Fabric Covered Coptic Stitch Sketchbook - Five - "FABRICS! IT'S TIME TO BREAK OUT THE FABRICS!"

"FABRICS! IT'S TIME TO BREAK OUT THE FABRICS!"

Well, it has taken a while to get to this point, and we've all worked very hard. And, if you are like me, you have already made several dumb mistakes, causing you to consider throwing in the towel. Trust me, those mistakes were nothing. Many bigger, more stupid and exciting mistakes are looming just over the horizon! We will all laugh about having made them when we are finished. But then, after, WE WILL NEVER MENTION THEM AGAIN TO ANYONE! What most people can't see never need concern them. Our secret blunders will die with us!

It is now time to drag our fabric stashes out and make some decisions. Because I have so much left from my first go-round with Gypsy's Fabrics, I am for a do-over. Only this time I'll try to get it right! I really feel the need to correct some of the epic secret blunders I made that even YOU don't know about, and hopefully, can't see.

Here's my stash from Gypsy's Purple Month packet. So much from which to choose! More than I can use on a smallish book. So, again, I have to pare down my choices, even though I want to use everything! (MORE GLITTER! I NEED MORE GLITTER!!!)

Probably you will want to start with one main fabric for each cover. To do this make a paper pattern the size of your opened cover, with a one inch border all around.

Cut the pattern off at a 45º an angle about 3/8" above each corner. This will be your guide for your base fabric, or (or fabrics, if you want to use a different one for each cover). In either case they need to cover this pattern. Be generous. You will be sorry if you skimp, especially if you are doing quilting. Terrible things happen.

I guess this would be a good time to say there is no reason at all this project needs to be done with fabric, other than it is so pretty. From here you could layer the covers of your sketchbook using handmade paper, an old watercolor, a sheet of collaged photos, paper painted with acrylic in wild, abstract colors, or old newspaper clippings. If you do chose something other than fabric, you might want to eliminate the batting layer. Or not. Your choice.

So, fabric it is, you say? Then I suggest you open those book covers up and start laying and layering fabrics samples all over them to see what looks best. When you get something you like, draw a little thumbnail schematic guide, so when you take it apart you can put it back together again. 

And I am hopeful everyone has been patient and allowed the glue under the thin layer of batting on the covers to dry well. It makes a big difference. It really does.

My package from the Gypsy included beautiful sari fabrics. I want to use them, as well as the satin brocade, so the base fabric on the back will be different from the one on the front. But they coordinate very well. The back is covered with two layers of sari fabric - one glittery gold and the other sheer embroidery. Both are a nightmare to work with, by the way. You may very well have the same fabric front and back. WONDERFUL!!

To start I taped both layers to the board lightly to hold them in place.
I need to say here that I wish I would have sprung for a good piece of heavy tag-board. It has a clay surface that is much more tape friendly, but this is working out OK. *(See Post 4 - Under the Covers - for a revised explanation of board material.)

Because I wanted to have some quilted effect on the covers, I placed the base fabric on the batting, secured it with tape and pins and added my trim pieces over it. I sewed through all the layers, including the tagboard. If you are going to do any sewing you should test our your machine for this now!  Surprises at this point are frustrating and bad! (If the glue is still wet it gums up the needle, and worse!)

Sew and glue as much as you want, leaving those one inch borders loose and free for the time being. But test all the parts that "turn under" to be sure there is enough fabric to make the turn. Again, mistakes here are bad and hard to fix. If you are not sewing anything to the tagboard cover you especially need to secure the fabric with tape on the backside before beginning the gluing process. You don't want it slip-sliding around.

Then flip your cover over and secure one long and two short sides temporarily with tape. Brush glue on the fourth (long) side, on the tagboard. Turn the fabric edge over onto the glue and secure with more tape, clips or grippers. Repeat this for the other long side, then the two short sides. Apply just enough tension to pull the fabric down, but not so much that the cover curls!

Tuck in the loose bits of the corners that are sticking out with a bamboo skewer, toothpick, or straight pin. You do want them snug and secure. Use tape and weight to get all the little frayed end bits tucked in. Having this done now is very helpful when it comes time to assemble the book. 

This is also a good time to punch the holes in the cover for our next step - sewing the book together. Use the template. Be very careful that the UP arrow is going in the right direction. Also, the cover is 1/8" bigger at the top and the bottom than the template. Place the template so it is dead center between these margins. 

At this point it would be a good idea to check to be sure that the outside/front and outside/back orientations are correct. How do I know to tell you to check this? You don't want to know. 

Right now the covers look pretty nasty, from the viewpoint we've been working. But flipped over, and folded shut, they should be looking quite lovely!!! I can hardly wait to see them with their beautiful, end-wrapped signatures and nifty braided Coptic stitching!!!

WOWZA!!!!