Notebook cover

YOU WILL NEED

Fabric A: 65x30cm – Main

Fabric B: 65x45cm – Lining

Fabric C: 55x15cm – Pockets Wadding: 37.5x25.5cm

Vlieseline F220 iron-on interfacing: 65x45cm

A5 notebook*

Erasable fabric pen

Basic sewing kit

FABRIC USED

Fabrics are Flight Path by Jessica Swift for Art Gallery Fabrics. Stockists visit: hantex.co.uk/agf. Vlieseline products supplied by vlieseline.com.

NOTES

Use a 1cm seam allowance.

Use a walking foot if you have one. *Our book is just larger than A5 with a 2cm deep spine. To work out the size of cover you need, measure the book height, then the book length when open – including the spine. Add 3.5cm to both measurements to allow for seam allowance and ease as the cover has pockets.

CUTTING OUT

Step one From the interfacing, cut:

Main Interfacing: 65x30cm

Pockets Interfacing: 55x15cm

Step two Press the iron-on interfacing onto the wrong side (WS) of the Fabric A fabric according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then cut:

Main Outer: 37.5x25.5cm

Inside Left Pocket Outer: 15x25.5cm

Inside Right Pocket Outer: 10x25.5cm

Step three From Fabric B ,cut:

Main Lining: 37.5x25.5cm

Outer Pocket Lining: 37.5x14cm

Inside Left Pocket Lining: 15x25.5cm

Inside Left Small Pocket Lining: 15x14cm

Inside Right Pocket Lining: 10x25.5cm

Step four Press the iron-on interfacing onto the WS of Fabric C, then cut:

Outer Pocket: 37.5x14cm

Inside Left Small Pocket: 15x14cm

CREATING THE POCKETS

Step one Place the Inside Right Pocket Lining right sides (RS) together on top of the Inside Right Pocket Outer. Pin along the left long side. Sew together on that side. Press seam open, then fold the lining back to the WS and press. Topstitch along the seam to finish.

Step two Repeat the steps to create the Inside Left Small Pocket, sewing that fabric to the Inside Left Small Pocket Lining along the top edge.

Step three Place the finished inside Left Small Pocket on top of the Inside Left Pocket Outer, aligning the bottom edges. Place the Inside Left Pocket Lining RS together along the right long edge. Sew together, trim, press the seam open and back, and topstitch as before to create the left pocket.

Step four Create the Outer Pocket as for the other pockets, sewing the Outer Pocket Lining to the top long edge. Stay stitch the Outer Pocket and Outer Pocket Lining together all the way around once finished to hold.

SEWING THE LINING SECTION

Step one Place the left pocket on the left side of the Main Lining piece so that the Inside Left Pocket Lining faces the RS of the Main Lining piece.

Ensure all edges are aligned. Pin, then stay stitch together.

Step two Repeat the steps with the right pocket on the right side of the Main Lining.

SEWING THE OUTER SECTION

Step one Stay stitch the wadding to the WS of the Main Outer.

Step two Place the Outer Pocket on top of the Main Outer along the bottom edge. Clip to hold. Step three Our notebook cover has a slim pocket the width of the spine to hold a pen/pencil. To create this, mark the midway point along the top of the Main Outer and bottom of the Outer Pocket, then mark 11mm either side of the marks (so 22mm apart). Draw vertical lines down the Main Outer and along the Outer Pocket to join these points. Place a pin to hold the pocket in place.

Step four Stay stitch the Outer Pocket to the Main Outer to hold.

Step five Sew up the two marked lines from the bottom of the pocket to just above the pocket where it meets the Main Outer, backstitch at this point for both rows of stitching, This creates that pencil pocket. The pocket is 22mm as the wadding adds a bit of bulk to the width of the spine.

SEWING THE COVER TOGETHER

Step one Place the Main Lining on top of the Main Outer, RS together, aligning all outside edges. Clip together, making sure the Outer Pocket and Inside Left Small Pocket top edges line up.

Step two Sew together all the way around leaving a turning gap along the top edge.

Step three Trim excess fabric and wadding to about 3mm and clip corners.

Step four Turn RS out through the turning gap, pushing out the corners. Press, tucking the turning gap fabric inside.

Step five Close the turning gap by hand with a neat ladder stitch.