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.

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Sewing Notebook - Across the Pond Sew Along

Here in Pennsylvania,

the sun is finally coming out,

so I took advantage of it to show some photos

of my brand-new sewing notebook!

{It's my project for this month's Across the Pond Sew Along!}

 

Those are my pretty white Easter tulips...

oh, look, they need some more water!

As I was saying...

this month we are making journal covers,

so I decided to create a Sewing Notebook

from a composition book.

There are so many great tutorials out there,

and you can find more links for them,

plus inspiring photos

when you visit Susie's Sunroom...

and Amanda The Patchsmith.

I was almost paralyzed with indecision...

which tutorial or pattern should I use,

and which fabrics should I pick?

I recently received a very sweet gift...a fat quarter bundle 

of Boho Girl, in blues and greens!

I had my heart set on using those for my journal cover.

Normally these cool colors are calming and soothing...

but in this case, the prints are full of movement and energizing.

{A perfect combination for a sewing journal, right?}

For my pattern,

I could no longer resist purchasing

The Notebook Slipcover by Gingercake Patterns.

{Within minutes of buying the PDF, I was on my way to making my cover...woo-hoo!}

Gingercake Pattern for The Notebook Slipcover, from the Gingercake Patterns and Designs website

And only about an hour or so later,

I had my first notebook cover!!!

{I made mine very simple, without the flap or button closure.}

I love the way this pattern

lets you use several coordinating prints,

so you don't have to choose just one favorite!

I made the little pockets for the interior.

The topstitching detail is easy and pretty.

Now, I must admit something about that pattern 

didn't make sense to me while I was sewing.

This morning

I decided to email Virginia {Gingercake, herself}

to ask her my question.

Near the end of the pattern,

the measurement for the seam that holds

all of the layers together

was much larger than I thought it should be,

and my little notebook had too much wiggle room.

{It was an easy fix...I just stitched it around again,

with a narrower seam, and it fit perfectly.}

Virginia got right back to me and explained

that the seam was made bigger,

so that a binder or heavier notebook

would have room for the thicker sturdy covers.

{Makes sense...I'll have to make a note of that, in my Sewing Notebook.}

And then...as I was downloading these photos from the pattern site...

I had an epiphany...I completely forgot to do that

final topstitching through all of the layers!!!

That would make it look even more tailored and professional.

{See what I mean?}

I guess I was just so excited to finish it...that I didn't finish it!

You know what that means...

I'm gonna have to make more of these!

If you make one...or more...please show us what you've created

in the Across the Pond Flickr Group!

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April Across The Pond Sew Along

Believe it or not...it's already time for our next theme

in the Across the Pond Sew Along.

It was Susie's turn to choose the project,

and you are going to love her selection...

We're making Journal Covers!

Susie has already whipped up a couple of beautiful

covers, for inspiration.

Not to be outdone,
Amanda the Patchsmith
has already posted her two models as well!

Here is one lovely version...
with butterfies as beautiful as those found in nature...

And this is the second one she created!

{What is that, "peeping" from the corner?  
The latest mug rug in the series of sweetness from The Patchsmith! 
I love it with that spotty mug!}

I've been spending more time in the kitchen

than in the dining room...aka sewing space...

but I've managed to research some great links

for journal cover patterns and tutorials.

First up is a Moda Bake Shop project,

courtesy of the beautiful blog called Bloom.

{Look...two lovely versions, and one uses linen...so zakka!}

Next up is something a bit different...

more like a portfolio

or list maker style,

by Niesz Vintage Home.

{The print selection is just perfect, don't you think?}

Vikki from Sew Useful Designs

shares another method for covering a notebook,

and her instructions for customizing are excellent!

{I like the binding idea, too!}

Here's one from sew grown

that uses a different technique altogether

with linen, a print accent band,

and a lovely velvet ribbon embellishment.

Melanie from The Crafty Cupboard

shares a sweet version

with some pocket details.

It's the most recent one I've found,

and the prints she has chosen are so sweet!

{I feel her pain, with the oops moment she had. ha ha ha}

Now, if you're in the mood to purchase a PDF pattern,

 here's one that looks so super cute!

It's The Notebook Slipcover

PDF Sewing Pattern by Gingercake.

{This is just one of several versions she includes.}

Which one shall I make???

Or will I find even more ideas over at

Susie's Sunroom

and

The Patchsmith???

{Come back soon to see what I come up with...we'd love to have you sew along!}

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