I have been playing with felt lately in my quest to make a quiet book (my very first) based on fine motor and life skill development. That book is doing very well and is almost done. With my youngest turning 2 next month I thought to make her her own quiet book filled with things that would interest her.
Update: It has been a very long time (3+ years!) since I made this quiet book! It is still holding up well despite a few missing apple loose pieces.(I need to replace them!) It is a much handled book and was well worth the make!
Update again!: I now have a video tutorial!! See the bottom of this post!
This is how to make a quiet book the no sew way.
To make a quiet book you will need.
- A shape to trace or measurements for your desired size felt pages (I used a broken board book)
- pen / marker
- felt of a base color (light green in mine)
- scissors
- hot glue gun or equivalent glue
- velcro for securing books tab (I used a velcro dot)
Firstly decide on how many pages you are going to make. Then measure or trace the pages and cut them out. I have used a broken potty training board book as it was a great size and made a rather nice quiet book template.
Also cut a cover for your book by adding a spine between 2 page. Don’t cut alone the spine.
Heat up the glue gun and get ready to assemble your blank quiet book. What I wanted to do here was have a nice page fold that would hold up to toddlers pulling. I went with hot gluing each page together first.
1. Line up your page.
2. Gently fold over the page and squeeze out a line of hot glue along the edge.
3. Flip the page back and press together to ensure good glue contact between the 2 pages.
4. Line up the next page on top of the two you just glued and repeat step 2 and 3 until all are glued together.
You now have a secured sandwich of felt pages and are ready to make a quiet book!
Bring out your cover and make a glue line next to the spine to attach the pages to the cover in the same way you did above.
Zigzag the glue along the stack of pages, close the cover and firmly press the spine to get a smooth effect.
You can see below an example of pressing the spine. Open the book and add another line of glue to the first page near spine to get a closed and neat look to your first page, just like the rest of the book!
I had to trim my cover and a few pages once I was done to get an even look. Lastly fit the books tab and glue it to the back of the book. I have not added my felt dot for the front yet as I want to wait to see how fat the book is going to turn out before I secure the tab to close.
And there we have it! An empty felt book all ready for you to fill full of fascinating things for your little one!
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Other Quiet Books I’ve made!
AND don’t forget to pin this so you can find it later!
How to make a no sew quiet book video tutorial:
Have you ever made a felt quiet book? How did it turn out, any tips and tricks to share on how to make a quiet book?
You might also like these Busy Bags!
Christy Garrett Parenting Tips says
May 28, 2014 at 8:39 pmThis is a cute idea. If you use velcro, you can even make the story interchangeable. Very creative, thank you for sharing.
montessoricarrie says
June 1, 2014 at 12:49 amGreat idea!
Cynthia L. says
May 30, 2014 at 8:39 amWhat a great idea. I love that it is no sew and also the bright colors. I am sure it would be a child’s favorite!
Cassie @ 3Dinosaurs.com says
May 30, 2014 at 8:55 amThat is so clever! I really need to make some quiet books.
Alison Wood says
May 30, 2014 at 8:57 amCompletely love this! Adorable! Will be sharing on my FB page. 🙂
Nicolette Roux says
May 31, 2014 at 7:23 amThanks! <3
Jill says
May 30, 2014 at 9:03 amHow very creative!! The book is so warm, inviting, and just waiting for hours of play 🙂
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
May 30, 2014 at 10:02 amSo beautiful! I love my glue gun!
Alli says
May 30, 2014 at 11:09 amWhat a fantastic idea!. Any project that doesn’t require sewing is right up my alley!
Amanda @artsy_momma says
May 30, 2014 at 4:06 pmThis is perfect since I am awful at sewing! 😉
Jennifer Sikora says
May 30, 2014 at 4:07 pmThat is the cutest book I have ever seen! I am going to see if we can make some of these for our preschool group
Nicolette Roux says
May 31, 2014 at 7:21 amI am sure they will LOVE it!
Crystal Green says
May 30, 2014 at 8:04 pmThis is so cool. I am glad you showed me how to do this with a glue gun. Quick question, does it come apart after a few uses with your little one though?
Nicolette Roux says
May 31, 2014 at 7:21 amIt hasnt so far! The glue is sticking rather well. The 3 year old and 2 year old have been tugging.. hard
montessoricarrie says
June 1, 2014 at 12:50 amSo good to know! I was wondering the same thing. My daughter’s first reaction is to pull & destroy!
Jesenia says
May 31, 2014 at 6:54 amI love this! I can’t sew at all, so this is in my league. Thanks for sharing!
Nicolette Roux says
May 31, 2014 at 7:20 amPleasure! I have already started working on the inside bits. 😀
Chelsea says
July 24, 2014 at 3:22 pmI love this! Went to the craft store to figure out how to make one but everything needed sewed. Are you going to post the inside of your book when you are done with it? I have a few ideas but not many.
Nicolette Roux says
July 25, 2014 at 7:31 amYes!! The inside of the book is coming soon! 🙂
montessoricarrie says
June 1, 2014 at 12:47 amI have such fond memories of my quiet time book from when I was a child. I would take it everywhere! I’m hopeless with the sewing machine so I have checked out some on etsy to purchase. I look forward to seeing your ideas to finish the book. Perhaps it is within my ability levels! Thanks for sharing!
Steffany @Spit and Sparkles says
June 3, 2014 at 7:18 pmGreat idea! I found your blog via the hop at No Time For Flashcards. My twins are constantly ripping up books, and my daughter likes to chew on the cardboard! This would be a great alternative for both of my children, especially to entice them to sit on the potty for longer than 5 seconds. Thanks for sharing!
JDaniel4's Mom says
June 4, 2014 at 9:16 pmThank you so much for walking me through how to make this wonderful book step by step.
Julie V. says
June 4, 2014 at 9:57 pmI will have to try this. I work with nursery kids (age 1.5-3) and they seem to break everything I bring in! I hot glued erasers to popsicle sticks: pulled apart in minutes by a certain boy. I got hearts on wooden sticks: apparently the sticks are easy to snap in two. I had sun faces cut out of poster board: they eventually broke as well.
Yes, I should probably also work on teaching them to be nice to my props. The one prop I have that does work are my fabric stars that I sewed a lot… but felt and glue guns in a book will be good and easier.
Nicolette Roux says
June 6, 2014 at 6:50 amoh my! My 3 year old does exactly the same thing! craft sticks in broken in 2 basically anything that he can destroy he does! So far this felt book is holding up well. I am even considering making him his own, since I made it for his younger sister.
Aubrey says
June 5, 2014 at 5:24 pmI never thought to use an old board book between the felt to make a front and back cover. So smart! Pinning now. 🙂
Alicia Owen says
June 6, 2014 at 1:40 pmLOVE this! Glue guns are my best friend. I’m pretty fond of felt too. 😉 I’ve been meaning to make my daughter a quiet book for forever. Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Tots.
Nika says
June 7, 2014 at 7:58 amCan you please tell me more about the felt? When I looked at making a quiet book out of felt all I found were the felt sheets that were 8X11 and didn’t seem very durable for 2-4 year old destruction. What kind is it? Where do you purchase it? How much does it cost? I looked into the wool blend felts too but they were pricey! Thanks!
Nicolette Roux says
June 8, 2014 at 4:46 amThe felt I used was just plain felt. The material shop sells these in yards. The 8×11 you are talking about is most likely the very thin type that stretches badly when pulled. The felt I used did stretch when pulled vigorously, but I think all felt does that. My only suggestion is to go to a material store and ask the experts. Mine is most definitely NOT wool blend. It was cheap.
[email protected] in Pyjamas says
June 8, 2014 at 3:14 amThis a great alternative to sewing, glue guns are perfect for holding things together.
Jill says
June 8, 2014 at 7:39 pmThis is great! I am not handy with a needle and thread, so this is an ideal way for me to try my hand at a quiet book.
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Jelli says
June 10, 2014 at 9:26 amI can’t sew a lick, so this is perfect! My little girl is outgrowing her a.m. nap so I’ve been looking for activities like this to keep her busy while my baby naps. Thanks so much, Nicolette!
Carrie says
June 17, 2014 at 1:31 pmThis is adorable! And I love that there’s no sewing involved.
Thanks for linking up at Wordy Wednesday!
Mihaela says
September 7, 2014 at 3:31 amPerfect idea for not sewers, like myself! 🙂
Carla McGlashan says
October 9, 2014 at 10:05 pmFantastic ideas! I’ll be starting my quiet book this weekend!
Kyra says
January 20, 2015 at 6:40 pmI was wondering if they still held up. It’s been a few months. I’m wanting to make a few to sell (for a business class project) and want something of good quality but that I can make without sewing.
Nicolette Roux says
January 22, 2015 at 10:55 amIt is still going STRONG! We have lost an apple or two simply because my kids are rather ruff with this book and the apples are loose parts. If you do make these for selling please let me know I would like to include a link for those who would love to buy it instead of make it. (Also be sure to credit me as your inspiration source!) Much appreciated. Nicolette.
michele mathe says
February 10, 2015 at 4:03 pmHow much felt (in yards) do you need for base of book itself?
Nicolette Roux says
February 10, 2015 at 4:38 pmaround 2ish yards depends on the size you are making your book
Jessica says
March 27, 2015 at 8:47 pmI found your directions very confusing. do you have a tutorial video?
Nicolette Roux says
April 1, 2015 at 7:20 amI plan to make one in the next month or so when I make a new quiet book. Join my newsletter list and you will get the notification 🙂 I hope that helps!
Maria Mustaklem says
March 28, 2015 at 3:05 pmHi Nicolette !! Thanks a lot for this super easy tutorial !!! I really enjoyed making this quiet book twice for my daughter and my nephew.. I wanted to ask do you mind if I re-blog about it on my blog motherhoodandmore.net ??
Nicolette Roux says
April 1, 2015 at 7:16 amThank you! I am glad you liked it! I dont mind one picture with proper link credit for re-sharing on a blog 🙂 If you are sharing the one you made share away but link to me for the instructions. Thanks!
Margaret Sonnemann says
June 6, 2015 at 6:58 pmSorry but which temp glue gun and glue? We have a choice of high or low temp in Australia.
Nicolette Roux says
June 11, 2015 at 4:03 pmMine would be a high temp one. I would test out the low temp one if you already have it on some scrap felt.
Jessica @ Curious Chickadee says
June 28, 2015 at 7:22 amThank you so much! You made me realize it was possible to create a beautiful Quiet Book without a sewing machine. I just finished my very first one! I wrote an article about it on my blog if someone’s interested.
Nicolette Roux says
July 3, 2015 at 7:32 amLOVE IT!!! Some great ideas too
Mirella says
July 9, 2015 at 3:08 pmLove it… But I have a question..dont the felt objects like apples, shapes become too soft to hold in the hand. Are they double layered? I feel like my child will just squeesh them in her hand. Also what isvthe ideal age to introduce this..
Nicolette Roux says
July 9, 2015 at 5:52 pmdepends on your child. mine was made for her 2nd birthday.. so I suggest 22 months perhaps? if you have a parts eater it might have to be supervised! Also the apples have velcro hot glued onto the back which makes the apples very sturdy.
Amy says
August 31, 2015 at 8:21 pmI’m actually thinking about making an altered version as a baby book (for me and my sister-in-law). Many of the activities will have to be altered or completely changed because of the age discrepancy, but the techniques will be SO useful! I was thinking about making something with just general shapes/animals/colors for the babes and I figure I can make a few flip up pages or something. Definitely NO detachable parts yet, lol! But when the time comes for new ones I can’t wait to use all of your ideas. Have you seen the felt fishing? I don’t know where my friend found it, but she just used magnets, sticks, string, and cut out felt fish. That could be a cute page too. Thanks again for all the wonderful ideas!
Nicolette Roux says
September 1, 2015 at 5:56 amThat is great!! I am actually busy making my 10 month old a lift the flap / peek book right now! 🙂
Natali says
November 9, 2015 at 2:36 pmHi,
Would like to ask which glue gun is suitable for creating this felt book at home?
20W or 80W?
Thanks
Natali.
Nicolette Roux says
November 9, 2015 at 6:04 pmThe one I used is a 20W
Gargi says
December 4, 2015 at 10:35 amO man, I am so in love with this book and will surely try to make it for my 13 months old son. The only problem is he puts everything in his mouth first and tries to swallow..
Nicolette Roux says
December 4, 2015 at 10:40 amMy 13 month also does this!!
I made this quiet book for my then 2 year old. I have actually almost completed a quiet book for the younger ones (like our 13 month olds!) I will try to share it soon!
Gargi says
December 4, 2015 at 10:49 amGreat, can’t wait for it… Thanks for prompt reply 🙂
Amanda C says
December 20, 2015 at 7:00 amIt has been a while since this original post. How did the hot glue hold up? I am concerned that the pieces will pull apart easily. Thanks!
Nicolette Roux says
December 20, 2015 at 7:17 amyes! it is still going strong!
Liza says
April 5, 2016 at 8:47 pmLove your posts! Thank you!
Jen says
October 11, 2016 at 12:29 pmHi…It’s Great idea
I’m trying to do
I have a query
it’s fabric or paper
Nicolette Roux says
October 15, 2016 at 5:32 pmthis is all felt (material / fabric)
Angela Richardson says
January 7, 2017 at 10:35 amcan you tell me what thickness felt you used please
Nicolette Roux says
January 9, 2017 at 12:10 pmit is normal felt. You can go thicker for more handleability though!
Victoria riley says
August 10, 2018 at 9:09 pmthank you so much for having a video!! I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making one of these and I am a visual learner so the video was amazing for me!! You’re so good at making them and making the instructions simple! I very much appreciate it. 🙂