This week I’m sharing a quick and easy fabric journal cover project. I was inspired to print one of the pages from the Scrappy Garden Printable Journal Kit onto fabric, to make a journal cover for a new journal that I’m making. I love the fun floral designs on the pages of this printable journal, and they fit perfectly with the raw edge style of sewing that I prefer. This particular cover is also reuseable, so once I’ve filled up my journal, I can slip a new journal into the cover and continue using it.
The pages of this journal are sized to print on a standard size piece of copy paper, so it was easy the print the page onto a piece of fabric the same size. Printing images onto fabric doesn’t have to be limited to photos or small images – anything you can print on paper you can also print on fabric. The only limitation is the size of your printer.
Supplies
- A journal page printed onto fabric
For this journal cover I used one of the pages from the Scrappy Garden printable journal kit which you can find here in my online store. If you don’t know how to print on fabric, you can find information here. - 1/4 yard of fabric
- Peltex stabilizer
- tear-away stabilizer
- buttons
Directions
You can easily make this journal cover to fit any size journal or notebook by adjusting the measurements. I made this journal cover to fit a 5″ x 7″ printable journal.
First print out the journal page onto fabric. I used one of the printable pages from the Scrappy Garden Printable Journal Kit.
Cut a piece of fusible Peltex stabilizer 1″ wider and 1″ longer than the journal. Peltex stabilizer is thick, easy to sew by machine, and is perfect for making fabric journal covers. A 5″ x 7″ journal opens out to 10″ x 7″, so I cut the Peltex 11″ wide x 8″ high. Cut two pieces of fabric for the outer cover and lining 1″ wider and 1″ longer than the Peltex. I cut my fabric pieces 12″ wide x 9″ high.
Center the Peltex on the wrong side of the outside fabric piece, then iron it so that the pieces are fused together.
Center the fabric print on top of the fabric, and sew it close around the outside edges. Peltex is easy to sew by machine using a standard sewing machine needle.
I added some free motion stitching around the flower and butterfly to emphasize the designs.
Once the outer cover is completed, iron the lining to the other side of the fusible Peltex. Sew a strip of fabric about 1″ wide down the spine on the outer cover.
To make the inside slip pockets, cut two pieces of fabric and two pieces of tear-away stabilizer the height of the cover by 7 inches wide. I cut my pieces 12″ high by 7″ wide. Fold the tear-away stabilizer and the fabric pieces in half so that they measure 3-1/2″ wide, then press.
Slip one of the stabilizer pieces inside each of the folded fabric pieces, then pin in place on the inside of the cover, one on each side, with the folded edge facing inward. Before you sew the pockets in place, slip your notebook or journal cover inside the pockets to make sure everything fits properly.
Sew the pockets in place by sewing close around the edge of the Peltex stabilizer two or three times.
Then trim away the excess fabric from around the edges. I like to trim close to the stitching leaving approximately 1/8″.
Tip: If your fabric tends to fray easily, apply some fabric glue around the edges after you’ve trimmed. The glue will dry clear so you won’t notice it and it will prevent further fraying.
I finished off the spine by sewing on a row of buttons.
Then simply slip the covers of your journal inside the slip pockets.
I added a simple tie closure using a metal ring and a strip of fabric.
Resources
Peltex Heavyweight Stabilizer
Tear-away Stabilizer
Scrappy Garden printable journal kit
Learn how to print on fabric
