Fabric postcards are a fast and easy thing to make and they make great gifts. I’ve used them as “thank you” gifts for art quilt buddies.

Here are a few I’ve made, all 4″ x 6″.

I typically make them with whatever scraps I have on hand. (Stuff I haven’t put away from the last project, yet.) These scraps were silk, which gave a nice luster. The edge has been stitched with a loose zig zag.

I like to quilt the postcards, which gives them body and texture. And I put hand stitching on nearly all of them. It only takes a few to add a little interest.

Look how easy it is to throw together a few scraps and get an interesting composition. I stitched the edge of this one with black thread. I wasn’t happy with the way the batting showed, so I improved my technique with the following one.

The one below has a ravelly edge, which I wanted to keep intact. So I just cut the batting a little smaller and it doesn’t show.

This is the most recent one I’ve made. I straight stitched the edge and, again, cut the batting a little bit small.

Here’s the full procedure:
1 – Make a composition using whatever technique you prefer. I often cut a piece a muslin, just slightly large and compose onto it, with glue or fusible web. Trim to desired size. (I use 4″ x 6″.)
2- Add batting, cut just smaller than your composition. Quilt as desired. (No backing yet.)
3 – Optional: add hand stitching.
4- For the back/message side select a fabric that’s pale enough to write on, but heavy enough so that no embroidery threads show through. Attach with glue or fusible web. Straight stitch around the edge. Write your desired message with a permanent pen or marker. Alternatively, you can use lightweight cardboard instead of fabric. Glue it first, then stitch it, keeping the stitch length  longer than usual, to avoid perforations. Consider using an old needle.
5 – To make an envelope, put your postcard in the middle of a standard sheet of typing paper (8.5″ x 11″,) fold sides and ends toward the middle and it should meet with a slight overlap. Secure with packing tape.

Want to make six postcards at a time? See this page for instructions.