The Hand-Stitched Diary

Photos by Sharon White Photography

“A diary offers us a place to express our feelings without judgment or worry. But feelings don’t always have to be expressed in words. I began keeping a diary that incorporated hand stitching and textiles about three years ago. As a lover of hand stitching, I find the connection between needle and thread and the way I am feeling to be strongly entwined. Depending on how you stitch, a simple running stitch can convey joy or frustration. Color can add even more meaning. These diaries allow you to express your feelings in a three-dimensional way that traditional diaries don’t. Let your imagination wander and use the materials you love most to create a beautiful personal work of art.” – Lynn Krawczyk


Project Details

Artist: Lynn Krawczyk

Instructions: The instructions for this project can be found in the Fall 2018 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine.

Techniques included in this project: Hand stitching, making a handmade book, creating backgrounds for stitched pages, attaching fabric swatches to handmade book pages.

Materials:

  • Folded cardstock, 3 sheets cut to size (I used Fabriano® Medioevalis Folded Cards, 4½” x 6¾”.)
    • NOTE: I like using Fabriano cards because they are already scored, which makes constructing the diary much simpler. The paper can handle various mediums well, including pens, markers, watercolors, monoprinting, and gluing. It is strong but also very fibrous, which makes it great for hand stitching.
  • Scissors
  • Waxed or unwaxed linen thread, multiple colors
  • Craft glue or glue stick
  • Fabric and stitched scraps
  • Embroidery thread in your favorite weight and fiber
  • Needles
  • Optional:
    • Pens and markers
    • Collage materials
      • NOTE: You can add elements to the cards before attaching the cards to each other, or put the book together and then work on the pages.

Learn how to create your own stitched diary when you get the print or digital issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Fall 2018!

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