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    Home » Sewing

    How to Make a Fabric Covered Notebook with Applique Details

    Updated: Jun 10, 2022 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · Leave a Comment

    text overlaid image of striped notebooks on wood table top

    Amy Chappell is ready to teach you how to make a fabric covered notebook with this free sewing pattern. She’s even added a bit of applique detail to the cover making this the perfect simple summer sewing project!

    text overlaid image of striped notebooks on wood table top

    Each summer I look for ways to keep my kids learning, just a little bit, and off screens as much as possible. Especially this year, with the strange ending of the school year, I really want to encourage my children to keep up some of the learning habits we have been working on.

    Table of Contents
    • About the Summer Fabric Covered Notebooks
    • How to Get the Applique Templates
    • A few More Projects Perfect to Encourage Summer Journaling in Kids

    Journaling is such a great skill for kids. Not only as a way to practice critical thinking and handwriting but as a way to process emotion and to document their lives in a creative way.

    About the Summer Fabric Covered Notebooks

    blue and white striped note book on white & black polka dot tablecloth

    This is where the Summer Notebook Cover comes in. This fabric cover fits a mini 5” X 7” composition notebook and is a fantastic size for kids to write in without getting overwhelmed.

    Plus, I know that if the supplies are cute, I am much more likely to be consistent and I find the same is true for my kids, especially my girls. These summer journals are great for responding to writing prompts, tracking goals, recording activities, or just doodling and drawing. Shall we make some?

    If you are looking for a nice simple pouch to keep your journal in, my Summer Sling bag is a really quick sew as well.

    How to Get the Applique Templates

    Simply fill out the form and we will email you directions to get the PDF templates.

    text overlaid image of striped notebooks on wood table top

    Fabric Covered Notebook

    Amy Chappell
    Learn how to make a simple fabric covered notebook with appliuqe detail with this free sewing pattern.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 30 mins
    Active Time 45 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins

    Equipment

    • Sewing Machine
    • Basic Sewing Tools
    • Rotary Cutter
    • Small Sharp Scissors
    • Cutting Mat

    supplies

    • 1 Fat Quarter Fabric for inside of notebook cover
    • 1 Fat Quarter Fabric for outside of notebook cover
    • Scraps of fabric or felt for the applique
    • Freezer paper for felt or stitchable fusible adhesive (for fabric) for applique
    • 1 5” X 7” mini composition notebook
    • ½ yard Decorative elastic for closure Fold over elastic works great for this. You can also leave off the elastic if you prefer.
    • ¼ Yard Light to medium weight interfacing also optional- if your exterior fabric is light colored I recommend using interfacing to prevent the color of the notebook or the lining fabric from bleeding through.
    • Pattern for Fruit Applique Download using this link or with the instructions in the gray box above.
    • 1 skein Embroidery Thread for optional contrast hand stitching

    Instructions
     

    Cutting:

    • Cut out fabric as shown in the directions below.
      fabric pieces cut for notebook construction on white table
    • Cut 2 pieces of fabric 10 ⅞” X 7 ½” one from the exterior fabric and one from the lining fabric
      fabric pieces cut for notebook construction on white table
    • Cut 2 pieces of fabric 4” X 7 ½”- to create sleeves to hold the notebook, this can be from either the exterior or lining fabrics
    • If adding interfacing, cut 1 piece 10 ½” X 7”.
    • Cut one piece of elastic 7 ½” long.

    Adding the Applique:

    • Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the exterior piece of fabric.
    • Print off the applique pattern.
    • Trace the desired applique pattern onto either freezer paper or fusible adhesive. (The freezer paper method is my method of choice for preparing felt for applique, if you have a different preferred method, feel free to use that.)
      The fusible adhesive can be used for either the felt or fabric for raw edge applique.
      fabric pieces cut for notebook construction on white table
    • The applique steps apply whether using the freezer paper or the fusible adhesive.
    • Cut around each pattern piece leaving a slight margin.
    • Fuse to the wrong side of the fabric or felt. Follow package instructions for the fusible adhesive, for the freezer paper, use a warm iron with no steam)
      If you'd like more information about wool applqiue there are detailed instructions on my wool applique pincushion pattern.
    • Cut out the pattern piece along the drawn line.
    • Remove the paper backing.
    • Fold the exterior notebook fabric piece in half and gently crease the center line.
      fabric pieces cut for notebook construction on white table
    • Center your applique on the middle of the right side of the exterior fabric piece and either fuse into place, or stitch into place depending on the method you are using.
      If using fusible adhesive, sew down the applique pieces after fusing. If stitching into place, use one strand of coordinating floss to whip stitch the applique pieces into place. I used 2 strands of black floss to create the heart shaped seeds using two lazy daisy stitches.

    Assemble the Notebook Cover:

    • Place your exterior fabric piece right side up in front of you.
      fabric pieces cut for notebook construction on white table
    • Position the elastic for the closure, 1” from the left side of the exterior fabric.
    • Pin the elastic into place.
    • Take the 2- 4” X 7 ½” pieces of fabric and press in half along the 4” side with wrong sides together to create 2- 2” X 7 ½” pieces.
      fabric pieces cut for notebook construction on white table
    • Line up the two sleeve fabric pieces with the two short sides of the exterior fabric. Be sure the raw edges of the sleeve pieces are lined up with the edges of the exterior fabric.
    • Place the lining fabric piece for the notebook, right side down on top of the exterior fabric piece. All of the edges should be lined up.
      fabric pieces cut for notebook construction on white table
    • Pin around the notebook cover.
    • Sew around the cover using a ¼” seam allowance, leaving a 3-4” opening on the bottom left side for turning. Back stitch at the beginning and ending of your sewing.
    • Clip the corners and turn the notebook cover right side out.
    • Push out the seams and press well, turning under the seam allowance of the opening as you press.
    • Edge stitch the opening to close it.
    • Now just slip the cover of the composition notebook into the sleeves of the cover and enjoy!
      blue and white striped note book on white & black polka dot tablecloth
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    Tried this tutorial?Let us know how it was!

    About the Designer

    Amy Chappell Bio Photo

    Hi! My name is Amy Chappell and I blog over at Ameroonie Designs. I currently live in Wyoming 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. Love the satisfaction of taking fabric and ideas and making something new. I also 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.com

    More Summer Sewing Projects Designed by Amy

    For more fun and quick summer sewing projects, check out my mini wallet tutorial, perfect for lanyards

    or my Rainbows and Sunshine mug rug pattern. Both sew up quickly using minimal supplies.

    Happy Summer Sewing my friends! Xoxo, Amy

    A few More Projects Perfect to Encourage Summer Journaling in Kids

    DIY Map Covered Notebook Tutorial

    How to Make a Smash Book Journal

    Easy Kids Notebook & Journal Ideas

    text overlaid image of striped notebooks on wood table top

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

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    Hello! It’s nice to meet you.

    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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