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A soft fabric book is a useful tool for carrying around appliqué blocks in a "stitch ready" format.
I made this block carrier using flannel fabrics, cotton batting and Lana wool blend threads to appliqué & top stitch the design.
Note: The soft textured appearance of the Lana thread is the perfect complement to the flannel fabrics used to make the book.
My book is approximately 15" square so that I can comfortably carry blocks that will be 12"' finished. (This allows for cutting the background 1"+ larger than the desired finished size so that the blocks can be trimmed to size before piecing)
You can download a printable copy of these instructions and a copy of the appliqué pieces using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer you can download a copy from the internet.
To make a similar block carrier you will need:
1 x Outer fabric cut 32 1/2" x 15 1/2"
1 x lining Fabric cut 32 1/2" x 15 1/2"
1 x Iron on vilene stiffening cut 32" x 15"
2 or 3 pieces of Cotton batting (thin) 31" x 14"
a piece of fusible web such as vliesofix
assorted fabrics for the appliqué design.
Lana (wool blend) threads for the appliqué
1. Iron the vilene interfacing to the back of the outer fabric, positioning the interfacing so that there is a seam allowance on all edges.
2. Cut out and position the appliqué design on the right side of the outer fabric so that it will be on the front cover of the book.
For Blanket stitch appliqué:
Trace the appliqué designs on to the paper side of the fusible web.
Press the textured side of the fusible web to the wrong side of the appliqué fabrics
Peel away the backing paper & position the appliqué pieces to suit your layout and press into place. Always start with the piece to at the very back of the design eg: the heart and build up the layers until the top most piece is in position.
Hand or machine appliqué the edges of each design piece. Once again starting with the very back piece and working up to the top most piece. eg: the red flowers were the last pieces to be outlined.
I machine appliquéd my design using Lana wool blend threads and a decorative featherstitch and blanket stitch. When the pieces were appliquéd into place I embellished the flower centres with additional embroidery.
3. Place the right side of the lining fabric right sides together with the appliquéd top fabric. Stitch around the edges, using a 1/4" seam allowance.
Start & stop on the edge that will form the back page of the book.
When working with flannels it is important to remember that the fabrics a quiet soft so leave a good size opening so that you can turn the fabrics through to the right side.
NOTE: I did not leave sufficient space for turning so the opening on my book split at the stitching line.
4. BEFORE turning the fabrics to the right side:
a) press the seam to "set the stitches".
b) Then press the seam open to help form a crisp edge when the fabrics are turned to the right side.
5. Press the seamed edge and hand stitch the opening closed.
6. Top stitch around the outside of the book cover, 1/4" from the edge. (I used a decorative 3 step straight machine stitch)
7. Press the cover in half to mark the centre spine of the book. Also hand press a centre line in the batting pieces
8. Lay the book cover right side face down and position the layers of cotton batting on top of the lining fabric. Run a basting stitch along the centre "spine" mark to hold all layers together.
9. Fold the book in half and carefully machine stitch through all layers approximately 1/2" from the fold. (This is quite thick so stitch slowly so that you don't break a needle.) Remove the basting in the spine.
Note: You may choose to finish the book at step 8 by using a permanent row of stitching ... maybe a wide decorative stitch rather than straight stitch.
Congratulations!
You now have a handy book to carry around your hand appliqué or piecing layouts.