In Stitch'z by Bazzill

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Reported by Heather Strenzwilk

Recently, In Stitch'z templates caught my eye at a scrapbook store. The four-pack of themed vinyl templates make it simple to add a hand stitched design to a card or scrapbook page. The In Stitch'z product line by Bazzill makes it easy to follow this popular paper crafting trend, especially for those on a budget. Simply place cardstock on the piercing mat, overlay with a template and use the piercing tool to follow the pattern. Then use coordinating floss or ribbon to stitch the design.

In Stitch'z templates are available two ways: a themed four-pack containing 6-9 designs (templates measure 3 x 5 inches) or in a four-pack of 12 inch stitch templates. The templates are made of a durable, medium weight vinyl. For my review, I used the Favorite Things set which featured whimsically styled birds, paisleys and a butterfly. The templates do tend to curl a bit along the longer edges but this did not affect their performance. The templates are punched in the corner and come with an O-ring to keep them organized.

For those who don't wish to use templates, Bazzill offers several colors of their famous 12x12 cardstock pre-punched with patterns such as scallops, flowers and hearts. For around $1 per sheet, this is a cost effective way to experiment before investing in tools or templates.

Fans of Bazzill colors will like the coordinating floss. The 48-yard floss sets are comprised of 2 needles and six rolls of floss from two color families such as pink/yellow, red/orange or brown/blue. This takes the guesswork out of coordinating colors and are perfectly matched to their cardstock line. Some of the more popular colors are available individually on 100-yard spools. According to the package this floss was manufactured for use with paper so it won't leave dust and the fibers won't separate or shred while sewing.

The In Stitch'z line has a tool kit contains a piercing tool and a large foam piercing mat which is marked with 1-inch gridlines for easy alignment. HSN carries the In Stitch'z Embroidery and Templates Kit which contains 2 sets of templates, cardstock, floss, tools and a clear carrying case for $24.90. These products can also be purchased individually online or at a local scrapbook store.

I already own a piercing tool and mat from another company and I used these with the templates, floss, needles and cardstock from the In Stitch'z line. The templates were fairly easy to use and the manufacturer printed outline on the template was a helpful guide as I stitched. I stitched about nine graphics from the templates and I have barely used any floss- a yard? of each color. My sewing skills are limited to buttons and hems.

However, of the nine I stitched, only five were usable because cardstock is not as forgiving as fabric and I either mis-stitched or ripped the cardstock. It definitely got easier with practice and my almost-eight-year old daughter was able to create something usable on her first try (with a little help from me!) It also helped to "connect the dots" with a pencil on the back of the punched cardstock to help keep track of which color went where.

Pros:

• Lightweight, portable and durable templates which are reusable
• Color-coordinated products make it easy to match
• Pre-punched cardstock was a time-saver
• Older children can do this with supervision
• Reasonably priced

Cons:

• Mistakes are nearly impossible to correct on cardstock (tears, rips). However, the floss is reusable if removed from the cardstock)
• Limited number of colors of floss available-- regular embroidery floss or thread can be used
• Curved shapes such as paisley or butterfly won't look the same as the template since the way from hole 1 to hole 2 is always a straight line

Adding stitching to a card of scrapbook page is a unique way to embellish it. The pre-punched cardstock is a cost-effective way to try this technique before buying many supplies. For non-sewers or those who want to add some simple stitching, the In Stitch'z line from Bazzill is an easy way to add elegant, color-coordinated stitching to a project. In Stitch'z is a fun product line which requires a bit of practice.

Have you tried this product? Share your opinion with us!