Summer of Sewing: Farm Animals Soft Book

During our Summer of Sewing series, we'll be featuring weekly tutorials using our new fabric collections (and giveaways, too!). Join us each week, sit back, relax, and then start sewing! 

This week's tutorial comes from Barb Eikmeier, designer of the Vintage Shirtings & Dress Prints, Vintage 30s Ruby's Treasures, and Waddington Road collections. You've seen several projects here on the blog (including a blog hop!) featuring the Vintage 30s Ruby's Treasures collection, but today Barb is here to show you how to make an adorable soft book for a child out of the Farm Life embroidery panel.

Now it's Barb's turn:

If you're looking for a different way to use Ruby's Farm Life Treasures pre-printed embroidery blocks, consider sewing them into a book for a special child. I made this version for my granddaughter when she was learning farm animal sounds. Framing the blocks with a pretty scalloped border not only enlarged the blocks but also gave me an opportunity to showcase the VVintage 30s Ruby's Treasures fabric collection.

Let's get started!

You'll Need:

(15) Ruby's Farm Life Treasures pre-printed blocks with the embroidery stitching completed

(14) 11" squares of a variety of Vintage 30s Ruby's Treasures prints 

(4) 11" x 22" pieces of lightweight fusible fleece

(1) 11" x 21-1/2" Vintage 30s Ruby's Treasures print for the front cover

(1) Elastic pony tail band for fastener (optional)

(1) 5/8" button (optional)

EZ Quilting Wavy Square template

Step 1: On the wrong side of the completed embroidery block trace the curvy shape. We used the 8" Wavy Square template but you could also freehand draw a curvy frame. 

Step 2: Place an 11" square of print fabric right side down on work surface, and position the prepared embroidered block right side down on top of it. Machine baste on the drawn line. 

Step 3: From the right side trim away the inside of the curvy shape leaving a 1/8" seam allowance. Remove the basting a few inches at a time and needle turn the seam allowance - the basting stitches will leave a perforated line, marking the turn line. Hand applique in place. Trim to 10" square. Repeat for 12 blocks. Trim the remaining two blocks to 11" square (they will go on the inside of the cover).

Step 4: To make the cover, crease the 11 x 21-1/2" piece of fabric in half, marking the center of the long edge. Repeat Step 3 centering the embroidered design you've selected for the cover on the right side of the long piece. The back or left side will be blank (no embroidery block). 

Step 5: Sew the blocks right sides together into pairs. Press the seam open. Trim the cover to the same size as a two-page spread with the 11" square blocks. Place the remaining two-page spreads right sides together in pairs. Press fusible fleece to the wrong side of a two-page spread. Stitch all the way around leaving an opening for turning. Trim the excess fleece and trim the corners at an angle. Turn right side out and hand stitch the opening closed. Press. Top stitch all the way around to complete the two-page spread. Repeat for the remaining pages and the cover (insert one end of the pony tail holder on the blank end of the cover if you'd like a closure; you'll add the button in step 7). Here a few examples of completed two page spreads.

Step 6: Arrange the paired pages in the order you'd like, making sure the cover is right side down on the bottom of the pile. Pin all the pages together along the center seams. Stitch through all layers, sewing along the center seam.

 Step 7: Sew a button on the front edge of the cover, centered from top to bottom.

  Step 8: Use a scrap of fabric to add a handle (if you'd like). 

 Enjoy the Farm Animals soft book!

Would you like to win a bundle of Vintage 30s Ruby's Treasures fabrics? Leave a comment below (or on IG) telling us whether your favorite farm animal. Giveaway is open through Sunday, August 6th at 11:59 PM CDT. 

Follow along with our Summer of Sewing Series! 
Click here to see all the tutorials.

Walkabout 2 bundle winner:

Meloney