A New Journal Cover...Eventually

Everyone probably already knows this,

but I'm going to say it anyway...

If you're gonna sew when you're tired,

you will need one of these:

No, not the adorable paper-pieced block made by Susie...

I mean you'll need the actual seam ripper!

I had to use mine late last night,

as I tried to finish my latest April project from

the Across the Pond Sew Along.

My dwindling pile of La Petite Ecole has been

calling me to make another journal cover

using this tutorial by Bloom.

Just one of THREE beautiful journal cover tutorials at Bloom blog!

I tried to modify the cutting measurements

to fit my own journal.

???

Somehow I ended up having to make 

very very very very skinny seam allowances,

for the final stitching.

And then...even after careful wielding

of Jack, the Seam Ripper,

and repeated re-stitching and re-rippping,

I still have an "issue" with the lower front edge.

I applied some Fray Check to the problem zone

and am keeping my fingers crossed.

And then...

my notebook just wouldn't fit!

But I HAD to have THIS cover for THAT notebook,

before I would go to sleep.

Look...

It's got a pretty strip of my favorite

La Petite Ecole prints,

and a little rooster applique...

and there's even an A on it for Amy.

Finally I won that argument,

and the notebook is in there to stay.

How, you may ask,

did I manage to squeeeeeeze 

the journal inside the cover?

;)

{I'll never tell, but I think I'm gonna have to get a new rotary cutter blade now.}

Oh, boy, am I glad I have my Sewing Journal,

so I could make notes on what didn't work,

and what to try next time!

The Good Journal

So now you know for certain

that I'm not a Perfect Sewist.

My notebook pages stick out a bit

from underneath the cover,

but I still love this little Teenager of a journal.

The Naughty Journal

Post your journal covers on the Across the Pond Sew Along Flickr page.