Doodle Creatively at Your Sewing Machine

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Doodle Creatively at Your Sewing Machine

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Doodling—we’ve all done it with pen and paper. Those same concepts—drawing squiggles, circles, rectangles, and silly shapes—can be done with fabric, trim, and/or stitching. Why should you doodle at your sewing machine with fabric? It’s a great way to use fabric odds and ends while being creative.

Watch the Doodle Stitching TV show online now. You’ll also find details, tips, and techniques in the new Doodle Stitching bookavailable at Nancy’s Notions.

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Collage Doodle

A Collage Doodle is where we’d would like to start in Doodle Stitching Part Two. Gather buttons, small pieces of fabric, leftover ribbon, and do a little stitching to create a greeting card or a small piece of wall art. The process is spontaneous with artsy results.

         If giving as a greeting card, apply card stock behind the collage prior to stitching around the outer edges.

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Fuse ‘n Doodle

Next, doodle with fabric and your iron! Cut rectangles and squares that are backed with fusible web, arrange on a background fabric, then press! After adding ribbon and button accents, you’ll have an art piece that was made with odds and ends of fabric, yet looks like it could be hung in a modern art studio. See how easy it is on Doodle Stitching Part Two.

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Daydream Stitching

When you’re doodling on paper, most likely you’re not paying much attention to what’s happening around you, as Nancy said she was known to do in history class. When you’re brain is not thinking of the task at hand, it’s the BEST time to experiment with simple, doodle-type free-motion stitching. For those of you intimidated by the process, put your brain in neutral and daydream while stitching. Watch online as those doodles transform with sewing machine and thread.

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Squiggle Monograms

When we think of monograms, our mind’s eye sees large, preciously stitched letters. Hmm, not so if you’re doodling. The same type of impact can be made with squiggle stitching, creating the shape of the letter, or stitching the negative space around the letter to make the un-stitched fabric “pop” with distinction. It’s a 20-minute stitching exercise that will satisfy the doodler inside of you; watch now.

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The Book: Doodle Stitching

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  • We’ll guide you through fun techniques for painting with thread and scraps of fabric. Don’t worry about perfection—these techniques are made to give you beautiful results, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned sewist.
  • This signature style of stress-free techniques and easy projects inspires and empowers. Plus, you’ll learn how to translate pencil-sketched doodles onto fabric with your sewing machine.


Doodle Stitching Book

  • Full color photographs and illustrations
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • Double-wire binding so that pages lay flat when open—no more struggling to keep your page from turning or bending; plus it’s easier to keep your book right next to you as you work
  • Soft cover, 40 page book by Nancy Zieman, Sewing With Nancy

Watch Doodle Stitching (Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.

Turn Sketchbook Doodles Into Art with Doodle Stitching by Nancy Zieman | Sewing With Nancy

Which technique from this program would work best for your doodles?  Leave a comment below to be eligible to win a copy of the Doodle Stitching Book, from Nancy’s Notions.

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Nancy Zieman's Giveaway Winner

The randomly selected winner of Simple to Chic T-shirt Remakes DVD from Nancy’s Notions, from the June 12 post, is Peggy Bibb.

Her comment is: Love the paisley design! Once again, they have digitized the design to make it easy. Thank you!!

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Happy Sewing,

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC.

Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC

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37 Comments

  • judy
    June 19, 2018

    I have never been a doodler so I will need a lot of practice. I enjoy the addition doodling to accent printed fabric. I think this would be attractive on garments.

  • Anne Z
    June 19, 2018

    I would love to try the collage doodle. The possibilities are endless. Also what a great way to use up scraps.

  • Bette Goff
    June 19, 2018

    I have so many pieces of fabric and it is difficult sometimes to find the right thing to make. This doodling sounds like it would be ideal. It would be good use of fabric I can’t part with and it would open any artistic talent I might have. It would be freeing not to follow a pattern.

  • Karen A
    June 19, 2018

    I would try the daydream stitching. I am always doodling designs that I think would be fun to try for free motion quilting.

  • Ruth
    June 19, 2018

    I like the collage doodle.

  • RitaMarie
    June 19, 2018

    I’d love to make some greeting cards using the collage doodle.

  • Max
    June 19, 2018

    I would like to try the flowers doodle. Adds a little pop to the design.

  • Karen Stenback
    June 19, 2018

    Daydream stitching seems like it would be a good fit, for me. Can’t wait to try it!

  • Susan
    June 19, 2018

    I love the idea of the collage doodle as one could utilize leftover notions from other projects. Bits of ric rac, leftover ribbons, buttons and snaps can be used in very creative ways to have wonderful art work. Even pillows could be created in this way.

  • Susan Spiers
    June 19, 2018

    Painting with thread & scraps of fabric! What a wonderful way to be able to express myself! Thank you, Susan

  • Sharon Williams
    June 19, 2018

    I’ve been thinking of using doodles to tack charms together before sewing them together for a rag quilt! This has given me some really good ideas.
    Thanks to NZP, her family and partners, for keeping Nancy with us!

  • Sandra N
    June 19, 2018

    I would love to do the collage doodle. What a great way to use up scraps to make some beautiful items!

  • MoeWest
    June 19, 2018

    I don’t doodle too often but I would like to try the squiggle monogram.

  • Pat
    June 19, 2018

    I would love to try the collage doodle. It would be wonderful to be able to create original “sewing” cards for friends and family.

  • Janet johnson
    June 19, 2018

    Oh, this looks like fun. I have so many small fabric pieces I don’t know what to do with… this could be perfect.

  • Leslie
    June 19, 2018

    I’m inspired to try the collage doodle stitching. I love the mix of using scraps and creativity to play and release my inner artist!

  • Pam
    June 19, 2018

    I like the Squiggle Monograms. I never thought of doing this on negative space.

  • Melanie Eddy
    June 19, 2018

    Thank you for the ideas! I think my young 4-H sewing group could do this. They love sewing but are not very accurate yet.

  • Martha
    June 19, 2018

    I plan to try Daydream Doodling to make some small gift items.

  • Ann West
    June 19, 2018

    Painting with thread & scraps of fabrics sounds like something I would like to try.

  • Gail Beam
    June 19, 2018

    Painting with threads and odd pieces of fabric sounds like something I would love to try. Would love to have Nancy’s book to instruct me on some of her fun doodle techniques.

  • Karen
    June 19, 2018

    These look like interesting techniques I would like to try.

  • L Watson
    June 19, 2018

    I love the Queen Ann’s Lace doodling. Using all those stitches you never get to use on something like a pillow is a great idea too.

  • Clovis
    June 19, 2018

    All of them would be great to try. Thanks for the chance to win.

  • Bonnye
    June 19, 2018

    I would like to try the collage doodling. A good project for my 12 year old granddaughter.

  • paulette whitfield
    June 20, 2018

    daydream doodling is right up my alley:) Hope I win but thanks for the opportunity to throw my hat in the ring:)

  • Linda
    June 20, 2018

    I especially like the collage stitching because I’m especially interested in creating wall art, but the daydream stitching comes in a close second. What a great way to utilize all those small scraps I can’t bear to part with!

  • Suzanne Uttech
    June 20, 2018

    Doodling is so much fun, and even better when you’re able to make a memory out of it with fabric! I can’t wait to see what your book has in store for future doodling projects! Thanks for the inspiration, Nancy’s Notions!

  • Sarah
    June 20, 2018

    I like the daydream stich, though the swiggally monogram design is also fun.

  • Carol
    June 20, 2018

    Day dreaming doodles look so modern and clever. Besides, I’m a daydreamer at times!

  • E. Watson
    June 21, 2018

    I love the squiggle monogram, there are so many different color possibilities! 🙂

  • Teresa M Edington
    June 21, 2018

    Fuse and doodle works for me. I like applique and I like machine quilting…

  • Lillian K
    June 21, 2018

    I like the idea of Daydream doodles.

  • Laurie Ladd
    June 22, 2018

    I like the Collage Doodling, there are so many possibilities for designs and using different elements.

  • Derek A
    June 23, 2018

    Everytime I see doodling like this, it always remind me of my mother. She loves doing this. If only she’s still here, I’m pretty sure she’ll love your blog.

  • Helen Bowie
    June 26, 2018

    I already doodle with my sewing machine but I never saw Collage Doodling and cannot wait to try it! What a great idea.

  • Manuela Brancaleoni
    October 4, 2018

    Me, I would like to try all the techniques … they make me! I would also like to buy the book, but I do not know if you deliver in Belgium. I ordered and paid for an Over the Door Stabilizer Organizer and I have not received anything since 22/09. That worries me …

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