Here’s the next Quiet Book Page (for last week!). I should have known I wouldn’t be able to finish it last Saturday while Creativ Festival was going on. Ah – the nievity of thinking everything can be accomplished in minimal time! We’ve talked briefly about this page before, mentioning that it might be a good idea to find an appropriate fabric to work with. This Quiet Book page is found along with other information and tutorials links on the Sew Along page.

This is a favorite page as well – due mostly, I think, to the perfection of the fabric. The matching squares make it perfect for a puzzle. Of course you can match animal heads and tails or the front and back of vehicles. I also think it’s pretty funny that I still have yardage in the blue versions of both fabrics I used over 3 years ago now. Though I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing! Although the puzzle piece size is mentioned in the materials listing, you will need to wait until the instructions to cut anything so it is cut out correctly.

You will need:

• Background Fabric: 1 piece quilting cotton exactly 9″x9″ square
• Page Interfacing: 1 piece exactly 9″x9″ square, medium weight fusible interfacing (you will have this from your Week 1 shopping list)
• Puzzle Pieces – Left Side: enough fabric to fit 3 pieces aprox. 2 3/4″ wide by 2″ high
• Puzzle Pieces – Right Side: enough fabric to fit 3 front pieces and 3 back pieces aprox. 2 3/4″ wide by 2″ high
• Fusible Fleece: 1 piece about 9″ by 4″
• Ribbon to attach puzzle pieces: 3/8″ grosgrain, 3 pieces 7″ long
• Velcro: Three 1″ pieces of both sides (hook and loop)
• Ribbon Tab: 3 1/2″ long for the side tab
• Removable Fabric Marker

Before we begin/Important Notes:

• When you are sewing this book it is good to remember that some of the edges will be covered after the book is completed and sewn together. 1/2″ on the top edge of your page and 3/4″ on each side edge will not show in the final project.
• Remember to use your iron liberally when you are sewing this book. It is going to be a work of art when you are done! Since it is thick and some of the pages will not be iron-able once you are finished with them it is advisable to take all of the care you can to remove wrinkles so they are not accidentally permanent in your final book.
• Fuse the 9″ square fusible onto your 9″ square background fabric before you begin.

Here we go:

1. Use a removable fabric marker to draw a 5.5″ x 2″ rectangle around the area you will use for BOTH puzzle pieces.
2. Draw a line down the centre of the rectangle, creating two pieces 2 3/4″ wide by 2″ high.
3. Draw your notches as desired, I used the number of notches that matched my fabric numbering. You could put one or two notches on all pieces – be creative. Maybe the notches could be curved lines, or other shapes, like rectangles or half circles.
4. Fuse an over-sized piece of fusible fleece directly behind the puzzle pieces. Cut out the two pieces with the fusible fleece attached.
5. Cut a small piece of backing fabric for the puzzle piece on the right side. To use the cut puzzle piece as a guide, place it wrong sides together with the backing fabric, then trace and cut.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 for the other pairs of puzzle pieces.
7. Stitch the soft side of a piece of Velcro onto the centre of each piece of backing fabric. A glue stick is great for holding the small pieces on while you sew.
8. Place the right side puzzle pieces wrong sides together with their backing fabric. (Another great place to use a glue stick!) Insert about 1″ of ribbon into the side opposite the notches, between the fabric layers.
9. Stitch around the edges of the puzzle piece with a short zig-zag stitch. Double-stitch over the end where the ribbon is inserted to secure it.
10. Place the puzzle pieces onto the background fabric as desired – lining up the notches.
11. Stitch around the left side puzzle pieces to secure them.
12. Place each right side puzzle piece and mark where the Velcro is located.
13. Stitch the hook side of the Velcro onto the backing fabric in place as marked in Step 10, so the Velcro will line up when the puzzle pieces are placed correctly.
14. Baste the three long ribbons side-by-side along the centre-right edge of the background.
15. Fold the 3 1/2″ matching ribbon tab in half and use the small safety pin to attach it to your page so it does not get lost.

And you’re finished with another page. Only three more to go! See you back again later this week.