I was so excited when Sunni asked me to be part of her blog hop for her inspirational series, Farmer`s Wife in Your Life inspired by the book by Laurie Aaron Hird.
Today, I`m showing you a very simple notebook cover using a 6 inch block (6 1/2" unfinished). I admit to having felt a bit of a fraud when I accepted Sunni`s invitation as I have never made a farmer`s wife`s block in my life but Sunni said it wasn`t necessary to use blocks from the book. So I made a lovely simple one called Forest Paths from some scraps of Parisville, Moroccan Mirage and Lark.
There are lots of fabulous notebook cover tutorials already out there, so on the basis that there is no point in re-inventing the wheel, I used the wonderful tutorial by bloggy friend Cindy, which she wrote for the fab series {Sew}Get Started on other lovely bloggy friend Sarah`s blog! What`s so clever about Cindy`s tute is that it can be adapted for any size notebook.
I will show you how to adapt Cindy`s tutorial to incorporate a 6 inch block and pieced back for a standard A4 sized notebook with a half inch wide spine.
Contrasting background fabrics (approx.1 FQ in total)
Lining fabric (1 FQ)
1 piece of ribbon (optional)
1 small button (optional)
I started by taking the ugliest notebook I could find...isn`t it revolting?
I took the central block and added 2 strips of Amy Butler Soul Blossoms to the sides. (Block measurements are shown on the images.)
...and then added strips to the top and bottom.
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| front piece |
I sewed together a strip of Lark and a strip of Soul Blossoms (which will form the back of the notebook cover) and added these to the left-hand side of the front piece above to get this - the notebook cover - front and back joined.
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| back and front pieces joined |
Your sewn together front and back should measure 12 1/2" by 18 1/4". You need to cut your lining to the same dimensions. Now go and take a look at Cindy`s tutorial here for the rest of the instructions as to how to add the `pockets` and lining. There are also optional extras such as how to add a marker ribbon and front fastening button.
I made 2 contrasting `pockets`. These are the flaps into which the hard cover of the notebook slides in to. I used the same fabric as the right `pocket` for the lining.
...added a ribbon, which I received with an order from Marmalade fabrics...
...and a button to the ribbon from one of Zaki`s baby shirts I`m keeping for a future quilt...
...added one of my new labels to the back inside pocket...
...and after top stitching the cover, hey presto...
- an ugly duckling of a notebook became a swan!
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| Notebook cover (front) |
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| Notebook cover (back) |
I loved making this little block and with a copy of Laurie Hird`s book waiting for me at my mum`s in England, I plan to make a few more. So if you have missed the other inspiring tutorials in this series, here`s the list and the prizes you could win!
Inspiration and Tutorials from Designers
Blog Hop
Week 1
March 4-Sunni is guest-posting on Jolly Jabber
March 5-Love Affair with my Brother
March 6-Craizee Corners
March 7-Lilypad Quilting
March 8-Love Affair with my Brother
March 9-Clover & Violet
Week 2
March 12-Mommy for Reals
March 13-A Colorful Life
March 14-It's Sew Kiki
March 15-Lilypad Quilting
March 16-Why Not Sew? Quilts
Week 3
March 19-Love Affair with my Brother
March 20-Echinops & Aster
March 21-Life's Rich Pattern
March 22-Ellison Lane Quilts
March 23-Love Affair with my Brother
Linky Party
Linky Party will be open from March 24-31 with 2 winners announced the next week. You can link up any project that is inspired by The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt and uses between 1-9 6" finished quilt blocks. The blocks do not have to come from the book.
Please link up a blog post or Flickr photo for your entry.
Judges
Laurie Aaron Hird, author of The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt
Michele Foster, Quilting Gallery
Sunni Bolger, Love Affair with my Brother
Prizes
The Intrepid Thread is sponsoring a FQ bundle of the amazing Cosmos by Dan Bennett for Rowan.
Fat Quarter Shop is sponsoring a FQ Bundle of gorgeous Poetica by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics.
Don`t forget the author of The Farmer`s Wife quilt, Laurie Aaron Hird is one of the judges so dig out your blocks, get sewing and link up your project next week. Good luck!
Love the cover and how cool are your labels!!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! And I ♥ the labels!
ReplyDeleteGreat tute, and I too covet your labels. Spill the beans, please. Where did you get them?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great cover - you'd never guess there was such an ugly notebook hiding under there!! Love the labels!!
ReplyDeletegorgeous cover and love the button and label touches :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea - I have made a 'something' for my linky entry, another 'what on Earth was I thinking?!' makes!
ReplyDeleteI'v been following this series. This is so lovely. I see your labels have caught attention. Love them, too! Deb.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is clamoring for those labels! Great job on your project! Thank you so much for participating!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cover. I really like the idea of using these blocks to make something fresh and useable.
ReplyDeleteLovely project! Fantastic way to hide such a nasty notebook. We all have the labels now!!
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely Annabella and the little ribbon place marker is a great touch! This would be an amazing idea for a wedding guestbook (all jokes about farmer's wives aside!). ;) I'll have to pass this on to my future sister-in-law. Can I pin this?
ReplyDeleteYikes, that notebook truly was revolting! Glad you were able to redeem it so well :o) Cute labels!
ReplyDeleteWonderful fabrics - love this project!
ReplyDeleteThat's excellent!
ReplyDeleteI love your labels...please send me one with your Stitch Tease. That would be so fun to collect everyone's labels. Oh, and your notebook cover is fab, too
ReplyDeleteI love your new notebook! Thank you for inspiration and wishes from Greece!
ReplyDelete