I started this fabric book last summer, late to the party but it didn’t matter, Anne Brooke has all of her lovely tutorials on YouTube. Having stitched a double page spread every three weeks I have finally finished it, happy dance time!

Three weeks ago I had finished a double page and just started the final one…

The quote is for the final page, I was planning to embellish it but in the end I kept it simple as the facing page is very busy.

The final set of pages includes an ‘index’, a record of the different fabrics and embellishments used throughout the book. I pulled out all my scraps and started cutting little samples and putting them into colour piles. I chose the alphabet fabric as my base – I thought it was rather apt. I also managed to arrange it so C for Creek was visible.

Once I had my mini piles I started arranging them in a tab, adding lace and trims I had used in the book, this is the blue and taupe index, secured at one end with blanket stitch, some french knots and a handmade wooden button…

For the red index I stitched a silk flower onto a red background just with running stitch, adding some lace before stitching it down with cross-stitch…

Partially under the blue fabric index was the smaller teal tab with a line of fly stitch a button and some lace all stitched securely with a line of blanket stitch…

This lifts up to reveal my favourite bit, a tiny fabric envelope to enclose a little message, isn’t it pretty! I haven’t written anything yet, but I’ll probably include something about the making of the book.

All I had to do now was make it all into a book! I had used the calico pages from Untangled Threads as a base, these have little tabs on for binding with beads. Their irregularity somehow suited the relaxed nature of the book.

I kept the covers simple just using fabric from the sample book, I made two pockets then slid some bosal in between to stiffen them and slip-stitched them closed. I still needed something for the front and back pages of the book. I kept it fairly simple with a few oblongs of fabric and some simple stitching…

I used little beads as spacers, I didn’t have enough of one colour so I made a striped pattern with them instead. I found a gorgeous blue button which came from my mum’s stash for the front, made a cord and attahed the two for fastening.

It’s quite a fat book! I’m really pleased with how it’s come out and I’ve learnt a lot about this style of embroidery. Anne Brookes is doing a new project this year of 52 handmade tags, all on YouTube. I know several people who are doing it and really enjoying having a little project each week, it’s not too late if anyone wants to join in!

In case you can’t remember the contents of this book, here’s a few photos…

This SAL is organised by Avis from Sewing by the Sea, we post our progress on our own choice of project, it’s a great motivator! Please follow the links for lots more stitching inspiration…

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen  

I seem to have several long projects coming to a close at the moment, so I haven’t decided yet what I will stitch next, you’ll have to wait and see!