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This whimsical tutorial from Maker Team member Lucy of @moseycreative will have you feeling bookish. The only thing more wonderful than a good book is one with a secret compartment! Stylish and clever and just a little secretive, this book tutorial has it all. Follow along to make a first edition Felt Book Box for your shelf.
Book lovers everywhere will delight in this felty lookalike! We’ll be using a whole lot of glue and modified bookbinding techniques to create this sophisticated publication. It’s even equipped with a hidden compartment for storing notions or tiny treasures!
Skill Level: Intermediate or Ambitious Beginner
Time: 3-4 Hours + drying time
Additional Supplies:
Felt Book Box Cut Template (click to download)
Felt Book Box Bonus Template - optional
Felt Book Box SVG Cut Template - optional
Iron
Ruler
Scissors, for Interfacing
Directions:
1. Print or trace Cut Template above onto dull side of freezer paper, then iron shiny side to felt. Cut all pieces. Use pen, ruler and paper scissors to trace and cut interfacing - do not iron. Use SVG file above and electronic cutting machine to speed up the process.
Fold felt pages in half lengthwise and press.
2. Use tacky glue for each folded felt page (called a “signature” in bookbinding.) Glue and stack eight signatures, one atop another, taking care to line up all inner and outer edges.
Take one End Page, glue shut, then glue stack of signatures on top. Let finished stack (called a “text block”) dry overnight under a heavy book to compress and stiffen pages.
3. Open remaining End Page booklet with ironed fold facing up, and use E6000 glue to adhere a Super Strong Magnet to right-side center. Wait at least 15-30 minutes for magnet to set before gluing the other magnet in Step 5.
4. Meanwhile, secure a ruler to your work surface with painter’s tape. With Placement Diagram as a guide, use tacky glue to attach interfacing covers and spine to 12x18" felt. Press each interfacing piece up against ruler to ensure edges are aligned.
5. Once first magnet is fully dry, close End Page booklet with magnet at the bottom. Place second magnet to line up with (and attract to) the first, then glue in place with
E6000. Let dry.
6. Use fabric scissors to cut out book cover, leaving approximately 1 1/4” margins on all sides. Cut off felt corners at 45-degree angles, leaving a slight margin near corners.
Fold felt over interfacing and glue, one side at a time. The felt can take some time to set with tacky glue. Have a heavy book or Wonder Clips at the ready or use hot glue, if you prefer.
7. While waiting for glue to dry, embroider mid-century-inspired star embellishments
for the book spine and cover. First, use one strand of coordinating thread to whipstitch five small squares and one large square to a felt scrap leftover from the book cover felt.
Using two strands of thread in a slightly contrasting color (Sulky 1119), stitch a cross, then a smaller “x” on top to create a six-pointed star. Cut around each square, leaving
approximately 1/8” on all sides.
8. Glue text block to cover, End Pages facing down, and leaving tiny 1/8” margins
on the top, bottom, and right side.
Drizzle glue on top of the text block. Place and press on remaining End Pages, cut-out side on the right, magnet face down.
Fold closed End Pages so magnets connect, then drizzle glue on top. Lean spine against the text block, then close cover. Let dry completely under a heavy book.
9. Complete by gluing five embellished diamonds along the spine with larger diamond centered on front cover.
“And this is the, um... The book place. There’s a collection of rare books around here
somewhere... and some medium-rare as well.” – Galinda, Wicked
Rejoicify! Show off your finished tome at home or The Book Place - because everything in life needs to be Wicked-coded these days!
And as a teeny, tiny bonus project, the felt scraps from this tutorial are perfect for making miniatures to nest inside your book box! Use the Bonus Cut Template for extra bookish shenanigans!
Thanks to Lucy for designing and writing this tutorial! You can see more of her work on Instagram @moseycreative and on her website. Stay tuned for more tutorials from the Benzie Design Maker Team!
