Color My World

My son is just over 18 months, so now is the time that his little brain is a sponge and will soak up knowledge left and right.  I wanted a fun way to help him learn his colors that was also portable.  I made him this quilt book. It took about a hour to do. I started with buying 1/4 yard of different fabrics.  I tried to get different textures and patterns for eye appeal.  I actually even used some ribbon!  It was so much fun to pick out crazy patterns.

First step is to sew different fabrics together, this part doesnt matter too much on size and placement, once the squares are sewn together trim them to be 8x8-after all the hemming and putting the "binding" on it will be about 6x6 which is perfect for little hands!

Trim off any extra fabric to make them exactly  8x8.  Figure out what order you want your book to go in, I was very creative and did the old ROYGBIV(well sort of) My colors were Red, Orange, Yellow, Green Blue and Black & White.   As you can see I choose some really fun fabric, I figure this was the time I could! (I secretly heart the yellow lemons!)

With the right sides facing each other sew a hem, about a 1/4-1/2"around THREE sides, leaving one open.  This side will be where the binding will go to hold the book together-my combos were:

Bundle 1: Front cover (just a blue striped fabric-you will soon see) and the red square

Bundle 2: Orange and Yellow

Bundle 3: Green and Blue

Bundle 4: Black & White with the back cover (same as front)

Flip right sides out.

Next up is to make the Binding, pile the squares on top of each other in the order you want them sewn.The binding should be a piece of fabric about 4 inches wide and 8 inches long.  You fold over one of the long edges like in the picture and slide it under your pile of pages.

Next fold over the sides to cover the pages to hold them secured.  See arrows.

Final step of the binding is to fold the remaining fabric over, my too about three times, which I was fine with so I had a fatter binder. Sew a straight line about 1/4 inch in to secure the pages. (right were the pin is)  Remember this is what is holding the book together so make it  a pretty and strong line.

And enjoy your book. Here are pictures of the book with the pages flipped so you can see all the pretty colors!

In retrospect I wish I would have done more colors, like purple, pink, but maybe next time.   I am currently working on a counting soft book for PJ.  I hope he loves it just as much as I do!

Happy sewing.

T.