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Thursday, December 14, 2017

Fabric Journal Covers

Brocade Upholstery Fabric - Writing Journal Cover
Color: Pecan Brown and Navy

I made half a dozen fabric journal covers for Christmas.  Pictured are my first two attempts, both very successful in this lovely brocade upholstery fabric in pecan brown and navy.   

For the writing tablet: an inexpensive 100 page composition book with heavy cardboard front and back.


I read several articles "how to make fabric journal covers", and the best one in my opinion is,


The article has beautiful photos, and demonstrates how to measure the writing book as well as materials required to make it from start to finish.  Their fabric journal cover tutorial has an additional feature with a slim pocket for a pen, which I omitted.  

Instead I added other things: added a layer of cotton batting and printed cotton interior; 3 layers to add strength and firmness to the cover, and the expected weight of a high end diary.  I hate flimsy.  I quite fancy the padded feel.

Three layers: cover top, batting for firmness, and printed cotton for interior

By the way, this is the same 3 layer method and dimensions I used to make my fancy purses.  

 ANY
ONE
OF MY PURSE CREATIONS
 COULD HAVE BECOME
A FABRIC JOURNAL COVER

 THIS ONE STARTED OUT TO BE A COVER, AND BECAME A PURSE INSTEAD

 THE BEADS I MAKE BY HAND - COULD BE BEADED BOOK MARKERS
IMAGINE THAT!

***
My method of tying the button closure--allows both closure ties to become part of the decoration as well as the fancy button. 

Bring both ties to the front, and to the right of the button and make one tie loop,

Then, wrap the left tie snug under the button and make one more loop with both ties snug under the button.  Secure.  Done. Easy.

Tip: the closure is the perfect spot to use that ONE BIG VINTAGE BUTTON--the one you've been holding on to for such a long time--waiting for the perfect project.

Merry Christmas to all of you this snowy December morning.  Let's get ready for some marathon sewing in 2018.  

   





9 comments:

  1. Hello Linda, Your expertise can be counted on to add a classy touch to a common notebook or journal--people have so many odds and ends of notebooks and paper in their otherwise elegant homes.

    A very Happy Holidays to you and your family.
    --Jim

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  2. Such quality, beauty, real works of art, every single one! Love your project Linda!

    Donna

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  3. What a great idea and what a special gift to receive! Merry Christmas!

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  4. Hello my friend Jim (Parnassus). Thank you for your kind review of the fabric journal covers. I just finished a queen quilt for a customer yesterday, now I can get back to small projects I enjoy making. Sending you special greetings, and hope you have fun hosting/attending holiday gatherings with friends and family. I would have liked to attended your Halloween party--what a finely decorated house!

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  5. Ah there she is, my lovely friend Donna. Thank you for stopping by to look at the fabric journal covers. I won't forget it was YOU who brought my attention to these fancy fabric journals. I have so much to be thankful for this year--and one of the best things of all is getting to be your friend.

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  6. Hello Ann@SentimentalLife. So nice to hear from you. Glad you like the fabric journal covers and knowing the great seamstress you are--I hope you will make some of them for gifts too. What did you think of the attached "how to make" article. It was a really good one, right? Great photos and instructions. I will go visit your blog and see what you are doing. Merry Christmas Ann!

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  7. Super gorgeous! My mother loved making journals; I am happy to say I have quite a few to remember her by.

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  8. I absolutely love your bathroom. My uncle and aunt used to live in Maine in an old Victorian house and they made one of the bedrooms into a bathroom and it was beautiful. I would love to have one like that. Alicia

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