Thursday, September 23, 2010

Need a quick personal handmade gift for someone?


I was talking to Shane recently about making a gift for someone and mentioned these book covers. They are quick, colourful and handmade by you.

Here is a quick tutorial so that you can zoom off and make your own!



I use small journals or notebooks, although using a 2011 diary would make a great gift :))
You can use any size book, but I like the smaller sizes as these can easily be kept in a handbag. I buy mine at a local stationery store which means that when one book is full I can buy another and slip into the cover.



* Measure your book, then find some pretty fabric and some batting.
* Make a sandwich of 2 layers of fabric with a layer of batting in the middle.
*Trim them so that they are about 2 inches larger than the size of the book.
*Quilt the fabric, and embellish it if you chose, add stitches, buttons, applique etc...



* After quilting the fabric, trim the fabric down to allow 1/2" around the book, so the fabric is 1/2" bigger than the book.
* Sew with a zigzag stitch right around the outside edge of the fabric.
* Cut 2 more pieces of fabric to match, fold under one long edge and stitch down it. Add any embellishments you want to to this fabric.
* To attach these to the cover, sew around 3 sides so that they form a pocket, you will slip you book cover into these.



*Get some cord, wool, or strings and cover them with a zigzag stitch to make a decorative cord.
* Sew one end of this cord to the centre top inside of your cover fabric. Attach a bead to the other end. This will hang down between your pages, make sure it is long enough when cutting your original threads.



* Slip your book into the cover! :))


You can normally make one of these covers from scraps you have at home. I have had mine for 3 years now. Each year I replace it with a new diary.

On these ones below I zigzag stitched a bunch of mixed fibres to the outside of the cover fabric once they were finished.


Hope this inspires you!
Have fun,

Carole :)

18 comments:

Rose ~Victorian Rose ~ said...

DARLING IDEA....I don't sew..but if I did this looks like something even I could do.

Thanks for the idea.


Rose

ShabbyChicShaz said...

Thanks Carole, I'll add it to my to-do-one-day list, they are so beautiful and practical :)

Dorthe said...

They are wonderfull, love the pinkish ones, Carole, such a lovely idea.
Thankyou sweet.
Hugs,Dorthe

Sharne Gregory said...

Great idae, I might make some for Christmas.

Lynette (NZ) said...

Cool - always good to get fresh inspiration. I see you are making the most of your last days of freedom :-)

Charlotte Scott said...

Yum! They're gorgeous.

I've done this with those skinny little trimmings you get and an orphan koru applique block all free motioned down onto some black wool fabric. I'd forgotten about it till now - you've inspired me to make some more (Christmas is coming!).

Jen xo said...

im so glad you posted this because i have been thinking about making these, now i dont have to think any more :)
they are gorgeous Carole...

Cynthia Schelzig said...

oh heavens they look fabulous! Thanks for the tutorial too!!!
you should put a transfer of the precious Buddy on one:)

Margaret said...

Super cool Carole! And I love the bookmarker ball!

Maggie R said...

I'm lovin' these Carole.
Thank for the inspiration...
xoxo
(((hugs))))
Maggie

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

I've been meaning to make some of these forever! Hmm, maybe now that the house is ready to go on the market I'll have a little time... Marva

Unknown said...

How beautiful-I wish I could make something like this - gorgeous

Shane Pollard said...

You're the best!!!
After our chat I had it in my mind and I've been looking for 4" x 4" notebooks as I feel that's a good size for little hands.
Now there's no excuse!
A trip to the $2 shop coming up this weekend.
Thank you :))
Shane

Lynette (NZ) said...

PS I have shared this tutorial link on my "Friday Inspiration" blog post :-)

Debrina said...

Awesome Carole! You're a generous clever clog aren't you? Do you think you could make it to the next Alt.Shift.Crft art fair? Your work would sell well, I just know it!

Jensters said...

Wow i shall be making these as christmas prezzies, love them...shall follow your blog from now on...im gonna explore now x

Unknown said...

Carole, you make these look deceptively easy. Can I just send you dimensions of my latest journal? ;)

Dogwood said...

great idea~thanks. i know i will be sewing some of those since i have so many friends who love love to read.

enjoy your afternoon.