Over the summer, my friend Stephanie and I decided to make quiet books for our kids. If you follow me on Pinterest, you may have noticed my Quiet Book board, which displays fellow bloggers we looked to for inspiration. The most amazing array of quiet books we came across were done by a woman named Katarinka with a blog named Orange Crafts. The entire website is in Russian but you don't need to be able to read the site to appreciate her crafting genius.
The general plan of attack:
* The size of each page: 9"x9"
* For the inside of the pages and reinforcement of moveable pieces, we used a polyester blend that is basically a dense plastic, I found at Hancock Fabrics.
* For the edges, a 1/2" blanket binding
* Obtain super cute fabric from Material Girls in Sandy, UT. You can use fat quarters or ask them to cut an 1/8 of a yard for smaller elements.
* Obtain felt. I suggest buyingsheets of felt as you need them rather than getting a bunch by the yard.
* Use Steam a Seam instead of pins for ease and comfort.
* For the binding side, use a 1 1/2" border on that side
* Make template out of cardstock or a manila folder to layout pages. Bear in mind that to create a complete page, you need one with the binding on the right side and another with the binding on the left.
* Most of the pieces are sewn together or to the page using a satin stitch on a sewing machine to prevent fraying and to give a finished look.
* Remember to prewash all fabric before cutting
* When printing patterns, UNCHECK THE FIT TO PAGE box in the printer window.
* The size of each page: 9"x9"
* For the inside of the pages and reinforcement of moveable pieces, we used a polyester blend that is basically a dense plastic, I found at Hancock Fabrics.
* For the edges, a 1/2" blanket binding
* Obtain super cute fabric from Material Girls in Sandy, UT. You can use fat quarters or ask them to cut an 1/8 of a yard for smaller elements.
* Obtain felt. I suggest buyingsheets of felt as you need them rather than getting a bunch by the yard.
* Use Steam a Seam instead of pins for ease and comfort.
* For the binding side, use a 1 1/2" border on that side
* Make template out of cardstock or a manila folder to layout pages. Bear in mind that to create a complete page, you need one with the binding on the right side and another with the binding on the left.
* Most of the pieces are sewn together or to the page using a satin stitch on a sewing machine to prevent fraying and to give a finished look.
* Remember to prewash all fabric before cutting
* When printing patterns, UNCHECK THE FIT TO PAGE box in the printer window.
Now onto the actual page. We gained inspiration for a name page from Homemade by Jill, but of course I had to add my own flare, so this page includes a zippered pocket. You can download my pattern for the pocket, you have the option of a scalloped top, or a zig-zag top. For the name, you can create a pattern in Word, I used Janda Manatee Bubble as the font. For this page, beyond the general materials, you will need velcro and a 7" zipper.
1. Start by cutting your letters. You will need 2 felt letters, 1 fabric letter and 2 Steam a Seam letters.
2. Using the template, place your letters on the page, then iron onto page and satin stitch.
3. Cut a small portion of the velcro to fit on each letter and sew the soft side to the letter on the page.
4. Iron the fabric letter to the remaining felt letter and satin stitch any holes on the inside of the letters.
5. Sew the rough part of the velcro to some felt then satin stitch the fabric/felt letter to the felt positioned on the opposite side of the velcro.
2. Using the template, place your letters on the page, then iron onto page and satin stitch.
3. Cut a small portion of the velcro to fit on each letter and sew the soft side to the letter on the page.
4. Iron the fabric letter to the remaining felt letter and satin stitch any holes on the inside of the letters.
5. Sew the rough part of the velcro to some felt then satin stitch the fabric/felt letter to the felt positioned on the opposite side of the velcro.
Next, make the zippered pocket.
1. You will be attaching the zipper to the fold side of each piece. (FYI, I fudged this, because I do not have a zipper foot.)
2. Using the template, place the pocket on the page and position the zipper so that the opening is about 1/2" from the border and pin to pocket top.
3. Sew as close to the edge of the fold as possible.
4. Do steps 2 and 3 for the bottom of the pocket.
1. You will be attaching the zipper to the fold side of each piece. (FYI, I fudged this, because I do not have a zipper foot.)
2. Using the template, place the pocket on the page and position the zipper so that the opening is about 1/2" from the border and pin to pocket top.
3. Sew as close to the edge of the fold as possible.
4. Do steps 2 and 3 for the bottom of the pocket.
To finish off the page, cut a rectangle (3"x9") of fabric for the binding side, fold in half and iron, then position on the page and sew along the folded edge to page.
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