Baby Boy DIY Texture Book
If you know me at all by now, you know that I love scrap projects. Check out this fun DIY texture book I made for Olive’s little friend down the street!
To make the basic fabric book, you will need (6) rectangles 8″ x 18″ in assorted colors for the pages + (12) squares 7″ x 7″ of batting. (I keep a cotton/poly or bamboo blend around).
STEP ONE: Fold each fabric rectangle in half and iron the crease in place. This “divider” will help us arrange and center our shapes on each half. Later, it will help us center a batting square behind each page, and finally, serve as a marker to bind the book together. The other option would be to use a Frixion pen to mark the line.
In order to include a variety of textures, round up any appropriate scraps and embellishments you might want to use. If the variety at home is sparse, take a trip to your local craft store and check out what they have to offer. Just keep in mind safety when choosing products. Do not use anything that will come loose or can be pulled off by a child as that can create a choking hazard.
STEP TWO: This baby book requires a bit of organization and planning ahead. Lay out your 8″ x 18″ fabric rectangles in a column and place page markers as indicated.
STEP THREE: Sketch your design on paper so you can decide what will fill the pages of your book. I’ve jumped ahead to the finished book to show you examples of what I came up with. My shapes are complex and detailed–but yours don’t need to be like this if you don’t want to put in all that work. A simple shape book with circles, squares, and triangles, letters, numbers, etc. could be cute too!
STEP FOUR: After your initial sketch is finished, you will need to create a paper pattern of the full-scale shapes so you can trace them onto the textured materials. The free baby boy template I created is available here.
I always use a lite HeatnBond iron-adhesive to create fusible shapes that will adhere them to the fabric pages. I find that adding HeatnBond lite makes the shapes work easier and always looks great! See the full tutorial on how to work with HeatnBond lite to create fusible shapes here.
I’ve also added lots of letters to personalize my book. To add letters, see my fabric letter tutorial here.)
STEP FIVE: Once you’ve created all your shapes, peel off the paper from the back side of each shape./letter. Arrange them onto the pages and iron them in place following HeatnBond lite instructions. Once a page is complete, center a batting square behind each “page” (centered) and pin in place. Stitch all letters and shapes in place by top-stitching around the shape’s perimeter just in from the edge.
STEP SIX: Once each page is stitched in place, take the first two rectangles in your column.
To prepare them to be sewn together, bring them batting-sides together, keeping the pages oriented so the top-sides remain together. Align the raw edges and pin in place. DISCLAIMER: I used buttons on my pirate ship but cannot recommend using them as they pose a potential choking hazard.
Stitch around the perimeter using 1/2″ seam allowance.
STEP SEVEN: Take the next two page rectangles in the column and sew them together using the same steps. Repeat a third time with the bottom two page rectangles. Next, make a new column with the following pages facing up: (1 & 10); (3 & 8); and (5 & 6).
STEP EIGHT: Stack the pagesso that pages 1 & 10 are on the bottom, 3 & 8 in the middle, and 5 & 6 on the top. (I’ve staggered the layers below to demonstrate.)
Line up the edges and pin in place. (Before you sew, feel free to close the book and preview to check that everything is in the right order.) See the ironed crease? It marks where we need to sew the book together.
STEP NINE: Sew along the marked line/crease from (top) perimeter seam to the (bottom) perimeter seam. I used a zig-zag stitch.
STEP TEN: Clip the edges up to the seam allowance (on all pages) and throw the book in the wash to fray.
The fraying adds another cool level of texture to the book!
I love how this DIY texture book turned out! I think my favorite is the dump truck with the soft dirt.
Do you have a favorite page?
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56 Comments
Emilee
April 21, 2011 at 9:11 amI love it! I wish you were doing a giveaway. Thanks for the tutorial.
Rachael @ The Little Birdie
April 21, 2011 at 10:15 amThis is INCREDIBLE! I always love seeing stuff for little boys, there's never enough of it out there. Love it! 🙂 You should definitely come and link up at the party this week. This one is a winner!
Tammy @ she wears flowers
April 21, 2011 at 12:14 pmWhat a darling idea!! I love, love, love it! I can't wait to make one of my own!
Kelsie
April 21, 2011 at 8:07 pmWow! I love this! I've been wanting to make a soft feel/quiet book, this will be perfect!
Unknown
April 22, 2011 at 7:59 amI love this!! I have seen other quiet books but yours rocks! I love the fabrics you used!
Brandy J.
April 22, 2011 at 2:36 pmThis is CRAZY CUTE!!
Bree mcconnell
April 22, 2011 at 3:36 pmI just stumbled upon your blog and im TOTALLY IN LOVE with your style!!!!!
Unknown
April 22, 2011 at 6:53 pmthis is so cute. makes me wish i could sew. great tutorial. and cute blog!
Shelly Schmidt
April 22, 2011 at 7:24 pmWhat a fantastic project- this is so cool!!!
Sommer
April 22, 2011 at 8:28 pmOh wow. What a wonderful gift this would make! The sentiment behind it is unmeasured. http://thelarsonlingo.blogspot.com/2011/04/tie-dyed-easter-eggs.html
Unknown
April 23, 2011 at 6:50 amJust wanted to let you know that I featured this book on my blog today! It has been "stuffed in my gunny sack"! 🙂
sewhappiness
April 23, 2011 at 9:12 amOh this is just adorable!!! What a creative idea!!! I'd really like to make one for my new born niece… I will feature this on my blog if you don't mind!!
I found your blog through Tatertots and Jello!! I'm so glad I did:)
Have a great weekend and a Happy Easter:)
Eleni@sewhappiness.blogspot.com
Katie @ OhhBaby
April 23, 2011 at 2:44 pmthis is precious! I may have to give it a shot for the next baby shower that I attend!
Nicole @ Wohler's World
April 24, 2011 at 8:45 pmI wish I could sew! This is so adorable! Thanks for sharing such a great tutorial!
Bec@littlelucylu
April 24, 2011 at 10:14 pmWow. That really makes me wish I could sew!!!
Amazing … love it!
~Bec
Jayna Rae
April 24, 2011 at 10:30 pmI saw Jamie Lynn's feature of this, and I have now officially added it to my to do list for my boys birthdays. They are both in July. Hopefully I can create at least one by then.
Amanda
April 25, 2011 at 12:29 pmThis is such an adorable book, such a fantastic idea!
Unknown
April 25, 2011 at 1:50 pmHi There- I love this so MUCH, SO MUCH I DO! My baby boy is being born tomorrow via c-section and we are naming him Evin, another reason I love this. Evin spelled like his dad Kevin, dropping the "K"
Anyway, I adore this and I NEED a few Guest posts for my blog would you like to guest post on CraftOManiac? you can send me the HTML code to this post to my email jenglamgirl@gmail.com with a small intro. at the top. I would love to feature this. Thanks-winks-jen
Kelly @ Run With Glitter
April 25, 2011 at 1:56 pmI love this and I'd love it if you linked it up to my weekly link party! http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/2011/04/running-with-glitter-6-link-party.html
Sew Can Do
April 25, 2011 at 3:42 pmVery cute & looks cuddly. Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday – would love if you added the party button to your blog:)
Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims
April 26, 2011 at 8:55 pmoh my goodness! this is so great!! looks like it took a lot of effort, but it is so beautiful!
Thanks for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday!! Hope to see ya again this week 🙂
Liz Ferguson
April 26, 2011 at 9:06 pmOh, I just love this! One of my best friends is having her first boy in a few months. I think I will have to make one of these for her. Thanks for sharing the idea!
Anonymous
April 27, 2011 at 12:29 amThis is really cute! I need to make my kids something like this.
Kath
April 28, 2011 at 9:09 amwhat a great blog! and a super cute craft. I'm jealous, you are very talented. I'm a ultra beginner at sewing and couldn't pull this off but I LOVE it.
I'm your new follower!
kathryn
http://www.thedragonsfairytail.blogspot.com
Unknown
April 28, 2011 at 11:34 amlove love it! new follower- & already a big fan!
Jen
April 28, 2011 at 12:25 pmYou are AWESOME! This is such a great idea! I am going to have to make one of these for my little boy – thanks so much for sharing this at Fantastic Friday!
Maria Matter
April 29, 2011 at 5:52 amThank you so much for joining the party @ Inspire Me Fridays!
Unknown
May 1, 2011 at 8:19 pmHi Vanessa~
So cute & creative!! Thanks for linking to my K.I.S.S. blog bash last week, looking forward to seeing what you share this week.
Drop By The Tattered Tag
Sew Can Do
May 2, 2011 at 7:34 amGreat idea & the boy designs are super cute! You've been featured at this week's Craftastic Monday party. Stop by & grab a Featured On button:)
Judy Whatilivefor
May 5, 2011 at 6:25 amThat book is incredible and totally puts my soft baby book to shame. I love the themes you used and it's so clean/colorful/fun!
Spunky Junky
May 5, 2011 at 9:07 pmI have been wanting to make a quiet book and I think I now have some inspiration! I love love love your idea!
I will be featuring you tomorrow on Spunky Junky!
xoxo
Halsey
kim west
May 8, 2011 at 3:53 pmI featured this on my blog today
http://kimboscrafts.blogspot.com/2011/05/shout-outs.html
Alison @ Oopsey Daisy
May 10, 2011 at 1:18 pmThis is incredibly cute!! I just featured you on my blog today:
http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/2011/05/wednesdays-wowzers-arrives-early.html
Thanks for inspiring!
~Alison
Anonymous
May 10, 2011 at 2:02 pmThis is so adorable!
lyndsey
May 30, 2011 at 7:52 pmthis is amazing! i'm getting ready to make my baby boy a counting quiet book, and this was just the inspiration i needed.
VickiT
May 31, 2011 at 1:34 pmThis is SUCH an adorable book! We have our 2nd Grandchild arriving in early September and already have been told it's a boy. This would be adorable to make.
I am wondering what exactly is included in the info you are selling to make the book but I keep getting an error for the link. I'd like to see what it is before paying however. Is this going to be put on your Etsy site at some point as well as the adorable baby girls' book too? Thank you very much.
Amanda
June 9, 2011 at 11:13 amWhat a fantastic project! I've been wanting to make a softcover book for my niece, but I wasn't sure how to start. This really helps a lot. If you want, come link up sometime at I Made It! Monday at Ninth Street Notions.
Cyndi
September 1, 2011 at 2:45 pmexcellent tute ty. i am impressed with the detail.
Anonymous
September 20, 2011 at 12:28 pmVanessa, where do you find your fabric? I love the green chevron but don't know where to look for it. Thanks!
Vanessa Goertzen
September 20, 2011 at 12:43 pmThe green chevron print is manufactured by Michael Miller Fabrics. I would check etsy, local quilt shops, etc. It has been out for quite some time so I'm not sure how easy it is to find!
Fowler family
September 24, 2011 at 1:21 pmI just love these Vanessa! Thanks for emailing me. I'm posting about you and your blog/texture books right now! Thanks for connecting. -Anna (www.quietbook.blogspot.com)
Veronica
January 21, 2012 at 11:03 amJust curious… Do you prewash the fabric before making the book? Looking at pictures it dosen't appear so, but I wanted to be sure. I'm new to sewing and am making a similar book as a gift and don't want it to go badly! Thanks!
Angela
January 29, 2012 at 1:25 pmThanks for sharing the page layouts! It really helped me to create my son's quiet book! Thank you!
Anonymous
March 15, 2012 at 7:43 amI am so excitied about this project. Have two small grandsons that I have been wanting to do something for and this fits the bill. I did my other older grandsons a quiet book last year and have made them some new pages to add to their book. I am making a run to Hobby Lobby today to get the materials. Hoping I can make these by Easter! Thanks so much!
Vicki Mac
Camila Gallagher
May 24, 2012 at 11:40 amOh! WOW! I looooooooved it. Too bad my sewing skills are zero. Are you sure you don't want to make some to sell…lol… I will buy it. Congrats to you all who can sew! It's a great idea and the step by step looks super easy.
Rebecca
December 9, 2012 at 2:58 pmthank you for the tutorial on how to put the book together. i just finished and it is in the washer…nervous but sure it will be fine!
Anonymous
December 17, 2012 at 1:45 amI really love your blog.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you
make this website yourself? Please reply back as I'm wanting to create my own site and would like to find out where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Thanks!
Here is my blog post ; static cling remedies
Love Dove
January 31, 2013 at 10:42 amI made one!! Your blog is so inspiring, thank you for sharing this awesome tutorial! I blogged about my version here: http://goodquilthunting.blogspot.com/2013/01/baby-boy-softbook.html
Unknown
September 18, 2013 at 10:37 amTHIS IS AN AWESOME CRAFT AND WOULD BE SO FUN TO SEW. I HAVE ADDED IT TO MY FAVORITES AND AM EXCITED TO MAKE 1 OR SEVERAL. THANK YOU FOR SHARING
Bernysblessings.blogspot.com
luvbabyfeet40@gmail.com
February 14, 2014 at 1:12 pmthis is really cute for boys! do you the patterns for the appliques?
Melissa Hooker
November 15, 2014 at 5:28 pmThis is a great tutorial – I just finished mine and I love how it turned out!!
Little Birdie Blessings
January 6, 2015 at 3:30 amWow, this is the best tutorial I've ever seen for a quiet book. Like the idea of leaving the edges frayed. The book you made is so sweet. Thanks so much for the time you put into this tutorial. ~ Abby
chachalaca
February 19, 2016 at 9:54 amestá hermoso, muy original, y me encanto que no fuera todo con fieltro, gracias por compartir
Unknown
February 8, 2017 at 4:20 pmI'm a little confused – say on # 1 the cowboy boot & cacti – is there anything on the backside of that or is it a blank page? My email is geraniummom@gmail.com
Unknown
September 20, 2017 at 9:53 pmWhat material did you use for backdrop pages?
Unknown
September 20, 2017 at 9:53 pmThis comment has been removed by the author.