Quiet Book Series: Page 5 - Overalls (Learn To Button)

Downloadable PDF Pattern:

Quiet Book Series - Overalls - Template

Instructions:

1. Print the pattern on 8.5" x 11" paper with narrow margins. You may want to enlarge it by up to 10% to better fit standard 9" x 12" felt sheets. Cut out the pattern pieces and pin them onto the designated colors of felt, or print on freezer paper and iron directly onto the felt for easier cutting. Trim carefully around each edge, noting that some shapes will require multiple pieces. Once cut, remove the pattern and pins. Lay out all of your felt pieces to confirm what each one is and where it belongs on your quiet book page. I like to use a white 9" x 12" sheet of acrylic craft felt as my base, but you can choose any background color you prefer.

2. Plug in your iron and let it heat up while you cut a small piece of iron-on adhesive, such as Heat n Bond. Position the adhesive behind the lower straps of the overall pants. Place your project on a wool ironing mat and cover the acrylic felt with a spare towel or old rag to protect it. Gently press with the hot iron until the adhesive bonds. Once everything has cooled, peel off the paper backing.

3. Line up the overall button and push the button’s backing through the felt, which already has the adhesive applied. Place the button, felt, and backing on a self-healing mat. Using a small hammer or mallet, gently tap until the button backing securely inserts through the felt and into the front of the button. The iron-on adhesive reinforces this area, which will experience extra tugging and handling.

4. Load your sewing machine with green thread and stitch the frog shape onto the green square, placing the green rickrack between the layers at the bottom of the frog. Sew around the edges, doubling back over the rickrack, and add the neon lime felt tummy to the frog as you go. Once finished, trim any loose threads and carefully cut away the excess green square so that only the frog shape remains.

5. Use hot glue to attach the white eyes and black pupils to the frog. Then, use dimensional fabric paint to draw on a smile and nostrils. Allow everything to dry completely before handling.

6. Switch the sewing machine thread to white and sew the large militia blue overalls at the bottom of the page, carefully making sure the needle does not hit the head of the button.

7. Stitch across the top of the blue pocket twice to create a decorative detail for the overalls. Next, sew around the bottom of the overalls while they are layered on the page to attach them securely, making sure to sandwich the other end of the rickrack between the layers. I folded my rickrack back over itself so the frayed edge was hidden inside the pocket.

8. Thread the strips of blue felt through the overall clasp as shown. Only one layer of each strip goes through the clasp, while both layers pass through the buckle-like part (refer to the photo for front and back views). Once the overalls are clasped, sew the blue felt securely to the top of the quiet book page.