Today I am sharing a tutorial for a journal/composition book cover that I made using a new technique that I came up with for fabric embossing!
Let me explain about the embossing first. I was smitten by the Sizzix embossing folders and have been seeing so many neat paper projects made with them by the other design team members that I wanted in. I thought I would see if I could emboss fabric.
I brushed Stiffy Fabric Stiffener onto both sides of my fabric and allowed it to dry completely (overnight).
I then cut a straight edge using my rotary cutter so that I could slide the fabric into the embossing folder completely, flush with the fold in the embossing folder. Then I ran the fabric though my Big Shot.
The result is wonderful! The fabric embosses quite crisply. I found that shot cottons and Kona solids worked really well. Linen, since it is thicker, isn’t quite as crisp but lovely just the same.
I sampled all the different sewing and measuring themed embossing folders made by Sizzix. You can find them here:
I had a hard time deciding which pieces of embossed fabric to use for my project but settled on the Kona Mustard with the scissors and “hope” because it coordinated so nicely with
Penelope Gold Scissors fabric, don’t you think? They really couldn’t be a more perfect pair. I decided to make a journal cover because I needed a project that wouldn’t be washed since the embossed fabric isn’t washable.
To create the quilted cover, measure your composition book and add 1/2″ to the length and width.
Once I did that, I pieced the cover so that the embossed fabric would land nearly centered on the cover. I placed a layer of batting below and embellished with a jagged stitch in charcoal thread.
Then I used the Sewing Room die to create an applique. I first applied Steam a Seam 2 to the back and then cut the fabric. I stitched a band of lace across the lower edge of the journal cover and then ironed the applique on top of it.
I used pinking shears to trim down another bit of embossed fabric and stitched it on using contrasting thread and a long stitch length.
Here’s just another detail shot of that embossed cover!
Next, I created pockets to hold the journal cover. They are cut 4 1/4″ wide by the height of your cover (plus the 1/2″). I hemmed either side and stitched them in place with a 1/4″ seam.
I then cut 2 1/4″ binding strips and bound the journal cover just as you would a quilt.
