Let's Get Acquainted + Book Cover Tutorial

(Edit 1/25/2018: In process of replacing Photobucket images) Welcome to my blog! My name is Taryn and I just started sewing at the end of last year. I was a graphic designer for a regional retailer for 6ish years. I designed 20 page ads in the Sunday paper, among other things (those of you in TX, LA & OK may have seen my work ;D).

My husband worked overseas for the first 5 years of our marriage, so we were thrilled when he got a job in Houston, TX last year! I am now a stay-at-home wife and sewing has become my favorite thing to do. I am completely addicted to making quilts! I also love cooking & reading. Well...I say I love cooking, but I really just like looking for great recipes and thinking about making them! [More About Me]

I have a 8.5x5.5 Moleskine Passions Book Journal, but the paper pockets inside are pretty much useless to me! I wanted a book cover with pockets for bookmarks and page markers. This is my solution! Cliff Notes version of instructions are on the picture. If I have anything to add, it is in the text below the picture.

For the outside & inside cover measurements I used Length + 1" & Width + 1.5" (Standard is Width + 1", but it felt a bit too snug to me). The pockets are 2/3s the width of the inside cover.

MATERIALS

• About 4 Fat Quarters of Fabric • Interfacing
• Coordinating Thread • Button • Elastic (I used a Ponytail Holder) • Fabric Glue Stick • Ribbon/RicRac

Click on this image to zoom in. Also, I didn't end up using the batting. It was going to make the cover too thick.

CUT:
Interfacing: 2 - 12.5" x 9.5" Pieces Exterior Fabric: 12.5" x 6.5" Piece for Outside Top 12.5" x 3.5" Piece for Outside Bottom 12.5" Piece of Ric Rac or Ribbon	Interior: 12.5" x 9.5" Interior Lining 2 - 9.5 "x 4" Pieces of Linen for Big Pocket Outer 2 - 9.5" x 4" Pieces of Fabric for Big Pocket Lining. 2 - 2"x 4" Pieces of Fabric for Small Pocket Binding 2 - 4"x 8.5" Piece of Linen for Small Pocket

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1) To complete the exterior, you need the 12.5" x 6.5" fabric and the 12.5" x 3.5" fabric. 

2) Place the two fabrics right sides together, the bottom of the 12.5" x 3.5" piece lined up with the bottom of the 12.5" x 6.5" piece. 

3) Sew a 1/4" seam along the bottom edge.

4) Press the seam open.

5) Now that it is all together, you can fuse the interfacing! Place the coated side of the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric. Fuse according to the directions for your interfacing.

6) Since you are already at the ironing board, go ahead and fuse the interfacing to the back of the 12.5" x 9.5" interior piece as well.

7) Place Ric Rac/Ribbon on the line created by the seam on the right side. I used a fabric glue stick to keep it in place.

8) Sew down the middle of the Ric Rac. I used the same color thread so it would blend in, but you could also use a contrasting thread!

9) The exterior of the book cover is now complete!

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1) For the small pocket binding you need the 4" x 2" pieces of fabric.

2) Fold both in half lengthwise. Press.

3) Open them back up. There will be a crease in the middle. Fold the top to the center line. Press. Repeat for second strip.

4) Fold the bottom to the center line. Press. Repeat for the second strip.

5) Fold the binding in half lengthwise. The strips should now be 4" x 1/2."

6) For the small pocket, you need the two 9.5" x 4" fabric pieces.

7) Fold the small pocket piece in half. It should now measure 4.75"x 4" with the fold at top.

8) Place the small pocket inside the binding. The fold of the pocket should be inside the fold of the binding. Repeat for second pocket.

9) Edge stitch the binding onto the pocket. I have a little trouble with edge stitching, so I sometimes use my narrow/rolled hem foot. Because of the little guide on the foot, It helps me get a perfect 1/8"! Repeat for the second pocket. The small pocket is now complete!

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1) To construct the big pocket you need: 9.5" x 4" Linen (x2), 9.5" x 4" Fabric (x2) and the small pocket.

2) Place the wrong side of the small pocket to the right side of the linen. Repeat for second pocket.

3) Place the right side of the fabric piece on the ride side of the pocket/linen combo. Repeat for second pocket.

4) For the pocket on the left, you need to sew a 1/4" seam on the right side.

5) For the pocket on the right, you need to sew a 1/4" seam on the left side. I accidently sewed both of them on the right side and had to break out the seam ripper!

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6) Fold the pocket lining to the back and press. Repeat for the second pocket. The left side pocket will have the fold on the right. The right side pocket will have the fold on the left. The big pockets are now done. It is time to start constructing the book cover!

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1) Place the big pockets on top of the lining. Make sure the folds of both are facing the inside and the raw edges are on the outside.

2) Place the exterior fabric on top, right sides together.

3) If you are putting a button, place the elastic in between the interior and exterior pieces. You should place it on the right side, directly opposite of where you want your button. I used a ponytail elastic that I put in the shape of a figure 8.

4) Pin everything in place. I used clips. They held everything together really well!

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5) Sew 1/4" around all four edges, leaving a 3" gap for turning. Don't forget to backstitch at the beginning and end!

6) Clip corners. Cut the elastic at the seam and trim off any fraying threads. I had a lot!

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7) The fun part! Turn it inside out. I usually use a gigantic chopstick to push out the corners, but I couldn't find it today under the mounds of fabric that the Patchwork Prism has created. I used a knitting needle today, and it worked great. I pressed it at this point as well, it was pretty wrinkly!

8) Blind stitch the opening closed. (Just like I do quilt binding)

9) Attach a button to the front, directly opposite from your elastic. I used a Dritz Cover Button Kit that I bought at Wal-Mart so I could make my own button!

Finiahed!

Fabrics Used: 
Blue-Green Cover: Cary Phillips Floral Folio Aqua Large Florals, Michael Miller Ta Dot in Orange, Cary Phillips Floral Folio Dark Orange Lots of Dots

Gray Book Cover (Picture of Inside): Kawaii Honolulu Town in Grey, Michel Miller Dumb Dot in Gray, Lizzy Pilgrim Dusty Blue Stripe, Charcoal Linen

I am linking this up in the Bag & Accessories Category at Ellison Lane Quilts Summer Sewing Contest. Be sure to check out all the great entries in all of the categories!

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Does Not Compute | Charming Stars | Charlotte | Hootenanny | Snuggly Layer Cake Throw | 

All Projects

How Long Have You Been Quilting? About 6 months! My mom didn't sew, so I didn't grow up around it. I just randomly decided I wanted to learn, so I started teaching myself to sew at the end of last year. Last December, I made a rag quilt from a kit and I was hooked! 
Favorite Quilting Tips:

• Think twice, then measure twice, then cut once. (I got this from Bethany at Make Me a Quilt! I always forget the thinking part :D)
• It's a walking foot, not a running foot. (from one of the quilting forums)
• 10 Things I've Learned in the 2 Years Since I Graduated from Art School (Warning: Bad Language) - Not exactly quilt specific, but a lot of it applies; particularly #5 on inspiration!

Favorite Fabric : This one is hard, because everytime I see a new line it is my new favorite! I just bought some Evergreen Andalucia II.
Favorite Craft Book: Sewing in No Time: 50 Step-by-Step Weekend Projects Made Easy by Emma Hardy. It has a lot of quick, fun projects.
Book I Am Currently Reading: I am reading Adland: Searching for the Meaning of Life on a Branded Planet by James P. Othmer. It is hilarious and I recommend it to anyone who works in advertising or wants to work in advertising!
Favorite Children's Book: This is more of a young adult book, but I will always have a special place in my heart for The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Favorite Quilting Tool: June Tailor Perfect Half-Square & Quarter Square Triangle Ruler. I HATE trimming HSTs, but for some reason having a special tool for it makes it far more enjoyable. I also like my little ironing board. I bring it in the living room and do mass ironing in front of the TV.
Favorite Music to Listen To While Quilting: I listen to Colbie Callait Radio on Pandora. Acoustic lady music, relaxing and unobstrusive!
Favorite TV Show While Hand Stitching: Netflix is great for this! Right now I am watching Samantha Who. Last series was United States of Tara.
Binding - by hand or by machine? I *love* hand sewing the binding. It allows me to be lazy and productive at the same time!

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I originally wrote this post for the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop. I have met so many great & talented bloggers during this hop, I hope you will hop on over and meet some of them too! The latest news on the blog hop is over at Plum and June. Jennie from Clover & Violet did a fantastic guest post with some great advice for new bloggers AND a giveaway! Don't forget to check out the following blogs on the hop!

June 7 Cinzia from Deux Petites Souris Kristy from Quiet Play

June 7 Em from Sewing by Moonlight

June 12 Kelly from Jeliquilts Yzo from Chez Roo

Thanks so much for stopping by!