The first person to sign up for a creative pay-it-forward gift from me was a friend from college. She is a talented artist who lives on the ocean in Massachusetts. I knew immediately that I wanted to make her a patchwork sketchbook cover. I decided on mini charms of Sphere by Zen Chic for the cover, Oval Elements in Mood Indigo by Art Gallery Fabrics for the flaps, and Jenean Morrison's Beachwood Park in Rendezvous Gold for the lining.
There are many journal cover tutorials for the traditional black and white composition book (above left). As a designer, I'm always looking for blank books as I don't want to have to fight the lines. On Amazon, I found the unruled composition book for my artist friend and the dot grid composition book for me. The ones I bought are slightly larger than the other kind, and have soft covers. This tutorial is for a general book cover that can be adjusted to fit either type of book. For a printable PDF, please visit the Pellon Projects site here.
I'm planning on using mine to sketch, and it'll be helpful for quilt blocks. I typically use graph paper, so the subtle dot grid should work just as well.
You will need:
54 mini charm squares or 2 1/2 squares for cover
1/2 yard lining fabric
1/2 yard flap fabric
1/2 yard Pellon 987F Fusible Fleece
1/2 yard Pellon 809 Décor-Bond (soft cover book only)
14" of ribbon
Sketchbook or composition book
Clover Wonder Clips
Dritz Fray Check
Step 1. Cutting instructions:
Lining fabric: cut one 12 1/2 x 18" rectangle
Flaps: Cut two 17 x 12 1/2" rectangles
Fusible Fleece: Cut one 15 x 21" rectangle
Décor-Bond: Used only for soft cover books (see step 6 for cutting instructions)
Use 1/4" seam allowances unless otherwise directed.
Step 2: Arrange the mini charms into six rows of nine squares each. Sew the top row together into a strip. Press the seams to the left. Sew the second row together into a strip. Press the seams to the right. Continue creating strips, alternating pressing seams to the side.
Step 3: Sew rows 1 and 2 together. Sew rows 3 and 4 together. Sew rows 5 and 6 together. Press all seams open. Sew the three pairs of rows together until the front of the book cover is complete. It will measure 12 1/2 x 18 1/2".
Step 4. Fuse the wrong side of the patchwork cover to the rough side of the Fusible Fleece rectangle following manufacturer's instructions. Quilt as desired. Trim the excess Fusible Fleece.
Step 5. Fold each flap rectangle in half with wrong sides together. Press. stitch 1/8" from the folded edge.
Step 6. For a sketch book with soft covers, trace the exact size of the book while it is closed twice onto the Décor-Bond. Cut out the two pieces. Center one piece each into the folded flaps. Fuse following manufacturer's instructions. For a book with hard covers, skip this step.
Step 7. Place book cover right side up on a flat surface. Place the fused side of the flaps facing down. Align the rough edges of the flaps with the left and right edges of the cover. Tuck the ribbon over the top center of the cover. Pin or use a clip to hold the ribbon in place. Note: Use Fray Check to prevent fraying on the end of the ribbon.
Step 8. Place the lining right side down on top. Pin or clip the layers together.
Step 9. Place the book on top of the lining, centered and on the left. With a disappearing ink marker or chalk pencil, trace 1/8" around the book. Roll the book over the spine carefully on the spine to the right and trace 1/8" around the other side. Note: For smaller books, there will be considerable excess. Trim 1/2" outside the line that was just traced if necessary, moving and replacing the ribbon so it isn't cut by the rotary cutter.
Step 10. Starting on the bottom left of the ribbon and leaving a 4" gap on the bottom center of the book cover, sew along the traced line. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.
Step 11. Clip corners, turn book cover right side out and press. Check book fit before handstitching the opening closed. Adjust as necessary.
Step 12. Hand sew the opening closed.
The book with cover stays open; it lays flat nicely.
It was hard putting this in a box and sending it away, but it's going to a great home. It's so nice knowing it'll soon be filled with amazing drawings!
xo Karin
