Download and print the templates from sewmag.co.uk. Cut out two 25cm x 56cm rectangles of cotton: one for the outer and one for the lining of the planner. Snip three 18cm x 25cm rectangles for the pockets, then set aside. Trace the ‘Yearly Planner’ lettering template onto paper with a permanent marker.

Flip the paper over so the reverse image is showing, lay fusible webbing on top with the paper side facing upwards. Trace the image onto the paper side of the fusible webbing, before pressing to a piece of felt. Use a scrap of cotton as a pressing cloth to prevent the iron getting marks on it. Cut out the lettering using embroidery scissors to keep the neat lines and remove the backing paper.

Pick up the rectangular outer piece of fabric and lay it horizontally. Fold equally vertically into three sections and finger press the folds or mark lightly with tailor’s chalk. Open out again and position the felt lettering on the first section on the left. When positioning, leave a 1cm seam allowance. Press the lettering with a medium heat iron until bonded. On the right-hand fold, measure and mark the halfway point. Make a small 3mm snip here along the fold.

Cut an 8cm piece of thin elastic, fold it into a loop and tie a double knot at the end. Thread the loop through the slot in the fabric and make a few very small stitches on the reverse to hold the knot in place.

Pick up the three pocket rectangles. Fold one in half horizontally, press and stitch some pom pom trim along the top folded edge. Fold another down 8cm to make a larger pocket, press and sew trim along the fold again. Fold the last piece vertically along the longest edge, fold back 3cm, then stitch down this edge.

Pick up the large inner rectangle piece and lay flat with the right side facing upwards. Position the smallest pocket on the bottom left. Holding the right edge in position, flip the pocket over to the right and pin the edge in a line down. The pocket should now be showing the reverse of the fabric and the pinned edge has become the left edge of the pocket.

Stitch down this pinned line then flip the pocket back over so the sewn side is now on the right again, the fabric is right facing upwards and the stitching is hidden. Tack the bottom and left edges. Repeat and use the same technique with the larger pom pom trimmed pocket on the right side of the lining piece, except this time position the pocket and hold the left edge down, flip over, pin what is now the right edge and sew.

Flip back over to the right side and tack the bottom and right edges. Position the largest pocket in the centre. Repeat the previous technique along the right hand side (left when flipped over) and tack just along the top and bottom. Lay the outer piece with the lettering directly on top of the pocketed inner piece, with right sides facing.

Pin and stitch all round using a 1cm seam allowance and leaving an 18cm gap along the centre of the bottom edges for turning through. Remove tacking, turn through to the right side and press. Slot in a 23cm x 53cm piece of sew-in pelmet or heavyweight interfacing through the gap, then close the gap using whipstitch.

Fold the planner into three sections and fingerpress the interfacing to make creases and retain the planner’s shape. Sew a button to the right of the lettering, positioned opposite the elastic loop for opening and closing the planner. Add a pencil to the inner elastic loop and slot in an A5 sized notebook to the middle pocket.