Sunday 5 February 2012

Love to Cook - Rumer's Cookery Book Tutorial

I have a friend called Rumer, she likes to cook, mind you she also likes to knit, sew and play on her DS, which is not a bad thing considering her mum runs our local yarn shop.  When I saw her today, she said she wanted to make lemon drizzle cake and then we started talking about her granny's amazing chicken soup and I thought now is the time for her to start collecting her family recipes in her own cook book which is why we are going to make her very own book to gather up the recipes.  I wonder if like me and my mum you have recipes books filled with hand written little scraps of paper with your beloved family recipes, if you do then this is the perfect project for you start on.
Let's gather up all the bits and pieces that you will need:
Two contrasting fabrics
Wadding
Book
Ribbon
Buttons
Cotton, pins, thread, tape measure and scissors or rotary cutter, ruler and mat
Iron and ironing board
Chop stick
Box of matches


First measure your book from the top of the cover to the bottom of the cover and add 1 1/4" + 1" - write it down, now measure from the front edge, over the spine and across the back to the other side, whilst the book is closed add 6" + 1 1/4" and write it down.  Now press your fabric before cutting them out to the size that you have written down and make sure you have the fabric running the right way... remember to check twice and cut once.
Now pin the wadding to your top fabric, find the centre point on your fabric at the top and pin a piece of ribbon to the fabric (it should be the length of the cover plus an inch and a half) and if your ribbon has a pattern put it right sides together when you pin it in.  So that that you don't do something really stupid, pin the loose end of the ribbon up so you don't catch it when you are sewing the cover up and sew the front fabric and wadding together using a 1/4" seam.  
Now we are going to decorate your front cover.  I have decided on a heart design picked out in buttons because Rumer loves to cook, so I will be tracing around a heart-shaped biscuit cutter.  Your design will need to be at least 5" in from the right hand side and 2" above the bottom seam (I left it a little tight on mine... *sniffs* I believed my eye and not the tape measure!)  
You might want to use fabric paints to stencil on a design and stitch around it, or do some applique.  You  can work the design within the following dimensions to fit it on the front of your cover.
Now pin your backing fabric to the wadding , pin it all round, leaving a 3" gap on one of the sides and sew them together using a 5/8" seam allowance.  Now cut across the corners to give you sharp pointy corners.


Turn the cover inside out and press the fabric together, tuck in the 3" seam and press it closed.  Now sew the down each side with a running stitch.


Place the book in the centre of your square, now fold the sides in so that they tuck snugly around the book. Do not assume it will fit, you need to check.  Pin the folded fabric in place.  


Cut two pieces of ribbon to act as your ties for the book cover, place it in the middle of the side seam with the right side facing the fabric.  To ensure that the ends of the ribbon do not fray, light a match and gently flame the ends which will melt the ribbon.  Now using either a running stitch or an embroidery stitch, sew all the way around the rectangle you have created.


When you put the cover on your book,  fold the cover back to slip the cover on... a bit like when you get small children to stick their arms back to get them into their coats.
Propped up with an avocado... well it is a cook book!
Now tie the ribbon together and pass it on to someone to fill the book with their own secrets.  You could change the topic of the book to be a gardening book, a journal, a design inspiration book or just as something gorgeous to give to your loved one to be filled with dreams.
I am not sure if you have noticed but there are loads of amazing entries on Handmade Monday and I think that this week will be really special as it is week 52... I have not managed to do everyone but the one person who has is the wonderful Wendy who hosts this great crafting blog party.  So let's hear it for Wendy... Hip, hip... Hurrah!


And finally just to show that I am not a lazy bones, here's a pic I shot while out before 9.00am this morning, our local church St Clement's in Leigh-on-sea, just before the bells started to peal.

29 comments:

Christmas Pie Crafts said...

Another great tutorial Ros - thank you. Like you, and lots of people I am sure, I have collected recipes over the years form my own makes, my mum's and also her mum's. Looking through them does bring back lots of good memories too. Hope you have a good week.

Wendy said...

Another brilliant tutorial and a brilliant idea too - love it x

Handbags by Helen said...

What a lovely idea.

Anonymous said...

Another fab tutorial, thank you! I love the idea of using a Biscuit cutter to draw around!

butterflyblossom said...

I LOVE this Ros!! This is definitely one I plan to make but since I am no good at cooking I will use it to make an ideas/doodle book for my projects! Thank you so much for sharing! xXx

Adaliza said...

That's SO pretty - biscuit cutters are great templates! I use them for needle-felting too. You were out and about early - your photo looks lovely - serene and very cold! Enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Jo Wylde said...

Another reason to start learning to sew! My Fiancee is a chef and late last year he came home armed with paper and card announcing that he was going to write a cook book...it is yet to be started!! Maybe if I made him something like this he may get motivated again! Jo

Martha said...

beautiful creation Ros, you have used lovely fabric and bits and bobs. thanks for sharing it with us :)

Filipa Sompy said...

Lovely project! Thank you for sharing. :)
I could swear we have that same church here in Ipswich...
Cheers!

Unknown said...

Filipa - the church dates from c 1400 although there are records of priests there from 1248. It is a lovely church from both the outside and within :)

Annette James said...

That's a brilliant idea and such nice ticking.

fatmonica said...

It's a fabulous idea!

Carolee Crafts said...

Great tutorial and a fab idea Ros

lovetartan said...

Great tutorial Ros - would make a good gift for someone too. Love the picture of the church. Mich :)

Helen said...

Fab idea and something. I may make in the future, thanks!

Jam Dalory said...

Another brilliant tutorial, I have a recipe book which is just a plain notebook with random recipes on bits of paper stuck inside it. This would make it so much prettier. x

Jan said...

That is lovely fabric for your book cover, great tip with the flame to stop the ribbon fraying, that's what I do but for those without matches or for youngsters you can use a bit of clear nail varnish.

The church picture is lovely, so picturesque.

Jan x

Kim said...

Great tutorial Ros and that's a lovely pic of the church in the snow.

CarolC1 said...

And you just happened to have your camera with you too. You sound like me. I take the dog over the common kitted out with wellies, mobile phone (Well you never knowat my age) and my small digi camera so I don't miss anything. Mind you, the dog makes that much rattle it would be amiracle if I managed to photograph anything live. lol.
Love the cook book idea and your instructions are, as always, very clear to follow.

Blue Forest Jewellery said...

That looks so easy and effective. Don't have any recipes as I'm the world's worst cook, but I think even the ingrediant lists from ready meals would look cute in the book!!

Enjoy your snow :-)

Alison x

ZukieStyle said...

Lovely picture at the end, looks so peaceful. Great cover, what a good idea! And the fact that you can do it for allsorts including gardening etc, great idea for Mothers/Father's day. xx

Susie said...

I love this, would make a great gift! Thank you for the tutorial and idea! As always!

Kat Shenton said...

As soon as I can work out how to make a blog award I have decided you should be voted for being the best Muse in blog world. Everything you make a tute for I want to make... which leaves me with lots to make and very little time!!! Another great post.

Highland Monkey's said...

Thanks for taking the trouble to do this tutorial. It's such a good idea to keep old recipes all together.

Local Girl said...

What a lovely tutorial, a really lovely idea for a present.

Ali said...

I love your tutorials Ros - this one really makes me wish I could sew!

Lovely photo of the church in the snow too.

Ali x

Anonymous said...

Love this tutorial - definitely going to have a go at it when I've got some time!

Unknown said...

Is perfect. Thank you
Charo
www.cosiendoyaprendiendo.blogspot.com

Truly Myrtle said...

Great tutorial - I love ticking!
Fab blog, you've so many useful tutorials - a lot of work has gone into this!
I'll be back!