How to: sewing mini journal covers

I’ve been making small lately. One of the fun things has been sewing mini journal covers. They cover mini composition notebooks, just perfect for your pocket or purse.

smalljournalbeautyshot

The first one I made when figuring out the measurements turned out way too puffy and big.  The fusible interfacing, the stuff I use for the regular size journal covers, is too thick.

First attempt at journal cover
First attempt at journal cover

So after some adjustments, I came up with the following dimensions for these mini books.

Here is what you will need:

Cover and lining – 7 3/4 x 5 1/2

Inside flaps (2) – 4 1/2 x 5 1/2

Light fusible interfacing for all pieces. I used Pellon 906F.

Sewing machine and thread

scissors

bone folder or chopstick

iron

Let’s get started.

Cut out fabric. Iron fusible interfacing to the back of all pieces.

smalljournaltut1

The cover on the left in the first picture was pieced. Instead of cutting one piece of fabric for the cover, I tore strips and ironed them to the fusible.

pieced frontThen using the zigzag stitch, sewed the pieces down.

smalljournaltut4Then I ironed it.

smalljournaltut5Don’t cut the cover to size until you have zigzaged the complete cover. Skip those directions if you won’t be piecing your cover.

Next, fold the flaps in half and iron. They will now be 2 1/4 x 5 1/2. Sew 1/4 inch all the way down the piece from the fold.

smalljournaltut3

Now it’s time to put this baby together. Place the cover right side up. This is the other cover that I just sewed a strip of fabric on it. The front of the cover will be on the right.

smalljournaltut6Next place the flaps, right sides down with the sewn edges to the center.

smalljournaltut7Place the lining right side down on top of these pieces.

smalljournaltut8Then pin all around. You will be sewing all the way around this sandwich except for an opening to turn the cover inside out. I leave the opening in the middle of the back which will be on the left side, but you could instead leave an opening at the bottom.

smalljournaltut9Once it’s sewn, trim the excess fabric at the corners.

smalljournaltut10Now it’s time to turn it inside out pushing it through that opening you left. Use a bone folder or other blunt object to help push out the corners. I spend a little time on this.

smalljournaltut11Then give it a good ironing.

smalljournaltut12Add the mini composition book and you are done. Yeah!

smalljournaltut13

This was a fun and fast project. These would make great stocking stuffers for Christmas. Who couldn’t use a small notebook with a cute cover. I will be making some of these with my own fabric soon.

Don’t forget, you still have a couple days to enter to win the Printed Fabric Bee Giveaway #9. Click here and comment. Deadline is Wednesday at 8 am CST.