Which is the best way to measure and cut fabric for quiet books is a common question people ask when they are thinking of starting to sew a quiet book for the first time. I have compiled a few examples below so you can choose the method that suits you best.
Of course, for all the methods, it is best to wash and iron the fabric before cutting to ensure it doesn't shrink afterwards.
1 - Fold and Cut
Simply fold your material into squares (or rectangles depending on the size book you want to create) and cut along all folds. This works well for when you want to use the same fabric for all the pages of your busy book. If you want different fabric for each page, another method will suit you better.
2 - Template Drawing
This is the method I use. I have decided on the sizes I want to use a lot and have made templates out of some cardboard I had laying around. Then depending on how precise I want to be, or how slippery the fabric is, I simply place it on my fabric and either cut around it, or draw on the fabric and then cut using plain old scissors.
You can just use a kid's picture book to get the sizing right too. If you look at the age recommendation on the book, it will give you an idea of what a good page size for that age looks like. Just remember to cut extra for the hem.
3 - Quilting Ruler and Rotary Cutter
If you want to do a lot of fabric cutting, you may want to invest in some tools. This method is easier on the hands if you are finding you get strains, or you have arthritis or such.
4 - Clip and Rip
This method ensures that your fabric is cut straight along the grain, and is rather quick. You may not get as many squares out of your fabric as you thought though. The video demonstrates how to make strips, but you can definitely cut the other sides of the squares in the same way.
5 - Laser Cutting Machine
This last method is of course very expensive and is therefore suited to large scale production, which I am guessing most of my readers are not going to be into. But I know you are all going to be drooling in wishful thinking like I am! Of course, this is an example of the detailed cuts which can be done, but you can also cut plain boring background pages this way too.
Which method suits your needs best? Have I missed a method? I'd love to hear about it.
The Three Angel's Messages of Revelation 14 are a reminder that God is our creator who alone deserves our worship, and that judgement is coming for those who don't.
Memory Verse: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— ” Revelation 14:6 NKJV.
Materials needed to create the The Three Angel's Messages quiet book page:
three gilded pearl shank buttons - I bought this (not an affiliate link)
black iron-on Velcro material (or use with double-sided interfacing)
The hook side of some Velcro or diaper hook and loop tape material (like Velcro but doesn't wreck felt so much and is wider and can be cut to the size needed) - I bought this (not an affiliate link)
Hot glue gun and glue
sewing threads to best match the page
marker and scissors!
Firstly, cut out an angel (you can sharpen the shape between the back of the head and the first wing a little) and the sections of the Earth to use as a template or pattern.
Also cut out the entire Earth on the outside line. Use this to cut a circle out of your black iron-on velcro material.
Cut about three 25-30cm lengths from the gold ribbon and melt the edges to prevent fraying - see my post on How to Stop Ribbons Fraying. Sew a buttonhole at one end of each (do a few practice ones first - you may find it easier to make the buttonhole and then cut the ribbon shorter). Alternatively, you could make ribbon loops at the end instead of a buttonhole. I make a larger buttonhole than I would for clothes to make sure it is easy to do and undo. I also marked where I wanted the buttonhole to start with a pen so I could line it up easily.
Place the opposite ends of the ribbon underneath the Velcro earth in the bottom left area with the backing paper removed. Make sure the buttonhole ends of the ribbon line up with where you want to place the buttons at the top right of the earth.
Ensure the earth is in the centre of your page before ironing it down. Use the lowest iron setting that you can to iron it on to your background page. Mine melted slightly in one spot, but it still works and you can't notice it under the puzzle. Use a tight zig zag stitch to finish around the edge.
Sew your buttons to the top right of the earth - you can use pins to position them correctly.
Trace three angel shapes onto your felt and cut them out. Sew some white ribbon onto the right side just below their wings along the sides of the angel (not through their middles) to form a slot to thread them onto the gold ribbon later. Place the angels onto white felt wrong side down, tucking the ribbon ends between the two layers of felt and sew them down. Cut them out and thread each of them onto a length of gold ribbon so that the angels can be lined up across the Earth.
Cut out the Earth sections from your dark blue felt. Place the wrong sides onto some more dark blue felt, sew them down and cut them out. Cut some diaper hook fabric in sections slightly smaller than these and hot glue them to the back sides. I actually sewed them on first and then had trouble sewing the blue sections to each other, so I don't recommend that. Arrange them like puzzle pieces onto the black Velcro material.
Finished!
Difficulty Level = Intermediate
The hardest part of this page is cutting out the little holes in the angels - use some sharp cuticle scissors to help with these sections.
Key Learning Areas and Skills
Revelation 14 - It is wise to listen to the Three Angel's Messages: 1. everlasting gospel preached to the whole world, for the hour of God's judgement has come 2. Babylon the great has fallen because she caused all nations to drink the wrath of her fornication 3. If anyone worships the beast, and receives it's mark, they will drink the cup of the wrath of God
Imaginative play - slide the angels up and down the ribbon as they fly around the Earth giving their messages
Puzzle - sort out the arrangement of the Earth sections
Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skill development
Hand-eye Co-ordination - all quiet books encourage hand-eye co-ordination
The three angel's messages remind me a lot of Noah's preaching. Or at least how I imagine the years leading up to The Flood. Noah had an urgent message to share. If everyone would only listen and believe. It was also a message from the God who made the Heavens and the Earth. And at least the animals took notice. I find it difficult to believe that anyone could have been an atheist or agnostic at that stage in Earth's history. But I think what they didn't believe was that God was going to actually punish them. Rather, they felt like "everything was going to continue" as it had since the beginning.
In the same way, the three angels make reference to God's creative power. Creative power is much more complex than destructive power. Is it easier to paint a masterpiece or burn it? Is it easier to build a house, or blow it up? It takes far greater skill to fashion something, so why would you question God's ability to destroy it?
Maybe they thought God was too soft, but let me assure you, Jesus had a tradie's beard, not a Soy Boy one.
Today, people believe that everything will continue until either we destroy ourselves, or we evolve enough or develop better technology to survive under harsher conditions. Not many are expecting the soon return of Jesus. But, in the same way that the World was destroyed the first time, the end of the second is decreed. Better to listen to the Good News of the three angels - for indeed it is good news if you are saved from the destruction due Babylon (who has already fallen). We know the outcome, Jesus already scored the winning goal and demonstrated His ability to raise from the dead. If you know which is the winning side, why not join it?!!
