A few tips for making a Quiet book
This is the place where I'll give pieces of advice on how to sew a playbook.
This could be with reference to which material to use or which technique to apply.
A small study of felts
I would like to give you a short assessment of different kinds of felt. This is supposed to help you with your choice of felt for your quiet books.
There are many different types of felt from different basic materials and accordingly many advantages and disadvantages.
Fill your books with surprises!
Patches or buttons?
Quiet books or play books are filled with life by including moving parts.
There are wonderful novelty buttons / embellishments with child oriented motives, animals, numbers or letters. My collection couldn't possibly be too big. :)
How to sew beautiful scripts made of drawstring / cord
I have wanted to try the presser foot 43 by Bernina for a while now. It has been waiting on my work desk, but now I've found a good reason to use it...
Different Types of Foil
If you want to sew a small house as a playbook, which is supposed to have a door, window, or a mirror, you need suitable supplies. Maybe you even want to sew a lake, in which teddy could go fishing.
Draw on felt
It is not always easy to draw on felt.
Depending on the kind and color you can use different methods.
I like using a chalk wheel that has a small metal wheel at the tip. It works really well and draws fine lines on dark felt.
A pencil works well for small or light felt.
I often use chalk pens of various colors that can be sharpened.
Rattle box
I would like to show you an easy method to produce a rattle box that can be incorporated/sewn into a book.
How big should a Quiet book be?
On this picture you can see the small differences. It’s a personal decision how big the books should be. It depends on the child’s age and theme.
Rubber toy animals and a Hot Needle
A small tip for Halloween-pages for your playbook.
Do you know selvages?
You can do many great things with these scraps.
Glow in the dark thread
Add an element of fun to your Quiet books. Perfect for halloween and my new book... coming soon.... :)
Protect the end of straps and ribbons from fraying
The following advice only works with synthetic straps. But you will notice immediately whether it works.
Synthetic material will melt together whereas cotton will start to to burn.
Hence, carefully go past the material with a candle igniter. This will make it firm and keep it from fraying.
Good Strings for all purposes
I love using PP cord of 0.08 - 0.16’’ (2mm or 4mm) diameter. You can buy it at the hardware stores in many different colors.
It can be universally used for housekeeping as well.
Moreover, it is synthetic so that the ends can be burned and be protected from fraying.
Blanket stitch
I use this stitch for bordering/hemming or sewing together felt pieces.
Sushi ?
Do you sometimes eat sushi takeaway? Usually it comes with these little fish that contain the soy sauce.
Nets, Mesh, Gauze or Fly Nets ?
Sometimes you want to include mesh in the play book that children can look through and discover things. You can use nets or gauze to do so. Here are some examples and the materials used.
Scales for a fish
Do you know these sequin strings? I used them for the first time for this fish. The task requires a bit of diligence, but it’s worth it because it really feels like fish scales.
Sewing small parts
I love using the transparent application foot thats smaller. This way you can see and sew small parts better.
Further, it can be helpful to use a small needle plate for the straight stitch that has a smaller opening. It prevents small pieces from puckering. Do not forget to change the stitching plate
before stitching zigzag again.
Maps and patches
I have been collecting patches / emblems for a long time.
Sometimes you can find tea towels with a map or old-fashioned emblems of cities in souvenir shops.
Sturdying and padding of Quiet Books
I often get asked how to make the book pages so sturdy.
It is not necessary when it comes to felt books, but books made of fabrics have to be stiffened, to make them sturdy or fluffy for babies.
Calligraphy made easy
Textile marker pens are really great to draw a quick label or sign / signboard.
A few old lettering stencils help with the calligraphy.
It is best if you use solid woven single coloured cotton material.
On the bottom line I stick a bit of Frogtape. It's easily removable without leaving any residuals.
Sometimes you'll have to iron the fabric afterwards. This makes the drawings waterproof and the little piece of fabric can be inserted into your book as a little signboard.
Book bags
All my books are put in a bag once they are ready.
I spy with my little eye
I love search games and kids do, too :)
You just collect different little things: buttons, chains, jewellery parts, deco-confetti, pearls, maybe spare parts, sew on patches, little items of Kinder suprise eggs.
Collecting things
The strap for the suitcase handle can be of a tote bag for instance. These shopping bags usually have a short and a long strap. The longer ones always end up on my sewing table.
Small metal rings, that are very durable, are from old sorted out bras.
The small bell for the cow came on a chocolate bunny.
Many garments have a cord or a braid for the tags on them when you buy them. The same is true for shopping bags made of paper.
For the camper I used old friendship bracelets.
Airline and trade fair lanyards are great, too.
Create a sign using a stamp
Sometimes you need a specific label or a small sign. You can create this really fast using small stamps and a bit of fabric.
Sewing thick felt
When sewing thick material, the beginning can be very hard because the presser foot slants and cannot catch the fabric.
If you put a piece of fabric behind the foot that is as thick as the piece to be sown, the presser foot will be in a horizontal position and you can start with the seam well.
Opening key rings
Key rings can easily be opened with a staple remover.
Hence, the strings and loops can be threaded in easily.
How to make a horse tail ?
Today I‘d like to introduce another great material to you. Do you know these hair pieces from the drugstore? They are perfect for creating a ponytail in a tactile book.
Frogtape as a tool
When sewing playbooks, there are often buttons or ribbons that are annoying. As a consequence the item that you want to sew, does not slide well or you sew in a ribbon by accident where it doesn't belong.
How to incorporate different fasteners/clasps to strengthen motor skills
There are different clasps/fasteners ...
Stabilistation for thin quiet book pages.
The new material made of foam could be a good help, if you want to make a book of thin felt or want to create three-dimensional effects.
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This is true for all of my guides that I sell on etsy and those that I make available for free download.