Your finished size will depends on the finished Cross Stitch size. My
finished size was 5 x 5 1/2" using designs that were 31 w x 33 h.
Materials:
2 finished Cross Stitch pieces the same size. (Does not have to be
initials). One will be for the front of the book and one for the center of
the book. My margin was 7 squares around the finished stitching.
8 complimentary 1 1/2" strips wide cotton quilting fabrics. (I chose
the same colors for each Cross Stitch border). Length of strips is not
exact- you will trim off what you don't need.
Fleece (light-colored so as not to show through fabric)
Lining fabric (neutral- I used Muslin)
Center Square and Pocket fabric of complimentary colors
Button, size 10 crochet thread and size 10 crochet hook for loop (or
you may use thin ribbon).
Directions:
Step 1. Press all fabrics. Begin with your top and bottom fabric strips
for the finished Cross Stitch piece. With raw edges aligned to one end and
side of the Cross Stitch piece, lay the strip right sides facing. (This is
also how you make a basic pillow). Sew across with a 1/4" hem.
It will look like this when right side out.
Turn over and carefully trim off excess even with finished Cross Stitch
(try to stay perfectly even with your cutting or finished piece may be off
slightly).
Step 2.
Place strip opposite first strip sewn on and sew and trim
exactly the same way.
Your piece should look like this:
Step 3.
Laying a side strip with raw edges aligned to one side of Cross Stitch (and
covering both strips just joined), sew seam with a 1/4" hem. Trim.
Step 4.
Lay opposite side strip with raw edges aligned to opposite side of Cross
Stitch (covering top and bottom strips joined), sew seam with a 1/4" hem. Trim.
Step 5.
Repeat the
same steps of adding strips for the 2nd Cross Stitch piece.
Step 6.
Optional: You can place a quilting template over the finished pieces to be sure
that you "square" the quilt squares, in other words- check the distance between
the seam of the Cross Stitch piece (see white line) and the side of the strip-
trimming off any excess. (Do this on each side).
Step 7.
Cut a center piece the
same size as your finished Cross Stitch pieces.
Lay these right side facing up
in this order, from left to right: 1- 2nd picture of book, 2- back of book, and
3- first picture of book. Sew a 1/4" seam, right sides together, down each of
these sections shown by vertical white lines.
(The horizontal line is there
to show you that you need to line these edges up with each other).
Step 8.
At this point I
folded the piece in half with short edges together, then placed my quilting
template at the top edge and trimmed off excess. (See white X's) (Your bottom
edge should be perfectly straight as you lined up those edges in Step 7.
