Button Card Needlebook Tutorial

The only bright side to being stuck indoors during these crazy days of social distancing is that there's a lot more time for everyone to sew. That's why I've decided to take some of the patterns I've written over the last year for Carnival of Patchwork and publish about one a week on the blog as free tutorials over the next month or so. Hopefully this will give you something to look forward to and enjoy!

These Button Card Needlebooks are first on my list of quick, fun projects to share with you. I adore vintage button cards -- not just for the artwork on the cards but for the buttons themselves. They’re like miniature works of art, and I love looking at them. What better way to remember these gorgeous sewing notions from the past than with a cute little patchwork needlebook. Forgive my poorly lit photos today. It's been pouring rain all day, and I probably should have waited for the sun that's coming next week, but I wanted to get this tutorial out to you all as soon as possible!

Because you’re working with such small pieces for the cover art, this is a great place to let your fussy cutting skills shine. Try doing an online search for vintage button cards to get ideas for how you want to design your own. Illustrations are perfect for the feature print at the top, and I like to use narrow stripes on either side of the text scrap at the bottom to draw the eye to the words. You can use any number of buttons you like in any formation as long as they fit inside the solid square. Linen and canvas prints will work just as well as quilting cotton. The cover of the middle book above is made with pieces from my linen and canvas stash, and I love the added texture those substrates bring to the piece.

I used wool for the pages inside my books, but felt will work just as well if that's what you have on hand. These strawberry pins, by the way, are from my friend Vickie who sells the cutest notions in her Etsy shop. It's funny to me how these are called needlebooks, but I always want to fill them full of cute pins instead...

Alright, let's get to sewing!

Button Card Needlebook Tutorial

Finished Size: 3" x 5 1/4"

From scrap of feature print, cut: 

- (1) rectangle, 3’’ x 2’’ for front cover (A)

From scrap of coordinating solid, cut: 

- (1) rectangle, 3’’ x 3’’ for front cover (B)

From scrap of text print, cut: 

- (1) rectangle, 2’’ x 1’’ for front cover (C)

From scrap of striped print, cut:

- (2) squares, 1’’ x 1’’ for front cover (D)

From 5’’ square of white solid, cut:

- 2 rectangles, 3/4’’ x 5’’ for front cover border (E)

- 2 rectangles, 3 1/2’’ x 3/4’’ for front cover border (F)

From 10’’ square of geometric print, cut:

- (1) rectangle, 3 1/2’’ x 6’’ for back cover (G)

From 1/4 yard of batting, cut:

- (1) rectangle, 4 1/2’’ x 12’’ for interfacing (H)

From 10’’ square of floral print, cut:

- (2) rectangles, 3 1/2’’ x 5 3/4’’ for lining (I)

From 5’’ square of wool, cut:

- (2) rectangles, 2 1/2’’ x 5’’ for pages (J)

Additional Supplies: matching thread, binding clips, chopstick or turning tool, adhesive basting spray, buttons

1. Arrange pieces A-F as shown. 

2. Sew a D square to the right and left edges of the C rectangle. Sew this unit to the lower edge of the B square and then sew that unit to the lower edge of the A rectangle. 

3. Sew the E rectangles to the right and left edges of the unit from step 2, and then sew the F rectangles to the upper and lower edges. 

4. Sew a short end of the G rectangle to the upper edge of the unit from step 3. Use adhesive basting spray to fuse the wrong side of the cover to the center of the H rectangle. Quilt as desired and trim off excess batting to make a 3 1/2’’ x 11’’ rectangle.

5. Arrange buttons as desired on the solid square on the cover. Use needle and thread to sew the buttons on by hand or wait until after step 10. (The timing of when to sew the buttons onto the front is up to you. If you don’t want your stitches to show on the inside of the book, then add them as your last step when you finish sewing the cover. If you’re more concerned about having an easier time turning the book right side out and pressing it, then save the buttons to the very end. You can always cover the stitches over with something fun like this iron-on fabric stamp that my friend Cheri made for me!)

6. Stack the two J rectangles on top of each other and baste them together at one short end.

7. Stack in this order from bottom to top: I rectangle (right side up), J rectangles, I rectangle (right side down). Align all pieces at the upper edge where the J rectangles are basted together and sew them together along that edge. 

8. Open up the lining so that it lies flat and place it RST with the cover, holding them together with binding clips. Sew all the way around the outside edge, leaving a 3’’ gap in the side on what will be the back cover. Backstitch at the start and finish. Trim the corners.

9. Carefully turn the needlebook right side out through the gap, gently pushing out the corners with a chopstick. Tuck the raw edges of the gap into the opening and press the book while open and flat. 

10. Topstitch around the outside of the book 1/16’’ from the edge. Close the book and press one more time. If you waited to add the buttons, sew them on now to finish.

If you sew one of these, be sure to share photos with the hashtag #buttoncardneedlebook and tag me @fabricmutt. These look so adorable in a sewing space, and I think they make a pretty sweet gift for a friend too!

Incidentally, I posted a video on Instagram giving a few tips on surviving the quarantine with your kids at home. If you're not on IG, you can see it here. You'll get a tour of our homeschool setup, a few ideas for maintaining your sanity in a packed house, and a peek at my overflowing bookshelves in the upstairs hall. Let me know if you have any questions about anything I talked about. I'm always here and happy to help!