DIY Christmas Planner Cover Tutorial
Amy from Ameroonie Designs is back with us again, sharing another fantastic sewing tutorial! I really need to make a DIY Christmas planner myself! Heaven knows I need all the help I can get when it comes to staying organized at Christmas!
A few years ago I had the idea to make a Christmas planner. One place to keep all my notes, dates, receipts and lists. I took a composition notebook, some scrapbook paper, and Mod Podge and got my craft on. It worked like a dream.
So well, in fact, I started making them every year. This year though, I thought I would up my game just a bit and make one out of fabric. You can replace the notebook every year, use it for multiple years, or you can make a new cover each year and keep a record of all your Christmas memories. In just a quick sewing session, you can have all your holiday craziness in one place!
Christmas Planner Cover Tutorial:
These darling Pixie Noel fabrics were so much fun to work with. Perfect prints for fussy cutting and lots of fun holiday motifs. You will need 4-5 fat quarters for variety, but 3 will give you plenty of fabric.
This is also a great project for using up fabric left over from other Holiday projects.
This pattern also includes two pockets- one zipper pocket on the back and a slip pocket on the front sleeve. You can stash receipts, coupons and any other miscellaneous items you might want on hand.
Christmas Planner Supplies:
In addition to the fabric you will need:
- composition notebook
- felt or batting
- elastic for closure
- 9″ zipper (or longer)
- embellishments as desired
Cutting:
For the front of the cover:
- 4 1/2″X 10 1/2″ main print
- (2)- 2″ X 10 1/2″ accent for pen pocket
- 1 1/2″ X 10 1/2″ accent
Back of cover:
- 2 1/2″ X 10 1/2″
- 7 1/2″ X 10 1/2″
- (2)- 6″ X 10 1/2″- lining of zipper pocket
- (not shown) (2)- 1″ X 2″ for ends of zipper
- **If you don’t want to do the zipper pocket, you can just cut 1- 9 3/4″ X 10 1/2″ piece instead
Inside of Planner Cover
- 16″ X 10 1/2″ lining piece
- 10″ X 10 1/2″ for front sleeve (with pocket)
- (2)- 4 1/2″ X 6″ for pocket
- 5″ X 10 1/2″ for back sleeve
Assembly:
Start with the back zipper pocket.
Add the 1″ X 2″ fabric pieces to either end of your zipper. Make sure the zipper measures just under 9″. I like to add the fabric tabs just inside the metal zipper tabs so I don’t have to worry about the needle hitting them, but you can do whatever you prefer. Press the fabric away from the zipper. You can top stitch these down if you like, but it’s not necessary.
Place the zipper face down on the left side of the 7 1/2″ X 10 1/2″ back pocket piece. Place one of the lining pieces face down on top, make sure all the edges are lined up. Sew using 1/4″ seam allowance.
Press both sides away from the zipper. Top stitch along the zipper.
Take second lining piece and place it right side up. Line up zipper- right side up- with the left side of the lining piece. Place the 2 1/2″ X 10 1/2″ piece of back fabric right side down, lining up the left side. Sew along side using 1/4″ seam allowance.
Press ONLY the 2 1/2″ piece away from the zipper. Turn the pocket over and sew 1/4″ in from the bottom of the shorter lining piece to create the bottom of the pocket. Trim off the extra lining fabric.
Apply Batting:
Cut a piece of batting to 11″ X 16 1/2″. Line up the back pocket piece with the left side of the batting piece. Top stitch down the left side of the zipper
Fold over the top piece of the back pocket. Line up the fold with the stitch line of the pocket lining, finger press. Unfold and top stitch along the press line to hold the pocket in place.
Construct the Front Cover
Line up the rest of the cover pieces as shown. Press one of the 2″ X 10 1/2″ pieces in half to create the pen pocket (the striped fabric in this pic).
Starting with the accent piece, place it right side down and line it up with the right side of the pocket piece, stitch using 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the piece away from the stitch line and top stitch both sides of the stitch line to quilt as you go. Repeat with the pen pocket and final accent piece. *I don’t top stitch on top of the pocket piece. Trim the front cover to be 10 1/2″ X 16″
Embellishments:
If you want to add any embellishments, do so now. I used felt to create a “badge” and added a fussy cut elf from the Pixie Noel fabric for mine. Then I finished it off with some buttons. *You could also add pom pom trim, ric rac or any other embellishments you like.
Sleeve Pocket Construction:
Take both sleeve pieces and press in half along the length. Place both pocket pieces (4 1/2″ X 6″) right sides together. Sew around all 4 sides, leaving an opening for turning on the bottom seam. Clip corners and turn right side out, press.
Center pocket on larger, front sleeve and stitch top, left and bottom sides- closing the opening as you go- make sure the fold of the sleeve is to the right
If you’re adding elastic to keep the notebook closed line it up 1 1/4″ from the left side of the front cover. Pin in place.
Final Assembly:
Place sleeves on the cover- place the front sleeve with the pocket on the right side. Make sure to line up the raw edges so the folds are toward the center. Place the 16″ X 10 1/2″ lining piece right side down on top of the cover, line up edges and pin in place.
Sew around the entire cover leaving 3-4″ open on the bottom for turning (1/4″ s.a.). Clip corners and turn right side out. Press carefully- making sure to push out corners and edges. Top stitch opening on bottom.
Finally, pull out all your matching washi tape (or go buy some!), your favorite pens and get to planning out all the fun for your holiday season.
Hi! My name is Amy Chappell and I blog over at Ameroonie Designs, I currently live in Utah with my husband and 6 kids. I love being a mom but needed an outlet that would give me something to do that stayed done, enter sewing and creating. I love the satisfaction of taking fabric and ideas and making something new, and love that blogging has given me a way to meet new people and find a community of amazing people who love fabric and sewing as much as I do.
xoxo,
Amy
Ameroonie Designs
www.amerooniedesigns.blogspot.com
Other Cute Tutorials by Amy:
Fabric Christmas Tree Tutorial
Black and White Christmas Shadow Box
Ruffle Notebook Cover Tutorial
This chrtismas planner decor looks awesome! Thanks for sharing, I’ll definitely make it for my planner!