Quiet Book Page - Buckled Peek-a-Boo Upcycled Butterfly

Quiet Book Page - Buckled Peek-a-Boo Upcycled Butterfly

When I came up with this idea Zoey was at the age where she loved to buckle up her highchair. Ada had also gone through the same stage. Our current highchair came with a booster seat that didn’t work well with our chair so I kept the straps when we got rid of the booster chair. Since the buckles were so loved I wanted to plan out Zoey’s new quiet book page centering on those extra straps and buckles. I decided to create fabric doors so I could attach the buckles to them and have a peek-a-boo aspect added to the book. While in my planning stage I went through Ada’s old clothing and found a long sleeved shirt she never wore with an embroidered butterfly on it. I decided to combine the peek-a-boo buckled doors with a hidden colorful and textured butterfly.

Quiet Book Page - Buckled Peek-a-Boo Upcycled Butterfly

Materials Used

  • 108″ Unbleached Muslin Natural Fabric by the Yard
  • Pellon Fusible Thermolam Plus White Fabric by the Yard
  • 1/4″ grommets or eyelets
  • Two buckles on straps from a plastic booster seat
  • Two fabric swatches from a Fabmo sale used to create the background behind the butterfly and create the door
  • Old shirt with an embroidered butterfly on it to make a hidden surprise

I started with the embroidered shirt I wanted to use for the peek-a-boo surprise. I cut into the shirt by cutting along the sides and arm seams so I’d only have the front layer of the shirt to work with. I made sure to cut further away from the butterfly than I’d need so I’d have excess fabric along the edges.

I started with an old shirt I had that Zoey didn't really wear but had a really cool embroidered butterfly on it.
I started with an old shirt I had that Zoey didn’t really wear but had a really cool embroidered butterfly on it.
I loved how the shirt encorporated buttons, threadwork, and fabric. I couldn't get rid of it but the shirt had minor stains and lived in the drawer so I wanted to give it a new life.
I loved how the shirt encorporated buttons, threadwork, and fabric. I couldn’t get rid of it but the shirt had minor stains and lived in the drawer so I wanted to give it a new life.

I used the butterfly’s width and height as the minimum size since I wanted the butterfly fully hidden behind the doors. I then made sure that the door size I came up with was larger than the butterfly yet would still fit on the page. I marked this final size on my fabric sample and then sewed along the outside of these rectangles (or future doors) so the edges of the fabric wouldn’t unravel too much once cut.

I traced horizontal and vertical lines on the fabric swatch so I would know where to sew to turn the swatch into doors.
I traced horizontal and vertical lines on the fabric swatch so I would know where to sew to turn the swatch into doors.
I then sewed two equal sized rectangles with a blanket stitch.
I then sewed two equal sized rectangles with a blanket stitch.
Back of the doors before cutting them out.
Back of the doors before cutting them out.

I had a green fabric swatch that would be perfect for the background behind the butterfly. I ended up flipping the excess fabric over so it would be hidden behind the doors and pressed it in place so it wouldn’t unravel.

Took another swatch and confirmed it sizing so it would be hidden behind the 'doors'.
Took another swatch and confirmed it’s sizing so it would be hidden behind the ‘doors’.

Next I pinned the butterfly in place on the fabric swatch and sewed along the edges with a blanket stitch. When I got to the butterfly antennas I decided to follow along the antennae but leave the buttons alone so the stitching wouldn’t take away from them.

Cut out butterfly laid over swatch to check where it should be placed.
Cut out butterfly laid over swatch to check where it should be placed.
Pinned the butterfly to the green fabric swatch.
Pinned the butterfly to the green fabric swatch.
Used a blanket stitch to machine sew along the edges. For the antennae I sewed along the line and left the button alone at the end.
Used a blanket stitch to machine sew along the edges. For the antennae I sewed along the line and left the button alone at the end.
Back of the fabric swatch shows the butterfly outline.
Back of the fabric swatch shows the butterfly outline.

To make trimming away the excess fabric easier I decided to go around the butterfly and every tight spot was pierced and opened up with my seam ripper. After I ripped large enough holes in each spot I took my fabric scissors and cut along the seam’s edge while being careful to leave enough fabric around the buttons so they’d have enough fabric support.

I started trimming the excess fabric by using my seam ripper to get into the tight areas between the stitches.
I started trimming the excess fabric by using my seam ripper to get into the tight areas between the stitches.
I found it easiest to poke the hole facing outwards so there'd be less chance of  cutting my stitches.
I found it easiest to poke the hole facing outwards so there’d be less chance of cutting my stitches.
After trimming the excess shirt from around the butterfly I'm left with a butterfly over the green embossed fabric.
After trimming the excess shirt from around the butterfly I’m left with a butterfly over the green embossed fabric.

I then pinned the green fabric with the butterfly to my quiet book page base and sewed it down along all four sides. If you want more information about my page base you can check out part one of my In Depth Guide to Joining Quiet Book Pages.

I centered and pinned the green swatch to the quiet book page base.
I centered and pinned the green swatch to the quiet book page base.
And then sewed along all four sides.
And then sewed along all four sides.

With the hidden peek-a-boo element of the page finished I then placed the cut out doors overtop of the butterfly making sure it would be hidden. I then placed the buckles overtop of the doors centering them over the opening. Once I was sure I liked the placement of the buckles and straps I then pinned the buckle straps to the doors, unbuckled the buckles, lifted each door off the page, and sewed along all three sides of the buckle straps leaving the edge of the door unsewn. Once done I returned the doors so they’d be over the butterfly and once I was happy with their placement I pinned them in place.

I then lined up the cut out doors and buckles overtop of the butterfly making sure all the green fabric is hidden behind the doors.
I then lined up the cut out doors and buckles overtop of the butterfly making sure all the green fabric is hidden behind the doors.
I then pinned the buckles to the doors while being careful not to pin them to the quiet book page.
I then pinned the buckles to the doors while being careful not to pin them to the quiet book page.
After sewing around all three sides of the strap up to the buckle I then rebuckled the doors closed and pinned them to the quiet book page.
After sewing around all three sides of the strap up to the buckle I then rebuckled the doors closed and pinned them to the quiet book page.

I then sewed along the edge of the door where the hinges would’ve been making sure to follow the buckle straps once I got to them. For the straps on the outer end of the page I left the edge unsewn as they’d be sewn down once I joined the two sides of the page together later. The straps closer to the inside of the page where the grommets would be added were only sewn about a centimeter over as I wanted to be sure I’d have enough room to place the grommets once done. I then trimmed the excess straps.

I then continued along the buckle straps and sewed the buckle straps and the side of the door onto the quiet book page.
I then continued along the buckle straps and sewed the buckle straps and the side of the door onto the quiet book page.
And finally trimmed the excess straps.
And finally trimmed the excess straps.
The back of the page shows the final stitches.
The back of the page shows the final stitches.

The doors were tested to make sure they could easily open and close in case there were any changes required before sewing the page to it’s reverse.

Unbuckle the doors...
Unbuckle the doors…
...and peek-a-boo butterfly!
…and peek-a-boo butterfly!
And then close the door back up.
And then close the door back up.

And then once the other side of the page is ready you can sew them together. Once the page is sewn closed you can add grommets or buttonholes if you want it removable so it could be placed in a quiet book cover or binder. If you want more detailed directions you can check out my In Depth Guide to Joining Quiet Book Pages Guide.


And then all that’s left to do is play with your new book page!

Open doors.
Open doors.
Peeking out.
Peeking out.
Half buckled closed.
Half buckled closed.
With perseverance you can even criss cross the buckles.
With perseverance you can even criss cross the buckles.
Opening the doors.
Opening the doors.
Playing together.
Playing together.
Playing with the buckles.
Playing with the buckles.
Playing together.
Playing together.

If I were to do it again I would change my fabric choices. I like how thick the doors are but the edge of the doors unravels a bit. I’m hoping over time the loose threads will come off and when it reaches my stitching it will stop unraveling. The quality of the edge of the door is the only regret I have with this quiet book page.


You can check out my previous posts if you want more information on how I created my quiet book covers, joined my quiet book pages together, or to see all my completed quiet book page designs. I can’t wait to see what you come up with and would love to hear from you in the comments below, on my Facebook page, or through Instagram.




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