Winter Wonder Quiet Book

One of the things I love is finding a pattern that can be customized and altered if desired.  You know what I mean.  I hate having things that look exactly like the person sitting next to me.  Not to confuse that with coveting after what they have; I’m a severe coveter of clothes, crafts, skills, etc.  Hi, my name is Katharine and I’m a coveter…

Anyways, I just want me stuff to look original.  The trouble is I’m too busy to create my own design…not to mention I lack the confidence to want to try it.  One of these days I’ll give it a try, but until that day I rely on other people’s hard work.  Now, you could steal someone’s idea or you can buy their pattern for a steal.  Shelley’s patterns are just that.  One pattern, hundreds of unique possibilities!  You could make a different book for each kid, or make them for baby shower gifts.  Totally my idea, but take it and run!

I started with Shelley’s kit.  I found this the best way to test it out without having to spend an hour at the fabric store finding the perfect patterns.  Yes, I would spend at least an hour going back and forth until each piece matched perfectly.  I’m like that.  The kit came with everything needed, but not cut.  So I started by tracing out the pattern pieces and cutting everything out.  I like to have everything ready so I can just dive in.

I then spent about 30 minutes mixing and matching the cotton rectangles to the background patterns until I liked the way all the different pieces looked together.  I take into consideration the color of the felt that will go on it, and the color of the pieces on the opposite page.

Once I figured out how I wanted it I laid all the pieces together in a storybook pattern so I wouldn’t forget what I decided on.  I then took each rectangle and using a washable fabric pen I traced out the page titles.

I then got to work sewing. I used my knit foot because it hops and I wanted to be sure I didn’t screw up the multiple layers.  One of the things I hate doing is switching my thread repeatedly.  So I started off with brown and sewed everything together that I could before I switched to another color.

First the backgrounds got sewed to the felt pages:

  

Next I sewed on the rectangles, following the design of Shelley’s pattern.

Then I took the felt add-ons and pinned them into place.  I sewed the pieces that used brown thread, leaving the other colors just pinned until I was ready to change out my thread.

Once all the brown seams were sewn I pulled everything off the table and plopped in front of the TV.  Okay, I also did some of this next step while on a conference call at work.  I took brown floss and embroidered the page titles that would be brown (based on the color of the rectangle I used on that page).  I skipped the snowman parts page, but I’ll tell you why later.

After all the brown embroidery was done I switched my thread on my machine to cream and did the same steps as above, but sewing all the cream seams.  That included some embellishments, like the snowflakes.

Okay, time to admit my mistake.  I have a bad habit of skipping steps; I don’t know if that’s because I skip it when I read, or I forgot, or I just think it isn’t a required step.  No matter what the reason, it always messes me up.  I didn’t read the instructions very well on the pattern and I sewed the snowman part’s rectangle onto the page before tracing the title onto it.  The pocket, as you can see below, is too dark for the words (in my opinion).  So I improvised and pinned the paper onto the fabric, embroidered through the paper, and then carefully torn the paper away.

I did the same thing for the red thread, until all the pieces were sewn onto each page.  I added some buttons here and there for fun…just adding my own little something.  Once everything for each page is done I sewed the back-to-back pages together.  Using a damp washcloth I blotted away the blue pen marks, and voila!

Click here to order this pattern!  I'd love to see what fabric you use!