Fit, dimensions & layout
Place the initial within a penciled bounding box before marking holes. On an A6 front, keep the letter comfortably clear of the fold and perimeter. Use a single strand arrangement that passes the holes easily; the paper needs enough material between holes to resist tearing. Practice the tightest curve on spare card, not on the final greeting.
The illustration is a concept, not a scale drawing or a record of a tested build. Use a full-size template or dry fit to check the written layout with your actual materials.
Gather your materials
Tools to have nearby
Choose materials deliberately
Make it, step by step
Sketch a letter
Choose a simple capital and leave clear space beside edges and folds.
Mark the stitches
Space dots about 4 mm apart, slightly closer around curves.
Check before moving onShorten spacing only where a curve needs it and keep the resulting holes visibly separate.
Prepare holes
Open the card on scrap board and pierce each dot with hands clear of the point.
Stitch lightly
Use backstitch or running stitch without pulling the paper into a curve.
Cover the reverse
Secure tails and add a paper insert. Let glue dry before writing.
Check before moving onAttach the liner clear of the fold so it does not bind when the card opens.
Troubleshoot this project
Why is the card puckering?
What to check. Thread tension may be pulling the hole spacing shorter.
Next move. Ease the last stitches before tying off. Keep the card flat while setting tension.
Why is a curve becoming one large hole?
What to check. Holes may be too close together or the thread too bulky.
Next move. Use a simpler larger letter on a fresh card, with more paper between holes.
The final check
Holes have not torn together and the liner covers loose thread.
Dense stitch fills weaken paper; an open outline is easier to control.
Record your actual sizes, material changes, and the result of your fit check in your project notebook. Keep the product name with any finish or adhesive sample.
Use a stable work surface and tools within your experience. Follow the exact tool and product instructions for preparation, dust control, ventilation, and cure. These decorative concepts have no structural load rating. Stop if the material or existing finish cannot be identified.
