What are fabric journals?
A place to let your creativity run free
Fabric Journals are decorated books made from fabric. They can be practical; a stitch dictionary, a collection of samples or a record of textile projects. They can tell a personal story and contain special memories or secrets. They can be a creative exploration; precise and skillful with delicate stitched artwork, or expressionistic, using splashes of fabric paint and dye.
First, choose a Stitchbook
Add your own designs to pre-made fabric books or make your own Stitchbook from scratch.
Making a Fabric Journal starts with a blank Stitchbook - either a pre-made fabric book that you can sew into, or a sewing pattern that will guide you through making your own book from scratch.
Different books and patterns will have different features and advantages. They come in a range of sizes, with varied amounts of pages and construction methods, so choose one that will work for your project.
Copnor Stitchbook
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This soft, quilted book hav lots of room for creative experimentation.
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Add your artwork to flat quilt sheets that are bound together to form the book.
Spinnaker Sewing Pattern
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This is a small scale book that is limited to 10 pages and small and medium sizes.
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The Spinnaker has a soft spine, so there are no hard metal elements. This makes it lovely to hold and 100% soft!
Ravelin Sewing Pattern
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Pages are made 2-page leaves, meaning you are free to add more as needed.
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Bound with metal rings to create removable pages.
Experiment with materials & techniques
A Stitchbook is a blank base onto which a huge range of textile crafts can be applied. Use embroidery, applique, quilting and patchwork, cross stitch and fabric painting. Build on and utilise any existing textile skills you already have to make your book unique.
There are no rules in Stitchbooking! Use the books however you would like and add whatever techniques you want to. They are the perfect tool for textile creativity and I hope they inspire you to explore and step out of your crafting safety zone.
Add a personal element.
Use photographs to enhance your designs
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Record your passions
Explore the things you love using fabric and stitch. This could be specific places, nature, animals, your pets or seasons of the year.
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Practice new techniques
A Fabric Journal is the perfect place to practice new techniques. Whether you are learning at home or in a class, put what you learn into practice here.
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Have fun!
Fabric Journals are a tool for personal creative experimentation and so you can choose to fill them with joy! Use bright colours and rejoice in being silly.
Here’s how you can get started right now: