lined notebook cover {a tutorial}

Less than a week and my kids are back to school, yikes. So, of course I'm frantically scrambling to make sure all the supplies are bought, backpacks ready, new clothes (that actually fit) washed, etc. etc. In the midst of this craziness though, I decided to take a little fun break and make new notebook covers for their composition notebooks. 

And, I put together this tutorial for you as well, in case you'd like to make some, too.

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This notebook cover fits a regular 9 3/4" x 7 1/2" composition notebook.

Use 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise noted.

materials needed: 1/2 yard exterior fabric (quilting cotton)

                             1 FQ lining fabric (quilting cotton)
                             one 1 1/2" x 11" strip of contrasting fabric for spine of notebook cover

                             11" x 16" rectangle of SF101 or other medium weight interfacing of choice

cutting: exterior fabric: cut two 11" tall x 14" wide rectangles

             lining fabric: cut one 11" tall x 16" wide rectangle

             interfacing: cut one 11" tall x 28 1/2" wide rectangle

1. Arrange fabric for the exterior of the cover as shown in picture below.  Stitch all three parts together and  press the seams towards the spine. The panel now measures 11" x 28 1/2".

2. Fuse 11" x 28 1/2" interfacing to the wrong side of the main panel following manufacturer's directions. Use 1/8" seam allowance to topstitch along both sides middle strip.

3. Hem both 11" edges of the main panel by folding raw edge 1/4" under, then 1/4" under again. Press well and stitch in place using 1/8" seam allowance.

4. Place the main panel right side up on a flat surface. Form the flaps by folding the main fabric over at 5 1/2" mark from the edges of the main panel (your main panel now measures 11" x 16"). Pin, stitch in place using 1/8" seam allowance. 

5. Place lining fabric right side up on a flat surface. Place main panel right side down on top. Align all the edges and pin together. 

6. Stitch all the way around, making sure to leave a 4" opening in the bottom seam for turning.

7. Clip the corners, press the seams open, and turn the cover right side out through the opening from the previous step. Push the corners out to make them nicely pointy.

8. Press, pin the opening closed, and stitch all the way around the cover using 1/8" seam allowance.

9.  Give it one more quick press and you're all finished!!! 

Wasn't that easy? Now go ahead and make covers for all your notebooks. They make great teacher gifts, too :).

 And, as always, if you make a project using any of my tutorials please add it to my Flickr group. I love seeing all your amazing creations.

Svetlana