How to Make a Fabric Book

A toddler boy would love his own personalized fabric book.

Fabric books are simple to make and a lot of fun for young children and toddlers. They can even create their own pictures and stories to go inside. With a home sewing machine and some creativity, you can make a fabric book for your own child or to give as a special memento gift.

Things You'll Need

• White cotton fabric
• Colored cotton fabric
• Lightweight batting
• Iron and board
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Scissor
• Permanent fabric markers
• Measuring tape

Instructions

How to Make a Fabric Book

1. Plan the story and pictures you intend to include in your fabric book before cutting any material. You must figure out how many pages you need so that you cut enough pieces to fill the whole book with no extras. A fabric book for a young child or toddler can be made in any size, but most are in the 6 to 10 inch range.

2. Cut two 8 x 16 inch white or natural colored cotton fabric for each two pages you want in your fabric book. You can also use any pale color of cotton fabric such as yellow or pastel pink or blue. Also cut a matching piece of thin quilt batting for each of the pages in your book. For optional page borders, you will also need two 8 x 4 inch pieces and to 16 x 4 inch pieces of colorful or patterned fabric. These would form a colorful border around the pictures and words you include in your fabric book.

3. Construct each double page of your fabric book before writing or drawing any pictures or story inside. Fold in half inch margins on the 8 x 4 inch and 16 x 4 inch colored fabric pieces and iron these folds straight to keep them in place. Fold each one in half with the good side out and iron this theme as well. Set a pair of each length pieces aside for each page of the book.

4. Put two of the 8 x 16 inch white cotton fabric pieces together so the right sides are facing each other. Lay one of the 8 x 16 inchpieces of quilt batting on top of this. Use a sewing machine to sew neatly around all four sides, leaving a small hole to turn it right side out again. Ideally, this whole should be in the center of one of the long sides as it will end up being hidden by the fabric book stitching. Clipped the inside corners of the stitched pages and turn them inside out so the quilt batting is smooth on the inside of the fabric book page. Repeat this procedure for each page of the fabric book.

5. Sew the colored or patterned pieces of fabric to the sides of the white pages to form an attractive border around each one. So the 8 inch side piece on first and then the 16 inch piece along the top and the bottom edges. Pay attention to making them straight and leaving enough space in the middle of each page for your picture and words. Any of the measurements can be tweaked depending upon the size of the fabric book you are making.

6. Draw and write any pictures or words you want in your fabric book for your child. Remember that each sheet of fabric is two pages and they may not necessarily be next to each other. It is a good idea to let all the pieces out flat on top of one another and fold them in the center to keep track of which page goes where. Be sure to make a cover for the book at the same time. Use permanent fabric markers as they are rated for fabric use and will not bleed or run. Any type of story or pictures can be used. You can also so on things such as buttons, felt fabric appliqués or other embellishments that are safe enough for the age of your child. Be sure to sew everything on securely.

7. Put the entire fabric book together by laying each pair of pages in order flat open on a desk or table top. Use your sewing machine to sew up the exact middle of all the pages in a straight line. Make several lines of stitching if the book is thick or if you want a more precise book spine. Your fabric book is complete and can now be given to an eager child to enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use buttons or small items on a fabric book for a child who might put them in his or her mouth.