Corset Stitching

If you frequent online scrapbook galleries you may have noticed a new trend: corset stitching! The corset stitch is a versatile stitch that incorporates many looks. In the above photo collage you can see the corset stitch used for a distressed look, shabby chic look, and a more frilly look. You can punch holes for the threading with a paper piercer, hole punch, or border punch (like the scallop punch). You can use any type of medium for the stitching such as thread, cording, ribbon, or yarn.

I decided to try my hand at the corset stitch on a Halloween project I’ve been wanting to do. Here’s how I went about it…

(Click on any of the pictures for a larger view.)

For this project I needed:

1. 6 sheets of patterned Halloween paper
2. Chipboard letters
3. Black cording
4. Mod Podge
5. Black distress ink

Trace the chipboard letters onto the patterned paper and cut them out; two sheets of paper per letter. Adhere one sheet of paper to each chipboard letter with Mod Podge. Ink the edges with black distress ink. After the ink dries, add a layer of Mod Podge on top of the letters.

My Mod Podge is a little old so it went on kind of thick. But for this project, I think it looks great! Kind of spooky.

I cut out slivers of the layers of paper that will be on top. These slivers are where I will put my corset stitch.

I ran my scissors along the cut slivers to distress the paper then inked all of the edges with black distress ink. I used my paper piercer to make holes for my cording. I threaded my cording through the holes then attached it to the chipboard letters then added another layer of Mod Podge.

Here are some close up views of the corset stitching.

And here is the finished product! Not a bad use of the corset stitch, if I do say so myself. Adds just the right touch to my Halloween letters.