My love for handmade gifts has been a lifelong journey. There’s something deeply fulfilling about crafting something unique with my hands, especially when it’s for someone I care about. After coming to a end of my Tiny House Book creation, I found myself at a creative crossroads. I had just finished a creative journey of the Tiny House Book world that seemed to last a few years and knew that I needed to go off onto something new for a while. The Tiny House Book is still alive and present but I didn’t have to sew anything new for it!
As it often does, inspiration came from my niece. I had a pile of 6.5″ orphan blocks left over from another sewing project, and while brainstorming what to do with them, the idea struck me: Why not turn them into another book? I had a love of sewing books together for the Tiny House Book, so the idea seemed natural. My niece being 2 I wanted to fill the pages with I-spy elements and interactive designs that would help captivate her imagination and brain! The process was a joy—turning those leftover fabric blocks into something functional, playful, and unique. That’s how the Games Book was born….
But I didn’t stop there.
I was excited to push the idea further. As years flow I had to come up with an idea for my older nieces birthday, I envisioned something more challenging – a chessboard version of the Games Book. It sparked a wave of new ideas: pages with puzzles, classic games like checkers, noughts and crosses, and even memory games. The possibilities seemed endless, and each idea built on the last.
Suddenly, I was designing an entire fabric book full of games that could be played, taken on trips, and cherished for years to come. Here’s my older nieces version:
Sewing and creating new things brings me so much joy, and it’s been a pleasure to share the two Games Books that I made as special gifts for my two nieces.
As a pattern designer, crafting these novelty patchwork gifts is something I pour my heart into every time I go down a journey with them. Each project can take months, sometimes even years, to fully come together. With only a small chunk of time in my creating week, it’s a fine balance of crafting and sharing. But what I love most is sharing the process with others, especially my fellow sewing friends who put their trust in me to take them on a journey. With the Games Book Sewing Pattern, I spent six months sharing with a small group of sewing pals, creating a new “game” for the book each month. It was a truly special experience to watch the project evolve step by step.
Now, I’d love to tell you a little more about the Games Book and how it came to be!
What Exactly is the Games Book?
The Games Book is a fun and versatile sewing project inspired by the classic 6.5” quilt block size, which is commonly used in patchwork. While each page of the book can be a game, you also have the flexibility to get creative! You can mix in different patchwork designs, or even use a plain fabric square if you prefer a simpler look. It’s all about combining practicality with play.
Two Ways to Make It
You can finish your Games Book in two different styles, depending on how you want to use and customise it. A folder style that has removable pages, so you can swap out games or add new ones as you go or book style with sewn in pages. Each have different finish options too, so it is really customisable and fun to play with.
An Alison Glass Fabric pattern as a filler page
Here is the Folder version of the Games Book
This is is the Book version with such a beautiful spine!!
What Can You Fill Your Games Book With?
The Games Book is not just a sewing project—it’s a collection of interactive, handmade fun! Here’s a peek at the different elements you can add, alongside some colourful fabric patchwork or playful prints:
- The Chess Board: A fabric chessboard perfect for travel, complete with custom pieces you can store right in the book.
- Noughts and Crosses (Tic-Tac-Toe): This timeless classic is even more fun when you’ve stitched your own game board, ready to be played over and over again.
- Memory / Snap Game: A fabric version of the ever-popular memory game—mix and match fun prints and patterns to make it extra challenging.
- Snakes and Ladders: Create a playful fabric version of this childhood favourite, where each square and ladder comes to life with vibrant colours.
- Games Board: Design your own board game, complete with spaces for dice rolls and creative twists. The possibilities are endless!
- Straight and Diagonal Zipped Pockets: Perfect for storing game pieces, dice, or little surprises, these handy zipped pockets keep everything organized.
- Score Board: Track your wins and keep friendly competition alive with a customizable score board sewn right into the book.
- Spin Wheel: Add a bit of excitement with a fabric spin wheel, ready to decide who takes the next turn or what the next challenge will be!
Pre-Printed Fabric Pages now on pre-order!
While the Games Book is a PDF pattern designed for you to create each game page yourself, I’m excited to announce a new option for those who want to skip the intricate sewing details! You can no pre-order pre-printed fabric pages featuring beautifully designed games like chess, noughts and crosses, and snakes and ladders—ready to insert straight into your Games Book.
These pre-printed pages are perfect for anyone who loves the idea of a handmade Games Book but may not have the time or desire to sew every patchwork detail. You can mix and match them with your own custom-sewn pages or use them as a complete set. These fabric panels are available in the shop to pre-order now.
Why Make Your Own Games Book?
The Games Book is more than just a sewing project – it’s a fun and meaningful gift that combines creativity, practicality, and play. Here’s why it’s a must-make for your gift list:
Interactive Fun for All Ages
Whether it’s I-spy pages for little ones or classic games like chess and noughts and crosses for older kids (and adults!), you can customise each page to suit different ages and interests, making it the ultimate personal gift.
A Handcrafted Treasure
Whether iUsing fabric and stitches, each Games Book is carefully sewn by hand, giving it a heartfelt touch that mass-produced toys just can’t match.t’s I-spy pages for little ones or classic games like chess and noughts and crosses for older kids (and adults!), you can customise each page to suit different ages and interests, making it the ultimate personal gift.
Portable and Long-Lasting
Made entirely from fabric, the Games Book is soft, lightweight, and easy to carry along on family outings or trips. Its durable design means it can stand up to plenty of active play without wearing out.
Completely Customisable
One of the joys of this project is that it’s a blank canvas for your creativity. You can incorporate your favourite fabric scraps, add personal embroidery details, and design each page to reflect the personality of the recipient. No two Games Books will ever be the same!
Educational and Skill Building
Beyond just fun, the Games Book encourages learning and development. From improving memory with the snap game to honing strategy skills with chess and noughts and crosses, each game page helps build cognitive abilities in a playful way. It’s a gift that’s not only entertaining but also supports growth and learning for kids of all ages.
A Gift with Heart
Perfect for Christmas, birthdays, or just because, the Games Book is a handmade gift that offers interactive fun while also being a thoughtful keepsake. It’s practical, playful, and packed with sentiment—a gift that will be cherished for years to come.
Pre-Printed Fabric Pages Available to Pre-Order Now!
I’m thrilled to share that pre-printed fabric pages for the Games Book are now available to pre-order! These ready-made game pages, like chess, noughts and crosses, and snakes and ladders, are perfect for those who want to skip the intricate sewing details and dive straight into the fun. You can use them to complement your own sewn pages or build an entire Games Book with these pre-designed panels.
Pre-orders for the fabric pages will open now
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey into the origin of the Games Book! It’s been a labour of love, and I’m thrilled to share it with you. Whether you’re making it for yourself, a loved one, or just because, I hope it brings as much joy to your sewing table as it did to mine.
Stay tuned for more updates, and if you have any questions or just want to chat about your own creative projects, don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to hear from you!
Happy sewing, Karen x
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