitch more thread ends up hidden on the back of the work than on the front. Stem stitch is the opposite, more thread is visible on the front of the work than on the back. I often wonder why the opposite to backstitch was not called front stitch…

This post looks at a method of stitching that is often used to fill areas and shapes with colour. I call it the crossing fill stitch as that is what it does. I try to work this method of stitching into my pattern designs as it gives an attractive finish and is popular with stitching card makers.

The instructions for this stitch often read as follows…

A question I am often asked by friends who want to try prick ‘n stitch card making is what thread do you use? The answer is Kreinik metallic 1 ply cord.

This is the thread I use to test stitch the patterns on the Stitching Cards web site…

I have just designed a prick and stitch flower pattern for visitors to the Prick And Stitch Is My Craft web site. You can use this simple design to try out the stitching card technique.

Prick and stitch flower card.I have used Kreinik metallic thread in green, red and gold on a hammered white card. The stem and flower outlines are worked in stem stitch. The flower centre and leaves are worked in crossing fill…