Notebook Cover

Designer: Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet

• 5­--18×21" pieces (fat quarters) assorted prints in gray (2), white, and pink (2) (outer cover, inner pockets)
• 1⁄2 yard each solid pink and solid orange (inner pockets)
• 1⁄2 yard lining fabric
• 14 ×20" batting
• 7 ×10-1⁄2" spiral notebook

Finished notebook cover: 9 ×11-1⁄2"

Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width.

Measurements include 1⁄4" seam allowances, except where indicated. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order.

From the first gray print, cut:

• 1--5×12" rectangle

From white print, cut:

• 1--5×12" rectangle

From the first pink print, cut:

• 1--12×14" rectangle

From each of second gray print, second pink print, solid pink, and solid orange, cut:

• 1-=12×16" rectangle

From lining, cut:

• 1--14×20" rectangle for lining

1. Fold gray print 5×12" rectangle in half to make a 5×6" rectangle. Place it atop white print 5×12" rectangle with raw edges aligned (Diagram 1). Using a 1⁄8" seam allowance, sew around three sides that have raw edges, leaving folded edge unsewn, to make outer pocket unit.

2. Sew together outer pocket unit and pink print 12×14" rectangle to make outer cover (Diagram 2). Press seam toward pink print. The outer cover should be 12×18-1⁄2" including seam allowances.

3. Place 14×20" lining rectangle on a flat surface with wrong side up. Layer 14×20" batting rectangle atop lining, then center outer cover atop batting with right side up. Referring to Diagram 3, machine-stitch a vertical line down the center of outer cover and another one between outer cover pieced sections; stitch a horizontal line just above the outer pocket. Trim lining and batting even with edges of outer cover.

4.  Fold gray print 12×16" rectangle in half, wrong side inside, to make a 6×16" rectangle. Place it atop solid pink 12×16" rectangle with raw edges aligned (Diagram 4). Using a 1⁄8" seam allowance, sew around three sides that have raw edges, leaving folded edge unsewn, to make an inner pocket unit.

5. Repeat Step 4 using pink print 12×16" rectangle and solid orange 12×16" rectangle to make a second inner pocket unit.

6. Fold an inner pocket unit in half, wrong side inside, to make an 8×12" rectangle. Referring to Diagram 5 for placement, layer folded pocket atop outer cover, matching raw edges on three sides; pin. Sew together along pinned raw edges, leaving folded edge unsewn.

7. Repeat Step 6 with remaining inner pocket unit and opposite edge of outer cover.

8. Using a short zigzag stitch, sew around entire rectangle (Diagram 6). Trim corners and turn right side out; press.

9. Tack down the seam allowance at the top and the bottom of the center fold. Insert notebook to complete notebook cover.