Plain composition notebooks are one of those reliable, inexpensive staples that never really go away. The problem is that they look exactly like what they are: cheap and utilitarian. The solution, it turns out, is a removable fabric cover that transforms a basic notebook into something worth carrying around, without the cost of buying fancy journals every time a new one is needed.
The original concept came from a brilliant video tutorial over at Darling Adventures, and the version here adds an extra layer of personalization with some hand embroidery stitched directly into the fabric before the cover is assembled. The combination of a patterned fabric and colorful embroidery lines gives the finished piece a texture and character that is completely one of a kind.
Project Details
- Pattern: Journal Cover video tutorial at Darling Adventures
- Fabric: Waverly Tuileries Garden Watermelon
- Skills involved: Sewing curved corners, adding embellishments, creating pockets
- Difficulty: Easy — the tutorial breaks everything down into manageable steps
- Time: Quicker to complete than it looks
How to Add Embroidery to the Cover
Step 1: Select the Fabric and Thread
Choose a fabric with some visual energy to it — a bold print or bright pattern works particularly well. Pick out several coordinating embroidery threads in colors that complement or contrast the fabric depending on the look desired.
Step 2: Mark the Stitching Lines
Working on the wrong side of the fabric, use a disappearing ink fabric marker and a ruler to draw evenly spaced lines across the surface. These serve as guides to keep the embroidery rows running straight. Simple parallel lines work beautifully against a busy floral or patterned fabric, creating a pleasing visual contrast between the structured stitching and the organic print beneath it.
Step 3: Stitch Along the Lines
Embroider along each marked line, alternating thread colors from one row to the next. There is no need to obsess over keeping the stitch lengths perfectly uniform — slight variation in the stitches adds warmth and handmade character to the finished piece rather than detracting from it.
Step 4: Tidy Up and Press
Do not worry about all the loose thread ends left over from switching colors. Every one of them will be tucked neatly inside the seams when the cover is sewn together. Once the embroidery is complete, press the fabric thoroughly with an iron. Fresh embroidery stitches have a tendency to pull the fabric slightly and cause puckering, and a good press smooths everything back out before construction begins.
Step 5: Sew the Cover
With the embroidery finished and the fabric pressed flat, follow the Darling Adventures video tutorial to sew the cover together. The tutorial covers curved corners and pocket construction clearly and makes the whole process straightforward even for those relatively new to sewing.
The finished cover fits snugly over a standard composition notebook and can be removed and transferred to a fresh notebook whenever needed. It is a genuinely clever way to have a beautiful journal without spending a fortune, and the embroidery detail makes every cover completely personal.
A sew-along is currently being hosted over at Darling Adventures for anyone who wants to join in and make their own version. It would be wonderful to see the different fabric and embroidery combinations everyone