These instructions can be used to make a Needlebook or with the Use of Steam a Seam you Can Make a Beading Book...Steam a Seam, available from Kaliko Kottage is a double sided fusible webbing...It has a tacky surface so that it can be temporarily adhered to fabric and becomes a permanant bond when ironed. And the tacky surface also holds beads so that they don't roll around and spill while you are working with them. You can make a bead book by ironing a piece of Steam a Seam to a page in your needlebook and adding a plastic bag to protect its surface when not in use, the platic bag can be used to store small packets of beads. I also added a pocket for the beading thread and another for a small pair of scissors and with a page for the beading needles my Beading book is a complete kit that I can take to meetings or when travelling.
I have included a few Alterntive options so before you start, read all the instructions and choose the features that you want to include.
The Cover Can be whole cloth or pieced. I used a piece of crazy patchwork that was embellished by a Round Robin Group.
Measurments given are for finished size 10cm x 12cm but you can adjust the size to suit yourself.
pattern.
crazy piecing lessons.
Cover fabric - Cut 26cm x 16cm
Batting - Cut 22cm x 12cm
stiff Cardboard - Cut 2 pieces 10cm x 12cm for the front and Back
Lining Felt - Cut 21.5cm x 11.5cm, That is just a tad smaller than the cover
Page felt - Cut 19cm x 11cm
2 scraps of felt for pockets
A zip lock plastic bag (I will tell you how to make a smaller bag from a larger one) and a piece of Ribbon to stitch it on with.
You will also need Steam a seam OR Craft Glue for constructing the needlebook.
Position cardboard on batting, the spaces between the cardboard form the spineof the book. Lightly glue to hold in place while you are working, I used spray glue for this.
Position cardboard and batting in the centre of the cover fabric.
Next the edges are folded to the back and glued, a neat mitred corner is formed by folding the corners in first and then folding the edges in. For this one instead of glue I used the steam a seam and found it much easier and cleaner to work with than Glue.
I chose to add a plastic bag because it could be used to hold beads as well as well as protecting the surface of the steam a seam but sometimes the size of the plastic bag has to be altered. To make a bag smaller Choose a good quality zip lock bag put it on the ironing board between 2 layers of glad bake, (the backing sheets from the steam a seam can also be used), now run the tip of the iron along the line for the new edge, still using the tip of the iron give the end of the zip an extra press to make sure of a good seal, wait a minute for it to cool before removing paper, the bag should have been split into 2 from the heat of the iron, if not it will have sealed the line so that yoy can cut it to size. I do recommend practicing first and if you can't get the edge to seal without melting to much then you can substitute a stiff piece of plastic to protect the steam a seam.
To attach plastic to page, position it so that it will be on the back page of the book, place a piece of ribbon over the bottom edge and with a long stitch length machine both sides of ribbon.
When I started useing the needlebook I found that I had to add a flap to hold the scissors and stop them falling out. As I was adding it after the book was constructed I hand embroidered the flap in place.
Next time I will swap the pockets and put the scissors on the inside Front cover where they will have more support.
Stitch pocket on so that it will be on the inside front cover.
If you are going to Glue Lining in place ignore this step....Attach Steam a Seam to back of Lining.
Machine stich page to Lining Down Centre Line.
Iron or Glue Lining in Place. When Ironing Steam a Seam use a pressing cloth or glad bake to protect the felt as firm pressure is needed to get enough heat through the felt to fuse the webbing.
Now Iron a piece of Steam a Seam to the back page, under the plastic bag and iron another piece to the inside back cover..... Over time the Steam a seam may loose its tack, if so just replace it by ironing another piece over it.
Note: I chose to not to add a closure but if you feel you would like to be able to fasten it then stitch ribbon for ties or Velcro tabs onto the cover fabric before assembly.