Back-to-school Inspo & Freebie!
It’s Amanda from LoveCraftSew on the blog today to bring you some back to school sewing inspiration! I can hardly believe that summer is winding down and we are already preparing for a new school year. I am busy working on our back to school wardrobe and have a really fun scrap buster to share.
When sewing my daughter’s first day of school dress I had just enough scraps left to put together a composition notebook cover. This project was so easy that I wanted to share how to make one for all of you as well.
Step 1: Gather Supplies
You will need:
- Composition notebook
- 1 Main fabric, 1 lining fabric and 1 batting cut to 16”x11”
- 2 Main fabric and 2 lining fabric cut to 7”x11” for sleeves
- 1 optional pocket cut to 7”x5”
- Optional elastic bookmark: cut foldover elastic in one 18” piece plus embellishment
Step 2: Pocket and Sleeves
Once you have gathered and cut your supplies you will first construct the pocket and sleeves. On the top of the pocket piece, finish the raw top edge with your serger, press ½” down wrong sides together, and top stitch.
Next, you will baste your pocket sides and bottom edges to one of your sleeves.
After basting your pocket, you will sew the sleeves inner sides together by placing them wrong sides together and sewing down one side. Once attached on that side only you will press them wrong sides together and top stitch that side seam.
Step 3: Sewing the layers together
The next step is to stack your layers in order to be sewn. You will stack them in the following order:
Fleece, main fabric right side up, sleeves right side down, lining fabric right side down. Please note that if you have directional prints that it’s very important that all of your fabrics are facing the correct direction so that your sleeve pocket is correct. Once they are correctly stacked you will pin the edges all the way around leaving a 3-4” gap at the top or bottom for turning.
After sewing the edges together, you will trim the corners and turn the book cover right side out through the gap you have left unsewn. Be sure to poke your corners very well and press nicely. You will then top stitch all the way around the perimeter which will also close your hole up.
Your book cover is now complete and you can insert your notebook into the sleeves! The pocket is totally optional but I know my little one likes to collect papers and drawings throughout her day and this is a nice place to store those treasures.
Step 4: A bookmark
I also decided to put together a super fast elastic bookmark to keep her notebook closed nicely. For this bookmark you will sew your foldover elastic together at the end right sides together ½” from the raw ends. You can then leave your elastic as it is or add an embellishment to cover your seam. I hot glued a patch onto mine by sandwiching the elastic between the patch and piece of felt cut to the same size.
I love how quick and easy this project was and that it uses up those scrap pieces of fabric! You could even quilt together scraps for the ultimate scrap busting project. The best part is that once the notebook is filled up you can switch the cover over to a new notebook and re-use it.
Pictured above: My daughter is wearing a Flora dress paired with Sloane socks in the knee length slouched down with tiny ribbon bows added and the FREE pigtail hair bows found here. The fabric is from the Bookish collection from Art Gallery Fabrics and were the perfect prints for back to school!
I hope your family has an amazing school year ahead and I cannot wait to see your back to school sewing in the Simple Life Fan Group!
-Amanda Schildmeier
