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series 2400

This project was originally inspired by a

small book of Japanese fabric swatches

given as a gift by a friend living in

Tokyo. In addition to the beautiful

selection of fabrics, two things caught

my eye … one was that the fabric

swatches were different sizes so that you

could see more than one fabric as you

flipped through the book. This made for

interesting combinations of pattern and

color. The other was the binding … a

simple stab stitch. This book format is a

great way to display those favorite fabric

scraps that you just can’t seem to part

with! The book covers will introduce

you to a variation of reverse appliqué

technique with the option of adding a

stuffed trapunto detail.

InstructIons

Designing the covers1. Use small sharp scissors to carefully

cut out a selection of motifs from the

batik fabric pieces. Approach larger

motifs as if you were cutting stencil

designs, leaving “bridging” fabric

strips between openings. (figure 1)

Fabric Stash Bookby Julie B. Booth

Sponsored by Bernina of America and eQuilter.com

Materials • 2 (41/2" x 7") pieces of wool felt

foundation fabric (I used Cherry

Cordial red from Prairie Woolens.)

Alternative fabric: wool fabric or

acrylic felt

• 2 (41/2" x 7") pieces of cotton batik

fabric (A monochromatic design is

recommended.)

• 4 (41/2" x 7") pieces of open weave

cheesecloth (I used Dritz brand and

colored them with fabric paints.)

[Note: Choose colors that contrast

with the batik fabric. I used two

different color ways (blue/green and

red/orange) sandwiched together.]

• 2 (41/2" x 7") pieces of tulle. (A color

that blends with or enhances the color

of the batik fabric is recommended.)

• Assorted fabric pieces that you want

to feature; largest size 41/2" x 7".

Note: Include scraps of various smaller

sizes. Choose different fabric types,

textures, and weights.

• #8 perle cotton threads (for stitching,

binding, and trapunto).

• 1–2 decorative cotton, linen, or silk

fabric pieces to cover the binding edge.

(Size will depend on the depth of the

book. I layered 2 fabric pieces:

41/2" x 4" and 41/2" x 31/4".)

• Hand sewing needles: Crewel

embroidery size #5 and sashiko (I used

Tulip brand Big Eye, Straight Thin Size

THN-103e)

• Small sharp embroidery scissors

• Disappearing or washable fabric

marker or pencil

• Clear plastic gridded ruler

Optional• Cotton fabric with larger decorative

motif for trapunto feature (I used a

floral motif from a piece of Japanese

Yukata cloth.)

• Solid color cotton backing fabric for

trapunto feature (Cut slightly larger

than shape you plan to stuff.)

• Stuffing

• Embroidery floss

• Stuffing tool

• Ribbons, lace, tulle, small tulle

drawstring bag (optional)

Host Susan Brubaker Knapp and quilt artist Julie B. Booth

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series 2400

Tip: To start a cut, make a small fold in

the fabric. Make a small snip across the

fold. Unfold and continue cutting out the

shape.

2. Make the front and back covers of

the book. Using the felt as the base,

layer 2 pieces of cheesecloth, the

cut-out batik fabric, and the tulle.

Pin together to secure. (figure 2)

3. Thread a #5 crewel embroidery

needle with #8 perle cotton. Knot

the thread and come up through

all the layers. Use running stitch

to attach the layers to the base.

Carefully stitch around the cutaway

areas and along the bridging fabric

strips of the cut designs. Stitch other

areas to add texture. (figure 3)

Create trapunto detail 1. Cut out a large decorative motif,

including an extra 1/4" of fabric

around the motif.

2. Pin solid cotton fabric to the wrong

side of the motif fabric. It should

cover the area that you are planning

to stuff.

3. Following the outlines of the motif,

use running stitch to sew the fabrics

together. (figure 4)

4. Slit the solid backing fabric

(figure 5) and stuff the shape with

loose batting. (figure 6)

5. Whip stitch to close the opening.

(figure 7)

6. Pin to the completed cover and use

running stitch to attach. (figure 8)

figure 3

figure 4

figure 5

figure 6

figure 7

figure 2

figure 1Process photos courtesy of the artist

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series 2400

Assemble the pages1. Assemble the contents of the stash

book. Include fabrics of different

types, sizes, and textures. Consider

adding lace, colorful ribbon, or

netting. Include sheer fabrics such as

cheesecloth, silk gauze, or tulle. Be

aware of how the fabrics relate to each

other and experiment with layering

different fabrics together to create

visual interest. You may even want

to add a small tulle gift bag so you

can include special beads, buttons, or

other treasures.

2. Once you’ve decided on the order of

the stash fabrics, pin them together

so that they all line up along the left-

hand edge.

3. Pin the front and back covers to the

fabric book pages.

4. Wrap the decorative binding fabric

pieces around the left edge of the

book so that there is an equal amount

encasing the front and back covers

and internal pages. Pull taut, fitting it

snugly, and pin the layers together.

Bind the book 1. Determine how far from the edge

you want to stitch the binding. To

some extent, this will depend upon

the width and depth of the book. My

binding was 3/4" from the edge. Use

the washable marker to draw a line

marking this distance on the front and

back covers. Mark (with dots) equal

increments along the stitching line

on the front and back covers so that

you will be able to line up the binding

stitches.

2. Thread the sashiko needle with #8

perle cotton. Knot the end of the

thread. To create the binding, alternate

sets of vertical and horizontal stitches

in the following sequence:

• Bring the needle up through the first

marking on the back cover, through all

the book pages and exiting through the

first marking on the front cover. Pull

until the knot is secure on the back

cover.

• Take the first stitch by bringing the

thread over the top edge of the book.

• Bring the needle back through the back

cover at the first marking (close to the

original knot) and exit through the first

marking on the front cover. Repeat,

so that you have a total of 2 vertical

stitches going over the top edge of the

book. Make sure that the needle is now

coming out again at the first marking

on the front cover in order to start the

first horizontal stitch.

• Make the first horizontal stitch by

bringing the thread over the left-hand

edge of the book. Bring the needle

through the first marking on the back

cover, exiting at the first marking on

the front cover. Repeat so you have a

total of 2 horizontal stitches on the

front cover. Make sure that the needle

is again coming out at the first marking

on the front cover in order to start the

next set of vertical stitches. (figure 9)

• Make the next vertical stitch by

bringing the needle through the second

marking on the front cover exiting

through the second marking on the

back cover.

• Bring the needle through the first

marking on the back, exiting again

through the first marking on the front

cover.

• Bring the needle through the second

marking on the front cover through to

the second marking on the back cover.

You will now have 2 completed vertical

stitches on the front cover.

• To make the second set of horizontal

stitches, bring the thread over the left-

hand edge of the book. Bring the needle

through the second marking on the

front cover and exit through the second

marking on the back cover. Repeat.

• To make the third set of vertical

stitches, bring the needle through the

third marking on the back cover and

exit through the third marking on the

front cover. Bring the needle through

figure 8

figure 9

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series 2400

the second marking on the front

cover and exit through the second

marking on the back cover. Repeat.

• To make the third set of horizontal

stitches, you will need to

re-position the needle so that it

is again coming out of the third

marking on the front. This will

require 1 extra vertical stitch on

the back.

• Make 2 horizontal stitches over the

left-hand edge of the book, ending

with the needle coming out at the

third marking on the front.

• Continue alternating sets of 2

vertical and 2 horizontal stitches

on the front cover by repeating the

steps.

• The last set of vertical stitches will

be over the bottom edge of the

book. Knot off on the back cover.

(figure 10)

Note: The binding uses a lot of thread

and it is likely that you will need

to rethread the needle at least once.

Always end the old thread on the back

cover and start the new thread on the

back cover, picking up the sequence of

binding stitches.

threadborn.com

Thank you to Julie’s student Linda

McNutt who contributed artwork to

illustrate this technique (fish book)

duing the taping of this episode.

figure 10

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