Please give me your input on this..

I have a few ideas for patterns to creat soft books for children. One with activities like tieing shoes, zippers and such.
Several about counting to ten,

one with sheep. It would start with the word Awake, then go through the numbers and end with Asleep

One with rain drops. It would start with the word Empty and a glass, go through the numbers and end with Full. I would include ten little rain drops and a glass made from clear vinyl on the last page as an activity.. They could remove the ten little rain drops, then put them back in.

and a few more.
I plan to make these with fusible applique.

My question to you all is whether you think it would be worth my time to pattern these ideas or just make them for my own use.

wow, sounds like a very cool idea, go for it!

I would make them for your own use and see how they come out and test with a couple of kids to see how they go over. while you are doing this look into seeing if they are patented. (that is what you mean right?)

JC, if you can come up with ideas and instructions that others will find easy to follow, i'm sure it would be a hit. :-)

Sahm, i think the term you're looking for is copyright.

as long as she uses designs that are 100% hers and not adapted from patterns she's seen elsewhere, she shouldn't have to worry about that.

Yes, thank you for your input. I am confident that I wont have any problem with copyright as the designs in them will be my own drawings. Technique, as I understand, cant be copyrighted, but will include my instructions with copyright application. And the idea of soft books have been around for generations.. I had them when I was a child and the fabric manufacturers print panels for them.

I am more interested in whether you think they are marketable. Would anyone buy the pattern?

I would be interested in it for my baby niece.

I think a lot of people would like it and buy it.

Yes, I think you could definitely sell the pattern. I,for one, have grandkids that I think would love them and I could have fun making them. Go for it!

What a great idea! These books are harder to find now, and would be a big hit :D:D:D

Sounds like some great ideas! Those types of books/activities are hard to find!

I would love it if you would make patterns! I am making a bunch of softbooks for my Grandsons. So far they are made from printed panels, but I have thought about making some from scratch!

My good friend recently made a quilted book like you describe for her Grandson which went over very well.

Maybe1day

Back in the mid-60s/early 70s, my MIL used to make those types of books all the time... and not just for her grandkids, but for her students when she worked with mentally challenged kids. These books actually helped the kids a lot (upper grade school kids who were actually functioning at a 2–6-year old levels). The kids idolized my MIL and she felt the same way about them. Unfortunately the school closed, so my MIL went on to work with special ed kids in public elementary schools.

If there aren't any patterns for these types of books available "out there" I strongly encourage you to go ahead and make your patterns. I believe they'd be well worth the time and greatly appreciated.

I say go for it! You won't know for sure unless you try it! Good Luck!

I've seen several tutorials online with step by step instructions for making fabric busy books, so I think that some of your market would be diverted by the freebie tutorials. That said, there are plenty of quilters who are not that net savvy and who would like buying a paper pattern, so as long as you enjoy doing it, why not?

RST

I would buy the pattern. I think they're a great idea!

I bought a pattern a few years back that has a lot of the activities in them (ties, zipper, button....)

Sounds cute but there are several patterns out for these very books. I have made several of them and just love them as do the children I have given them to. Why not make a few samples of yours and see how they go? New ideas are always welcome on the market.

I have great grandsons who lovethee books I have made but they are panels and I am stuck with what is mass produce. I would really enjoy making my own. So I agree you should go for it.

I think its a great idea!

I love it. But, how about going from "awake" to "z z z z's".

Thank you all for you input. I have looked online for freebies and found just a few. They have pictures and very scant instructions. Some made with felt, some with rings as binding, etc. I plan to do some testing of various products to find the best way to put the books together that will stand the test of time and little hands.. also testing washing of the products.

Once I have done that, I will start with the page designs.

I will keep you posted on my progress.

Again, I appreciate your input and candor.

JC

My mom make a fabric book for my youngest son, 30 years ago. It's become a real treasure....there are flowers to button onto the page, zippers, ties, braids, numbers, letters, etc.

I definately think you should go for it!!

Go for it, may even be able to offer it as a kit with some pre-cuts Good Luck!!

I have grandsons 2 and 5, so that sounds great to me!!

I think this is a great idea, very stimulating for the mind, my grandkids would love it. I would buy your pattern in a heartbeat.

J.C. There are patterns out there for this type of book,They are called quiet books.I have made several for an altimeters ward as they entertain with-out making a lot of noise and irritating the user.Have also made some for children. :)

I have seen one book that is out of print and several blogs with home made ones but only one set of real instructions. There are thousands of quilt patterns and new ones keep being published and sold.. so, the question is .. is there room for one more pattern in the market place?

There is always room for more patterns.

Go for it. Otherwise you will always wonder about the "What if..". Best of fun and luck on your adventure.

Go as far as you can with this idea.

Don't forget over, under, into, and other such position words. Children often arrive at school with no idea what those words mean.

I love kids books.. Read to my grands all the time.. Educational books are a great idea!!

I was wondering if the books, say the raindrops into the glass, would have loose parts? I know for sure they might be eaten or stuffed into something (like a nose) or just lost of they were loose.. Loose raindrops would end up everywhere but in the empty glass.. something to consider.

[quote=JCquilts]One with rain drops. It would start with the word Empty and a glass, go through the numbers and end with Full. I would include ten little rain drops and a glass made from clear vinyl on the last page as an activity.. They could remove the ten little rain drops, then put them back in.
/quote]

Great ideas but this one maybe a problem for little kids because the small pieces (rain drops) could be swallowed and I'm sure you wouldn't want that to happen. A child safety thing.

I would buy the pattern. I would probably turn it into a baby quilt. That's what I have done with the printed panels.

That is another area to consinder.. I will add an acitivity quilt to the mix..if you dont mind me using your idea.

[quote=seasaw2mch]Im sorry, I didnt get really detailed in my description, but my intent was to attach the raindrops to a ribbon or string, so they cant get away..also to make them about an inch or inch 1/2 with numbers on each one, and make them out of fabric.

Great comments everyone,

Thank you all for your support..I will get started on these right away

JC

Thank you for the additional words.. Ill add them to the list..

:thumbup: I agree...go for it!! :idea:

That is the type item preschool teachers love because a child can do it independently or with a friend. It teaches vocabulary and concepts. Parents who realize the importance of this would be part of your market (along with grandparents). As for the teachers it would depend on 1. if they sew and 2. If they have the time.

Make them for your own use, and mail a copy of the pattern to your self, but DO NOT open it when it comes. That is what they call a 'poor man's copyright'. Once you have done that, then sell the pattern (on etsy?)to support your habit. Have fun, they sound cute.