Fabric Diary Cover {a Christmas Tutorial}

Check all our other 12 Days of Christmas Tutorials here!

I have really fallen back into paper planning over the past eighteen months – I tried electronic through my phone, iPad and Outlook Calendar but just couldn’t make it all work for me. I always had a paper planner or diary and find I work so much better with my day, week and months planned out in front of me. I write lists, schedule appointments, set goals and journal the amusing things my kids do and say all in the one place.

I’m always in awe of those gorgeous, pretty planners that people use, and have purchased my own small slimline pocket diary {for $2 at the Dollar Store} to jot down daily gratitudes or small achievements and progress towards my goals. I wanted something pretty to carry around, something small to have in my bag, and something fun to look back on at the end of the year! So I set to making a fabric cover from one of my favourite {and long-time stashed} prints to pretty it up.

Of course, this idea and tutorial could be used for any diary or notebook size, style or function. My sisters’ each use a pocket diary for tracking work rosters and appointments, we even have one beside the phone for telephone messages. These diary covers make the perfect gift for someone who loves a bit of organisation in their life, as a teacher gift or as a great stocking stuffer gift idea. They are quick and easy to make up, and can be embellished with patchwork piecing or trims – whatever your heart desires!

Materials:

– Pocket Diary {or any size diary, journal or notebook}

– 1 Fat Quarter selected print fabric

– Iron-on Interfacing {you will need enough for both the front and back cover of your diary, as well as inside pocket pieces.

– Embellishments if wanted.

 

1. Using a ruler measure your diary or notebook and record these measurements. You will need height measurement:

 

Full width measurement {with book folded out}:

 

 

and inside cover measurement:

Note: This measurement is taken to work out the size of the inside pocket flap pieces. In this example my inside cover measurement is 3 inches but I am making the pocket flap 2 1/2″. You will want your inside flap piece to be at least half of this inside cover measurement to ensure your diary stays securely in place. 

 

 

 

2. Based on my diary cover measurements, I added 3/4″ seam allowance to all measurements {other than the inside cover – see previous step} – I recommend adding at least 3/4″to 1″ for seam allowances and room for binding.

3. Cut your fabric and interfacing {according to your diary measurement} as follows:

– Diary Front – 1x Main Fabric {in this case 6 3/4″ x 7″}
– 1x Iron-on Interfacing {in this case 6 3/4″ x 7″}

– Diary Lining – 1x Main Fabric {in this case 6 3/4″ x 7″}

– Pocket Flaps – 2x Iron-on Interfacing {in this case 6 3/4″ x 2 1/2″}
– 2x Main Fabric {double the width in this step} – My finished inside flap pieces are 2 1/2″ so my cut fabric pieces are 6 3/4″x 5″

– Binding – 2″ x WOF {Fat Quarter} strips. I used just under 2 strips to finish this cover.

 

4. Lay the Interfacing, glue-side up on your ironing board, with the Main fabric piece on top. Press to fuse both pieces together. The interfacing helps stabilise and gives your cover added strength. If you want a softer cover, just omit the interfacing altogether.

 

 

 

 

5. Repeat for the Inside Flap pieces, this time you are aligning the Interfacing and the Fabric pieces as follows:

 

Press to fuse pieces together.

 

6. Flip your piece over and fold the fabric to enclose the interfacing. Press {the fabric will not stick to this side, pressing will just help when you get to the next step}. You could top stitch along the pressed edge if you wish.

 

 

 

7. To assemble your diary cover, lay the Main fabric piece {fused with Interfacing} right sides down. Lay the lining piece on top of this, right sides facing up. Lay the inside pocket pieces on top of the lining matching raw edges.

 

 

8. Pin {or use your Clover Wonderclips!} around the raw edges to help secure for basting.

 

9. Baste {sew} around the edge of your diary cover with a 1/8″ seam allowance, removing pins as you go. Take your time as you sew through all the layers of fabric and interfacing.

 

10. Prepare your binding strips and attach to your diary cover as usual. For small projects I work with a thinner binding strip {2″}. I also machine bind most of my projects. Start and finish your binding on the backside of your diary cover to avoid visible binding joins.

 

 

11. Give your cover one last press and insert your diary or notebook. As mentioned you could add embellishments, inside pockets, pen loops or clasps – whatever you desire!

 

I love this little project and can see so many more of them in my future. I’m thinking teacher gifts, one for my sister, the girl I know who’s always forgetting things…! 😉 This one is sitting {patiently} waiting to be used as a gratitude journal for next year. I have so much to be thankful for and I’m so excited to fill its pages.

 

 

Join me tomorrow for a yummy Christmas recipe – perfect for homemade hampers.

Keera
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