FABRIC COVERED JOURNAL TUTORIAL

Fabric Covered Journal Tutorial

for a 

Composition book

Cut piece of light weight cotton batting 17" x 12"

Scraps must be long enough to lay across the batting at a diagonal

These are all 1 1/2" w x 22 - 42 long

You can also sew pieces together to make them long enough 

Lay first piece across, at a diagonal, right side up  

Second piece goes directly on top of the first piece 

 right sides together (RST)

Sew 1/4" seam 

Press seam open

Next piece  goes down other side of the first piece, 

sew it down, press open

Press open

Continue to sew and press building out the entire piece

sewing strips to one side, then the other 

Til the entire piece of batting is covered

Flip it over

Trim off the scraps along the batting edges

  Flip the piece over for a final trim

Trim to 15 7//8 x 10 3/4"

Now you will need a bit larger scraps or FQs

to make the two inside flaps (and the lining)

Inside flaps measure 13 1/2" x  10 3/4"

Press them wrong sides together (WST)

Top stitch the fold 1/4" for on both flaps

Cut a lining piece 15 7/8" x 10 3/4"  

  sewed two scrap pieces together, then trimmed, for my lining 

Make the ink pen holder tab 

Use a 2" x 3" scrap, press the short sides in and

sew down using a scant 1/4" seam

As you look at the journal piece 

Lay the tab on the right side, 2" up from the bottom

raw edges all together

this will be the back of the journal when it is all done.

 Layer the journal fabrics as follows

Front cover is right side up

Lay the two inside flaps with raw edges to outside 

folds are inside near the center

Lay the lining piece wrong side up  

Because the composition book has rounded corners....

mark a curved line on the corner for 1/4" seam allowance.  

Pin all the layers together securely, all around the piece

and sew 1/4" seam.  

Leave a 3" opening to turn the piece inside out. 

Check you seams before turning to be sure 

all 3 layers are stitched into the seam.  

Before turning right side out

trim and clip the curves in the corners

I love to use a plastic chop stick for poking out corners

Press both sides well, including the opening

Top stitch all around the journal cover using a scant 1/4"

I add my Kwilty Pleasures press on label

Insert the book by sliding one side at a time into the flaps

Fold the cover and the book back at the center at needed to

help slide them in. 

Add an ink pen and you are all done!

FRONT

INSIDE

BACK