Perfect for the kids to collect all those chocolate eggs!
Chicken softie made with a free pdf pattern provided by Amy from Badskirt .
Free pattern download and instructions at Sew4Home.
Back of notebook cover. The back features a strip of lattice smocking.
Do you need to make a gift for someone special? Why not making a New Year notebook cover?
Note: For this tutorial I am giving measurements for a notebook whose top cover is 8 3/4 inches high x 7 inches wide and 13 3/4 inches from cover to cover.
BUT this tutorial can be adapted to any notebook size. Just add 1 inch to the initial measurements.
This is how you measure your notebook:
Measure your book all the way around, from top cover edge to bottom cover edge. Do this with the notebook closed.
My notebook is 13 3/4 inches all around.
Now measure the height.
My notebook is 8 3/4 inches high.
Now, add 1 inch to both measurements.
When I add 1 inch I get a rectangle that is 14 3/4 in x 9 3/4 in. This is the final size of cover, lining and fusible interface.
The pockets are the notebook height x whatever the depth you want to use multiplied by 2 (you multiply by 2 because the pockets are folded in half).
In this case each pocket requires a piece of fabric that is 9 3/4 inches x 6 inches. Using a 3 inches deep pocket is ok in most cases though you could use a deeper pocket if you’re covering a large A4 notebook for instance. Just make sure you double the depth. For a 3 inch pocket you need 6 inches fabric for instance.
Fabric
Cut
Lining: 1 rectangle 14 3/4 in x 9 3/4 in
Pockets: 2 rectangles 6 in x 9 3/4 in
Cover: 1 rectangle 14 3/4 in x 9 3/4 in. This rectangle is made of 3 pieces:
Fusible interfacing (iron on one side)
1 elastic band
1 fabric covered button
Stitch used: seeding stitch
Download pattern: Year characters (pdf)
Trace the pattern on a piece of linen and embroider it using seeding stitch doing a gradient.
The photos below show the embroidery progression.
I used several shades of browns and yellows.
The embroidery is quite tight around the numbers and quite sparse just at the end.
When the embroidery is finished, stretch on a padded surface and lightly press using steam.
Cut the piece to 8 3/4 in x 9 1/2 in.
The lattice smocking piece is 2 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in when finished.
To start cut a piece that is 15 in x 7 in. Then follow my lattice smocking tutorial to sew the lattice.
Trim the lattice to the required measure after it has been sewn and stretched, not ironed.
Stitch the embroidery piece, the lattice and the other rectangle into one single piece.
Press making sure the lattice remains intact.
Now cut the rest of the fabric:
Lining: 1 rectangle 14 3/4 in x 9 3/4 in
Pockets: 2 rectangles 6 in x 9 3/4 in
Iron both pocket pieces in half.
Now place the lining fabric right side up.
Place the pockets on top of the lining with the raw edges facing the sides.
Place the piece of rubber band, not longer than 3 inches, over a pocket, as per picture.
Important: The rubber band should be placed just directly under what will be the back of the book cover, i.e. the lattice side. I’m stressing this point because I didn’t pay attention and I had to unpick the band and sew it on the other side.
Cut 1 rectangle 14 3/4 in x 9 3/4 in of middle weight of fusible interfacing and iron to the embroidered panel on the wrong side of the panel.
Then place the panel on top of the pockets and lining.
You can see here the elastic band is on the wrong side. It should be on the opposite side, unless you want to stitch the button on the back of the notebook.
Stitch all around the book leaving 1/4 seam allowance and leave a 3 inch opening to turn cover inside out.
Trim corners after stitching.
Turn inside out. Pay special attention to the pockets and don’t get a fright because they look like they’re stitched to the wrong side. Just turn them towards the lining of the notebook.
Top stitch all around the cover as close to the edge as you can.
The cover is done. Insert the notebook.
The finished notebook cover measures about 9 in x 14 in open. The notebook is 7 inches wide when closed.
Materials
Downloads
Cut at least 1 inch below the pattern line. The extra fabric will be used to cover the base of the cone.
Cover the cone with the fabric and pin on the edge at three different locations as per picture.
Pay attention to the angle of the pin when you insert them near the top of the cone. The pin will need to be at an angle, otherwise you may stab yourself while pinning.
Then cover the base of the cone well, and pin each fold making sure the base is as flat as possible.
Adding texture to the cone
Cut 4 wedges out of the contrasting fabric. I used white but you could use something more festive such as golden or silver fabric too.
Press each wedge as per picture below aligning both sides of the wedge in the centre. I chose this method instead of stitching the wedge into a tube to reduce bulk in the central seam.
Place the 4 wedges as per picture below making sure they’re evenly spaced apart. Pin on the top. I folded the tops in to make it neater. Don’t worry, the top won’t show. At the end we’ll be adding a bow.
Now pin each wedge on the bottom too.
Pinning the sequins
Now mark with a pin where the sequins will go.
Pin at 5 in, 3 in and 1 1/2 in from the bottom folding the fabric inside or out as per picture below.
Use two pins for the top 5 in marks rather than pinning both sides of the fabric together.
Now, one by one get a small bead and put it through the headpin, and then do the same with the sequin. Then start replacing the pins in the cone with the sequinned headpins. For the pins at the top you will only need to replace one of them. Make sure that the second headpin is hidden by the sequin (see picture).
You can be as creative with your sequins as you like. I alternated sequin shapes and colours (golden, red and green) that matched the fabric and the Christmas theme.
Closeup of the sequins.
Hiding the raw edges of the fabric
Cut a rectangle 9 3/4 in x 1 1/2 in and a piece of ribbon the same size.
Press the top edge of the rectangle 1/4 in inside and do the same with one of the sides (see picture).
Start pinning around the base of the cone as per picture.
Pin as you go 4 or 5 times. Ensure the ribbon edge is hidden behind the white fabric at the end.
Pin the rest of the fabric to the bottom of the cone as per picture.
Make a bow with some matching ribbon and pin to the top.
There you have a Christmas ornament in no time at all and without using your machine.
