New to Imagine Our Life? there are more quiet book patterns here!
Lot’s of quiet books feature train pages. And there are also a lot that have a barn with finger puppets. Jax has started to point out all the “choo choos” he sees, so I knew I needed a train. And, I loved the idea of finger puppets, but wanted to do something original. So I ended up with a circus train!
I didn’t want the animals in cages. These guys are liberated animals who run their own circus! So Mr Lion is driving, Miss Elephant is in the middle car and Monkey is riding in the caboose. All the animals come out of their train cars, and the wheels spin around.
My materials were: two 9″ sky blue felt squares, felt (in hot pink, red, orange, yellow, green, aqua, purple and black), alphabet ribbon for the “track”, 2 types of star ribbon for trim, embroidery floss for the hair (and all the stitching) batting scrap as the “Steam” and assorted colors of buttons.
Each of the finger puppets were decorated before I sewed the fronts and backs together. For the lion’s mane, I went in a circle making loops of embroidery floss then securing each with a stitch at their base. I did one row that was a mix of an orange color and a dark gold, then a second layer that was bright gold. His face covered the stitches so just the loops showed. For both the lion and the elephant, I made little bunches of floss and tied them at one end, then hid the tie between the two layers of tail. For the elephant I used a textured felt that is supposed to look like gray stone. I liked how it looked wrinkly.
The train cars are all sewn on with open tops so the animals can go for a ride. I cut out a random steam shape out of batting and sewed it to the background behind the smoke stack. The ribbons were sewn on before I attached the cars. Everything was hand sewn, but you could use a machine.
I cut tiny holes int he centers of the wheels then attached the buttons through the holes. This allows the wheels to spin but not come off and get lost. You could do button holes if you want yours removable. I’d use two layers of felt for that, though.
For more free quiet book patterns, go here! If you use this pattern, please add a comment or link to me. If you have any questions about how anything was done on this page, just let me know!
So fabulously adorable!!
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Thank you for the wonderful train template. I’ve been searching everywhere for a good template with detailed directions (what you did first, second, etc.). Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
How did you do the lions’ hair?
so I attempted to make a few of your page ideas for my sons quiet book., I must say I had no idea what I was getting myself into- this was my first real attempt at being crafty. yours are WAYYY cuter! but I tried. thanks so much for posting your pages to inspire mine!
Those look great, Nikki! I love the colors you chose. You did an amazing job if you haven’t done any sewing like that before!
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I found your blog through Pinterest and have started my son’s quiet book with this page. He LOVES trains and animals, so it’s perfect. I’ll be sure to share some pictures soon when it’s done. It’s super time-consuming (I didn’t expect that!), but I know it’ll be worth it since it’s so cute. 🙂 Thanks for the pattern and inspiration!
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I love all your quiet book ideas. I am going to attempt to do the train and the firetruck. Thanks for sharing your ideas and the patterns. You are so talented. I hope mine will be half as good as yours.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful Quiet Book patterns. I have used a number of them and have created a few (very simple ones) of my own. I am currently working on your Circus Train and am curious if you could explain, in a bit more detail, how you did the lion’s mane? What kind of stitch(es) did you use?
I don’t think it is a specific kind of stitch. I just started by making a stitch, but not pulling it tight – this gives you a loop. Then I make another stitch across the base of that loop to hold it in place. Repeat x 1,000! 😛
Love these quiet book pages! So much cuter than the finger puppet barn pages that most people do! I just finished using your pattern today for my son’s quiet book and loved how it turned out! Here are the links to pics of my quiet book pages:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550289_10200974160266732_908175816_n.jpg
AND
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/305805_10200974190987500_161610575_n.jpg
Thank you – Thank you – Thank you for the free patterns! It makes the process go so much smoother and faster than if I were to have to come up with one on my own – especially with a one year old running around 🙂
I am starting to work on some of your pages and I notice you use a lot of ribbon. How do you attach the ribbon. Every time I’ve tried to sew ribbon it tears up the ribbon and looks terrible. Thank you.
Lyndse
A bit of Fray Check on the cut edge helps. I do tend to Sew many stitches on the ends to hold them down. I also like to hand sew them.
I’m sure you have been asked this before, but can I buy a quiet book? If not you should put them on Etsy. Super cute!
super cute! May I ask if are you using soft felt or the sturdier ones? Mostly I can find in craft isle are those sturdy ones in 8.5×11 precut. Thank you!
Hello! I’ve started on the train, thank you for the pattern (stunning!!). Could you clarify a few questions please? Do you blanket stitch all the pieces and then attach to the blue felt after? And how do you attach? Are you only using one layer of felt? Thank you so much for letting me know. My son Max (2) has just seen the wheels and is SO excited. Thank you – you so incredibly clever! x
I hand sew almost anything. I always note in the tutorial when I use my machine…
I haven’t made this train yet which I am starting on today but I wanted to thank you for the 5 little monkeys pattern. That has gotten me started on a whole new path of quiet book pages for my now 18 month old granddaughter. Before that, I hadn’t even heard of quiet books – neither had my daughter. I am absolutely loving it and I attribute this new path to you and your generous time to give out your patterns freely. Thank you so much.