Doodle Stitching a Fabric Scrapbook

 

Have you been following our virtual book tour this week? There have been so many fun posts! 

Be sure to check them all out, at each stop you can enter to WIN a free digital copy Doodle Stitching Embroidery Art! Check the end of this post for the complete link list and how to enter here today to win. Good Luck!

I want to share one of my favorite projects from the book, this Fabric Scrapbook! 

There are several pages to my scrapbook and there wasn't room to share photos of all of them in the book, so I'm giving you an exclusive look at those extras here today! 

Are you like me and save all types of fabric scraps, trims and leftovers from other craft projects, not really knowing where you’ll use them? I have a large bag full of too-small pieces of favorite fabrics, ribbons and trims that I just couldn’t bear to part with. I also save scraps of embroidery floss but that’ s for another project (also in this book!)

You can use them all to create a one-of-a-kind and sentimental scrapbook by collecting and collaging all of your favorite bits with hand embroidery.

1. Decide how many pages your book will have. I made my pages 6 × 8–inch (15.2 × 20.3 cm) panels. You will make each page by sewing a front and back panel together, so, for example, if you want a book with a front and back cover and two inside pages, you’ll need 8 panels. Combine your fabrics in any way you want, like you’re making a collage. You can begin with one 6 × 8–inch (15.2 × 20.3 cm) fabric piece and sew other scraps onto it, or piece scraps together, patchwork style. You can use a sewing machine for this step, if you find it easier, or sew your panels by hand. (I really love hand sewing, it feels so calming and meditative!)

2. Stack the pairs of panels back-to-back in your preferred order. Pin them all together. Using a sewing machine or Blanket Stitch, stitch together the left side of all of the panels, creating a book. Leave the right-side edges loose until you've finished embroidering and embellishing.

3. Embellish your panels however you wish. There’s no end to the collage techniques, embroidery, patchwork, fabric painting, and decorating you can use! Have fun and take your time. This doesn’t have to be a fast project by any means, keep adding new bits and pieces until you feel like your pages are complete.

4. When all of your panels are completed, pin and sew each pair together back-to-back around the edges to finish your book. You can sew the edges together using the Running Stitch, Whip Stitch, or Blanket Stitch . Use any number of threads you like, depending on whether you want a thick or thin embroidered edge. I used different stitches for each page of my scrapbook.

This is a very tactile project, it's soothing to work on, and also to handle and flip through when it's finished. I hope you'll try stitching a Fabric Scrapbook of your own! 

Here is the Virtual Book Tour schedule:

Aug 24 

C&T 

https://www.ctpub.com/blog/

MrXStitch   

https://www.instagram.com/mrxstitch/

(and a lovely Q&A at mrxstitch.com)

Aug 25  

Wild Olive  

http://wildolive.blogspot.com

Cozy Blue Handmade

https://www.instagram.com/cozyblue/

Aimee Ray, Instagram (Spoonflower sponsored)

http://www.instagram.com/aimee_littledear

Aug 26 

Benzie Design 

https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials

Jessica Long 

https://www.instagram.com/jessicalongembroidery/

Aug 27 

Snuggly Monkey 

https://www.snugglymonkey.com/blogs/news

Aug 28 

Carina’s Craft Blog 

https://www.carinascraftblog.com

Aimee Ray 

http://littledeartracks.blogspot.com

Also, be sure to visit the C&T blog where I've written a post about the story behind the book's cover art! So many ideas and fun inspiration have gone into this book, I know you'll love it.

To enter to win your e-book, just leave me a comment below! I'd love to know if you keep lots of scraps and what else you do with them. I'll pick a winner next Wednesday, Sept. 2. Good Luck!

xo aimee