Hi my lovely readers !!!!
How are you? I hope you are all doing well ^_^
Haha, i think i am going to stop apologising due to lack of posts. I have the ULTIMATE excuse: My baby !!!
I prepared this tutorial weeks ago, but i got so busy then somehow i let it passed by.
Now, let's start the tutorial ;) i am going to show how to make a cloth book. My cloth book is a collections of patterned fabrics made from several fat quarters. Each page is padded and have plastic sheet sandwich between 2 fabrics (to produce crinkly sounds. Matthew loves the sound). The book is 10 pages excluding the cover.
The finished book!!
So happy that Matthew loves the book.
(I made this book when he was about 8 months old back in May 2016)
To make the cloth book, you will need:
Note to be taken: I decided my cover and lining should be taller and wider than the pages of my book, therefore i add another 2cm to each width and length.
- 11 pieces of bold, vibrant colours and cute patterns. I will break down the sizes.
- 8 pieces of patterned fabrics with same sizes. I decided to cut mine 22x22cm already included seams allowances. As usual i have difficulty to choose which fabrics i should use cause all too cute, hehe.
- 1 piece of fabric size: 24x46cm seams included for the book cover.
- 2 pieces of patterned fabrics for the lining of the cover or page 1 and last page of the book with each size: 24x23cm seams included. Mine were:
Page 1
Last page
- 3 plastic sheets, i use mine from the one that use for gift wrapping.
- 3 pieces of batting.
- Ribbons.
- Long needle and embroidery thread or any thick thread will do.
- Sewing Machine and supplies.
Once you decided which fabric you want to use cut all according to your desire size. My 8 pieces will be 22x22cm.
The next steps might be a bit confusing at first, but trust me you will overcome this ;)
We will be creating the book pages, where 2 pieces sewn together then matched again with the other sewn pieces. Together with the plastic sheet and batting. Plus the ribbons if any.
Step 1:
Select the 2 pieces of pattern fabrics you want to sew together. Sew then press seams open. Mine were randomly selected.
1st sewn pieces.
A
2nd sewn pieces.
B
3rd sewn pieces.
C
4th sewn pieces.
D
Step 2:
Determined which patterned fabric you want for page 2 (we will starting from page 2 since page 1 will be from the lining of book cover), 3,4 to page 8 (Again last page will still be lining of the book cover) or you can just randomly selected.
I randomly selected and this was how are my pages going to look like:
Step 3:
Place A and B right side together. If you want to add ribbons to your page, you will sandwich between the right side of A and B. Put a plastic sheet and batting to wrong side of either A or B. Pins all the way around leaving an opening for turning later. Bring to your machine then sew very slowly. It will get slippery due to the plastic sheet. Finish sewing, turn the fabric inside out slowly.
In the beginning i recommended to cut the plastic sheet a bit larger and wider than the sewn pieces to accommodate shifting of the plastic, cause it will move or shift. My to sewn pieces measure: 22x42cm after sewing. Better to cut more than that. Same thing with the batting.
You will do the same for C and D. As well for cover and linings.
My sample were RANDOM.
Pins the ribbons right side of the fabric (mine D) before sandwich with C.
I did one at a time by placing a plastic sheet, pins in places.
Then place the batting. Pins, pins and pins.
All pins in places and ready to sew.
After sewn and turn inside out.
They will look like this:
The book cover:
The cloth book almost done!
Step 4:
Top stitch each pages to close the openings. Don't need to press with iron as it will melt the plastic sheets inside.
My baby decided to play with the book first.
Step 5:
Take your long needle and thread, we are going to sew the book by hand. There are so many layers and thick it is impossible to sew using machine (i did tried few times and fails).
Use back stitch then slowly stitch. You may want to use a plier to help to pull the needle thru all the layers.
Step 6:
Give to your baby and enjoy playing with him/her.
You can use the book as a counting book, colours book, animals book, etc anything you can think of. Daddy also can play a part on reading the book ;)
I do hope you will give this project a try. Making a handmade baby book is fun and special, cause you will never find it anywhere. It is so unique.
Don't worry if the book does not turned out in 100% perfect (Mine isn't). It is the beauty of handmade.
I will see you on my next projects.
Let's Make Them!
