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Fabric covered notebook journal

**This is a Fat Quarter Friendly Project!** Remember making book covers from brown paper bags? Do people still do that? Fabric covered notebooks and journals are the same idea, but much prettier :)

Oh my! I can’t believe we’re already talking about “Back to School” projects- seems like just yesterday we were talking about projects to keep the kids busy all summer long!  I have always loved back to school time- it means a new beginning! Pristine notebooks filled with empty pages and the unlimited possibilities of what will be written in them. Brand-new-still-pointy crayons. Colorful folders with un-bent corners. The smell of a classroom that has been unoccupied for the past 3 months….

CompositionBooks

Perhaps your kids aren’t quite so excited about going back to school, but here is a little project that just might cheer them up (OK maybe it won’t cheer THEM up, but it IS a good use for that fat quarter stash of yours!) At this time of year, you can get marbled composition books for under $1. Decorate them with some fabric and create school notebooks for the kids, or a journal for yourself. They also would make a great gift… Once you get the hang of making these, you can churn out several per hour.

Fabric Covered Note Books and Journals Tutorial

You will need 3 different fat quarters or fabric scraps, some matching thread for topstitching, and a standard sized marble notebook/composition book (about 9 3/4 x 7 1/2″).

Cut 3 pieces of fabric, 4 1/8 x 21″.  Sew fabric together along long edges.

Press both short edges 1/4″ toward wrong side, then turn under again and press. Top stitch along fold.

a

 

Zig zag stitch along both long edges.

b

 

Fold one short edge about 2 3/4″ toward RIGHT side of fabric. Sew bottom folded edge using 1/2″ seam allowance. Backstitch at beginning and end of seam.

c

 

Place cover of notebook in “pocket.” Mark top of pocket with a pin at the edge of the notebook cover. It should be snug but not too tight. Remove notebook and sew seam for pocket at pin marking.

d

e

 

Place notebook back in pocket. Wrap cover around closed notebook. Repeat previous step (pin top and bottom seams and sew.)

f

g

 

Turn pockets right sides out. Insert notebook to check for fit- it should be snug but not so tight that it causes the notebook to bow. If you’re happy with the fit, press the seams and press the zig zag edge down.

h

 

Top stitch zig zag edge between the pockets about 1/16 – 1/8″ from edge.

i

 

Insert notebook and enjoy!

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HaveACraftyDay-Cat