A Gift From the Heart

We all know a book is a great gift. Recently, I made a cloth story book for my grandson about our family and this was a gift from the heart.

Creating a personalized cloth book for a young child can be an incredibly rewarding experience. I embarked on this creative journey for my 9-month-old grandson, Graham, crafting a book about our family, pets, home, favorite places, and more. This blog post will guide you through the process I followed, including writing a poem for each page, using textiles and technology, and assembling the book.

A Gift From the Heart to MY Grandson

Crafting a Cloth Book

Making a children’s book is something that comes from the heart. I have had this idea for a long time and thought it might make a nice Christmas gift for my first grandson Graham.

Although I made mine from scratch, at the end of this blog post I have included personalized books you can make online. They are a lot easier and would make the best gift!

Be sure to check them out.

Conceiving the Idea

My goal for this book was to make a book that was not just a reading experience but a tactile and visual adventure for Graham. I wanted to include elements of our family life that were familiar to him, making it both educational and sentimental. And I wanted this to be a gift from the heart to show this little guy the family that loves him so much!

Planning and Design

Outlining the Content: I started by outlining what I wanted to include in the book. This list comprised family members, pets, our home, and places we often visit. Each of these elements held a special place in Graham’s life.

Don’t laugh but here are the notes from my phone about my ideas for the book. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do but this kind of shows where my mind was going with this idea!

• Photos with textures and fun things 
• Picture of the house – open door
• Neighborhood photo with street where he will learn to ride a bike
• Picture of Mom, Dad, Graham, Mimi, and Dug
• Picture of Graham as a baby and pictures as he gets bigger 
• Mom/Charlotte –  photo and decorating, cooking, 
• Dad/Andrew – photo and golf, swimming and guitar
• Dug and Mimi – photo and fur to feel or favorite toys
• Grandpa Dave and Grandma Lala (me) – photos and Dave golf and Lala crafting and bike riding
• Grandpa Bell and Grandma Lolo – photos and the Duck Club
• Uncle Matt – photo and golf and baseball
• Uncle Michael and Ellie – photos and golf and volleyball and their cats with fur and upcoming wedding
• Beach house – a place to visit- fish and sandpaper 
• Our South Pas house – a place to visit for the holidays where dad grew up
• Use crinkle paper somewhere!
• House – cut fabric or photo with an open door (2 pages)
• Golf ball – fabric with bumps or flags or green rough surface 
• Cooking- pasta?
• Make all pages size of two pages with seam on center. 
• Create a template on Cricut for print and htv paper layouts
• Rhyme the book story
• Every page needs something he can touch. Like a guitar or an apron or ducks or beach shells or a Christmas tree and stockings.

What You Need to Make This Book

• Medium weight cotton white fabric (2 yards)
• Natural cotton batting (2 yards) unless it’s really wide
• Noise Making crinkle paper
• Iron on heat transfer paper for inkjet printer
• iron or Cricut Easy Press
• Cricut Machine and HTV transfer paper
• Fur and assorted fabrics with textures
• Sewing machine

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The Layout

Next, I laid out the pages on paper and decided I would have 26 pages, or 13 pages, back to back. Then I decided which idea would go on each page. I took my list of notes and figured out the order of the pages and what would go on each page.

Then I searched for photos I could use in the book.

Writing the Poem

For each page, I wrote a short poem. This was not only a fun exercise but also a way to add a personal touch to the book. The poems were simple, rhythmic, and engaging, perfect for a young child’s emerging language skills.

Preparing the Materials

Choosing the Fabric: I chose white cotton fabric for its durability and ease of working. It was also ideal for printing images and text.

Cutting the Fabric: I decided I wanted each page to be 8″ x 8″ so I cut out rectangles 17″ x 8″ with a 1/2″ seam allowance. slightly larger than the desired page size, This step required precision to ensure consistency in the book’s size.

I added a small piece of white tape on each side of the fabric with the page number.

Printing the Story and Photos

I decided to use Iron-on Heat Transfer paper because I knew it would be way too difficult to use my Cricut and have to weed all of those words! The Heat Transfer paper can be printed in your ink jet printer so I printed the story poem and corresponding photos. Be sure to change your printer settings to the best quality print and mirror them before printing.

By using the Heat Transfer paper I could iron directly onto the fabric, ensuring the photos and words were safe and wouldn’t peel off with handling. It’s important to know that when you use HTV Iron on Paper (or HTV on the Cricut) you have to mirror everything. So that’s why all of the words are backward in these photos. They will be flipped over before ironing and will read correctly.

Once the paper was printed, I cut out the images and story poem and laid out everything on a large table.

Creating Textured Elements: To add a sensory aspect, I used lots of fur and textured fabric. I also used my Cricut machine to cut out textured items. These were then ironed onto the pages, providing a tactile experience for Graham.

Crafting a Mock-up

Before I ironed the content of the pages to the actual book, I made a small paper mock-up. This helped me visualize the final product and organize the layout. I numbered the pages, and wrote the content of each page. Then I took them apart. This is such an important step since the book is folded. Without this, you would never know what went on the front and back of each piece of fabric.

Assembling the Book

Inserting Batting and Crinkle Paper: For a plush feel, I inserted batting between the first three fabric layers. Next, I added crinkle paper inside the rest of the pages for a fun, sensory experience.

Ironing on the Content

I used my Cricut Heat Press to iron everything. A regular iron could work but it’s easier if you have a heat press.

I also sewed some things too.

Sewing the Pages: Carefully, I sewed the pages together. This step required patience and attention to detail, as it was crucial to align the pages correctly and ensure the seams were secure. As you can see I used a lot of pins!

Sewing the Book Together: The final step was sewing the book down the center to secure all of the pages. I carefully sewed straight down the center four times to make sure it was going to last!

The Joy of Storytelling

Writing the story was perhaps the most enjoyable part of the process. It allowed me to dive into the world of storytelling, creating a narrative that was both educational and sentimental. The poems added rhythm and whimsy to the book, making it a delightful read for both Graham and the family.

The Result

The finished book was a labor of love. It was not only a book but a keepsake that Graham would cherish. The pages, filled with familiar faces and places, sparked recognition and joy in his eyes. The textured elements added an interactive dimension, making reading a multi-sensory experience.

Reflections and Tips

Patience is Key: The process can be time-consuming and requires precision. It’s important to take your time and enjoy the journey of creation. So plan in advance!

Personalization Matters: The more personal you can make the book, the more special it will be. Use photos, names, and places that are meaningful to the child.

Safety First: Ensure all materials are safe and secure, especially when dealing with young children who tend to put things in their mouths. Do not use anything that would tear and end up in the child’s mouth. All items need to be securely adhered to the book pages. Glue is not secure as it should be sewn too.

Experiment with Textures: Different textures not only make the book more interesting but also stimulate sensory development.

Have Fun: Remember, this is a creative process. Enjoy the storytelling, the crafting, and the sewing. It’s a unique way to bond with your grandchild even before they can fully appreciate the effort.

Creating a cloth book for a young child is an enriching experience that combines crafting skills with storytelling. The result is not just a book, but a memorable and personalized gift that can be treasured for years.

It’s a beautiful way to weave family stories, love, and learning into a tangible form that a child can grasp with both hands.

As I watched Graham flip through the pages of the book I made, I knew that this was more than just a gift. It was a story of our life, a token of love, and a tool for learning.

It was a gift from the heart.

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Personalized Children’s Books Available Online

Not feeling up for this project? Below are some great options for personalized children’s books or already-made scrapbooks!

Everything I need when baby Graham comes to visit!

A Home to Share by Leslie Saeta

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