Love Week -- Covered Notebooks!

Day Two of a week's worth of Valentine projects...

Welcome, Craftiness is not Optional readers!

Today I want to share how to make these SWEET little covered notebooks. Aren't they perfect for a little Valentine's Day gift for a sister, mom, grandma, or friend? (HA! Maybe I'm the only one who considers Valentine's Day a bit of a "sisters' holiday!")

What you need:
mini composition book (3/$1 at Dollar Tree!)
fabric scraps
velcro (a tiny amount! bonus points if it matches!)
scrap of posterboard to make your pattern

STEP ONE: Create your pattern! Open your notebook flat and trace around the perimeter, as shown.

Mark your pattern as follows:
Measure and mark the center point of each side -- all four!
On side A: 5 1/8" from the edge, center a rectangle that is 1/4" high by 3/8" wide, and cut it out.
On side B: add a mark 1/4" from the top and bottom of your center point.
On the top and bottom: add another mark 1/2" from either side of your center points, then connect the new marks using a straightedge.
Your pattern is ready!

STEP TWO: Cut out your notebook cover pieces.
Cover: Cut two rectangles 3 1/4" wide x 5" tall
Spine: Cut one strip 1 1/2" wide by 5" tall
Pockets (what the cover tucks into): Cut two rectangles 3" wide x 5" tall
Closure: Cut two strips 2 1/2" wide x 1 1/4" tall
Velcro: 1/2" x 5/8"

STEP THREE: Fold one long edge of each of your pocket pieces down 1/4" and press. Sew, using about a 1/8" seam allowance.

STEP FOUR: Lay your closure straps right sides together. Using a pencil, draw a curve at one end, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. Sew, starting on one of the long edges and using a 1/4" seam allowance. Follow your drawn line, and sew all the way back around along the opposite long edge. Clip off those rounded corners near your stitching line, and turn your closure tab right side out.

STEP FIVE: Sew your three cover pieces together -- with the spine piece in the middle, as shown -- using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press the seams out from the middle. Also press your closure tab.

You will then topstitch around your tab closure and next to your seam lines on your cover.
All your pieces are just about ready!

STEP SIX: Attach the "scratchy " side of your velcro to the end of the tab, as shown, and trim the length of your tab to 1 7/8"

STEP SEVEN: Lay your cover right side up, with the "front" (if your fabric is directional) on the right. Place your pattern on top, lining up your seam lines at the top and bottom with the long lines you drew on your pattern, as shown. Center the pattern vertically. Draw an X -- corner to corner -- in the hole. This marks where to attach the soft side of your velcro.


STEP EIGHT: After attaching the soft side of your velcro, carefully line up your pattern on top of your cover again. This time you will center your tab, velcro side up, between the two marks. Pin. Sew it on with a 1/8" seam allowance to keep it in place.

STEP NINE: Layer your pockets on top of your cover, right sides together, with the hemmed edges toward the middle.

Once again, line up your pattern on top, centering it and using your drawn lines as a guideline. Using a sharp pencil, draw all the way around, directly on your fabric.

STEP TEN: Sew directly on your pencil line all the way around. Don't forget to backstitch! Using pinking shears, trim around the rounded corners. Or, notch with regular scissors. Trim close to the stitching line, but be careful not to snip your stitches.

STEP ELEVEN: Turn your cover right side out and carefully press your seams. At the center points, carefully turn the edges of your cover up just BARELY past your stitches and press.

STEP TWELVE: Gently fold the covers of your notebook back as shown and carefully slide your cover on. You're done!! :o)

Another idea: Make your tab a little bit longer to accommodate a pencil!

These little guys are SO fun and SO inexpensive to make. I've made about 25 (so far!) to give to my sisters, friends, mom, and grandmas!