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Safety Notice: Handmade items made from this pattern may contain small parts or long cords that pose choking or strangulation risks. Not suitable for children under 3 years. Please see the full safety disclaimer at sewmag.co.uk/safety.
Stitch up protective cases for all your important lists and a little pouch so you'll never be left digging around for your pen again. This simple project is great for practising hand embroidery techniques and uses rectangular fabric panels so there's no tricky cutting involved. Choose a bold graphic print which you can use as a base for striking stitches. We've echoed the circle print with hand embroidery.
Notebook Cover
Cut the fabric to 19cm x 48cm, taking the print into consideration. Use a sewing machine to work a zig zag stitch around the edges to prevent fraying. Using tailor’s chalk, draw around a circular item such as an eggcup to mark a sphere within the first printed circle that will be on the outside of the album. Secure a small embroidery hoop centred over the marked circle.
Thread a needle with a length of all six strands of co-ordinating stranded embroidery thread and tie a knot in the end. Draw the needle through the work on the line marked, from back to front and up through the centre of a sequin. Pass the needle back through the fabric on the right of the sequin, on the marked line just beyond the edge of the sequin. Bring the needle up on the line just beyond the left edge of the sequin. Form a back stitch by passing the needle back through the centre of the sequin.
Continue working in back stitch around the circle marked, adding sequins in random positions. Draw different sized circles within adjacent printed shapes, and work in back stitch within each one using different coloured embroidery threads, adding sequins on alternate motifs, moving the hoop as you work. Press the piece on the reverse.
To make up the cover, press a 1.5cm turning towards the wrong side on each short edge. Straight machine stitch each in place to make a hem, then press. Lay the fabric right side up and fold each short edge in by 9cm. Pin, then use the machine to straight stitch along the top and bottom edges, 2cm in from the edge. Repeat on the opposite side, turn through, pushing out the corners carefully.
Slide the notebook covers into the front and back slipcover pockets. Knot a length of 6mm lime satin ribbon to the top of the spiral binding and pass the ends between the notebook pages. Trim the ribbon 7cm below the lower edge of the notebook. Stitch a button onto the tails as shown.
Album Cover
Trim printed fabric to 19cm x 68cm, taking the print into consideration. Work a zig zag stitch around the edges to prevent fraying. Draw different-sized circles onto the printed discs which will be on the outside of the album.
Work the circles in a variety of embroidery stitches including back stitch, running stitch, chain and blanket stitch using different coloured embroidery threads. Use some to outline the printed circles and others to fill them with spirals or concentric circles.
To make up the cover, press a 1.5cm fold towards the wrong side on each short edge. Machine straight stitch each in place to make a hem, then press. Lay the fabric right side up and fold each short edge in by 13.5cm. Pin, then straight stitch along the top and bottom edges, 3.5cm in from the edge. Repeat on the opposite side then turn through, pushing out the corners carefully. Slide the album covers into the front and back slipcover pockets.
Pen Case
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