Eeek! The Forest Glen Satchel Pattern is likely going to be released within the next 24 hours! I’m just finishing up the last few things. (I’m so excited to finally be able to share it with you!) Back on topic….
This Quiet book page is another one that my kids loved most. Putting someone or some-bear to bed is apparently enthralling! This also gives you the chance to put together a super-cute mini quilt. I used tiny pieces of my hoarded Geekly Chic Cassette Tapes from Double Decker Fabrics in mine. (Get a discount code for Double Decker Fabrics, expires Nov 21, 2014) Add in a little pillow and prepare to be sleepy! This Quiet Book page is found along with other information and tutorials links on the Sew Along page.
Here are a few little extras you can keep in mind when making this page…
Tips for a better page:
- Use a piece of low loft batting under the pillow to make it stand out a bit more.
- Place a small jingle bell inside the bear – make double sure to secure the opening well to avoid a choking hazard.
- Don’t make the bear or pillow too thick or the page will not fit inside the book properly.
- Replace the pieced quilt with one piece of fabric for a simpler and faster page finish.
Ready to start?
You will need:
- Background Fabric/Bed Sheet: 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)
- Pillow: 3 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ faux fur or fleece
- Quilt: 9″ wide by 4 1/2″ high pieced fabric
- Blanket: 9″ wide by 7 1/2″ high sweater knit or fleece
- Quilt Binding: 9″ wide double fold bias tape
- Teddy Bear: 8″ high x 12″ wide quilting cotton or corduroy
- Teddy Bear Ribbon: 11″ piece of ribbon/twill tape/rick rack
- Teddy Bear Face: embroidery floss/needle
- Small amount of stuffing
- Ribbon Tab: 3 1/2″ long for the side tab
- Small Safety Pin
- Teddy Bear Pattern Pieces -> Click here to download
Before we begin/Important Notes:
- Print out the pattern piece pdf on letter size (8.5″ x 11″) or A4 paper. Important: Do not select “fit to page” when printing, make sure you print at the original size. Once you have printed the pages, measure the 1″ test square to ensure the pattern is the correct size.
- 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 interfacing onto your 9″ square background fabric.
Here We Go:
- Cut out your teddy bear using the pattern piece. Place the long piece of ribbon on the right side of the fabric. Place it just over the edge of the left foot, fold and secure it in the centre of the bear. This will help only the bottom edge of the ribbon to be sewn into the bear shape.
- Place the bear shapes right sides together. Draw the stitching line on one wrong side, 1/4″ inside the outer edge of the bear shape. If desired, re-cut the pattern piece along the dashed gray line and use the new piece to trace the stitching line.
- Mark a small opening along one of the bear legs. Stitch the bear by following the stitching line. Be sure to catch only the bottom edge of the ribbon and leave the opening un-stitched. Double-stitch over the foot area where the ribbon is inserted, pivot at all corners. Note: As you can tell from this photo, I am not great at stitching around small curves. This is by far my best version of all of the bears I have made so far! Thankfully the kids don’t mind!
- Clip/trim into all corners and pivot points and trim curves – preferably with pinking shears. Turn the bear right side out through the opening.
- Stuff the bear lightly. Embroider the face. Close the opening with a ladder stitch.
- Centre the pillow along the top of the background fabric, about 1″ down from the top. Stitch around the edge with a close zig-zag or satin stitch.
- Open the bias tape and stitch it to the wrong side of the pieced “quilt” along the top edge.
- Place the “blanket” wrong side up and fold 1 3/4″ down at the top edge. The fabric fold will be wrong sides together.
- Match up the bottom and sides of the quilt and blanket. Fold the bias tape over and pin all three pieces together along the bottom of the bias tape. The wrong sides of the blanket will not show. The quilt and blanket will be wrong sides together.
- Stitch along the bottom edge of the bias tape to hold everything together. Quilt a few lines, if desired, to hold the layers together.
- Pin the teddy bear ribbon along the right side of the background about 3″ up from the bottom.
- Pin the quilt and blanket to the background, matching side and bottom edges. Baste the three edges.
- Tuck Teddy into bed. 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.
All done for this week! See you again next week with our FINAL PAGE! HOOORAY!