project: felt journal cover (with pocket!)

I really can't get enough of composition books. I use them for all of my sketches and planning because they are easy and inexpensive. Sometimes I find them with really cute covers, but most of the time I just get the plain jane variety. Now, however, I can fancy them up and keep my pencils handy!

With some wool felt and a spot of embroidery, I've got a covered journal! (Well, actually, my sister does...she already stole this one, and my mom asked me to make 3 more for the kids for school!)

The Cheeky Chalkboard on the cover is a piece that I stitched a while ago and have had sitting here waiting for a good project. You can find the design in my Homework Helpers pattern set either on Etsy or at Kitschy Digitals.

You will need:
Wool blend felt, cut to 10.25 x 24 inches
Embroidery floss
Small piece of finished embroidery
Composition book

Scissors
Iron
Pins
Needle



Fold the felt in half, then fold in the ends so each is a 4.25" flap. Iron the creases.



Cut the finished embroidery down to the size you want the pocket to be. This can really be any size you want, as long as it fits on the cover. Make sure your edges are straight! Fold down the top edge (it will get more wear with things going in and out of the pocket) and press with the iron.



Stitch along the folded edge of the pocket using a running stitch. I chose to leave the knots on the front, just for visual interest.



Pin the pocket piece in place, then stitch along the sides and bottom using a running stitch.



With the flaps folded on the felt cover (it may help to pin them), stitch along the edge with a seam allowance of .25", and stop within about 1 inch of the corner. Repeat this for the top and bottom of the front and back.




Slide the composition book into the cover. You'll need to fold the cover of the book back a bit to get it in there.




You could leave it like this, but I thought it looked a little nicer with round corners. So, just trim those off so they have a curve similar to the book inside.




Slide a pen or pencil in the pocket, and you're ready to go! Or, if you're like me, get ready to make a bunch of these for the people in your family...before you actually get one of your own...

This went together pretty quickly, especially considering that I hand-stitched it all (and that the embroidery was done before I started!). But of course, you could whip these up even faster on a sewing machine! Which may be what I need to do for the rest of these...




For a more labor-intensive (but extremely wonderful) journal cover, be sure to check out the fabric scrap tutorial at Stitched in Color!