DIY Sketchbook Cover

I’m not known as light-packer. The number of bags I take for a weekend trip compares to what someone else might take for a month-long European vacation! I take a yearly road trip to the beach with some of my high school friends and they can’t seem to understand why I pack three different kinds of sunscreen (spray, cream + stick), 20 magazines, a watercolor paint set, two journals (one for writing & the other for art), enough vitamins to set up a small health food store and margarita salt.

I tell them the truth. I hate being unprepared. If the mood strikes to paint or write (or sun!!)—I want to know I have what I need.

We’re headed to beach again this May, and this time I wanted to be a bit more organized. Fishing around for your best pens and notebook at the bottom of an overstuffed bag isn’t fun—so I sewed myself this DIY sketchbook & pen case. I’m also going to take it with me to our yearly business and makers conference, Craftcation.

Throw it in your bag along with your sun hat this summer. There is true satisfaction in knowing you’ve got everything you need.

Materials to Make a DIY Sketchbook Cover

• Sewing machine (I used my BERNINA 380)
• Pins
• Fabric
  Two pieces that are 21″ x 12″ (one for the inside and one for the outside) *I used a contrasting fabric for the inside.
  Two pieces that are 21″ x 8″ (for the inner pocket)
  Two pieces that are 10″ x 3″ (for the ties)
• Iron and ironing board
• Two pieces of fusible interfacing that are 21″ x 12″
• Thread to match your fabric
  *All seam allowances are 3/8″

Instructions to Make a DIY Sketchbook Cover

1. Iron the interfacing onto the wrong (non-printed) side of the inside piece of fabric. Repeat for the outside piece of fabric. Make sure the interfacing is fully adhered to the fabric.

2. Put the wrong sides of the pocket fabric together and sew a straight seam around the two sides (shorter sides) and the bottom (either of the longer sides).

3. Turn the pocket right way out and iron the edges.

4. Fold both sides of the top of the pocket in (about ½”) and iron.

5. Sew the open folded sides of the top together.

6. Place the pocket on top in the middle of the inside piece. Then place your pens and sketchbook inside and pin the areas you want to sew to divide the pocket as well as the two sides and bottom.

7. Sew down the spots on the pocket where you have your pins to divide it.

8. Sew down the sides and bottom of the pocket.

9. Fold one of the ties in half longways with the wrong side of the fabric facing in.

10. Sew down the length of the tie.

11. Turn the tie right way out by pushing one end in and continuing to push it until it comes out the other side.

Tip: You can also use the blunt end of a chopstick or the eraser end of a pencil to help push the tie inside out.

12. Iron the tie so that the seam is in the middle.

13. Fold one end of the tie in about ¼” and iron the end.

14. Repeat steps 9-13 for the second tie. Then topstitch around all edges both of ties.

15. Place the end of the tie with the raw edge on top of the inside piece and pocket and pin it. Repeat for the other side and place the outside piece of fabric on top with the right side facing down.

16. Sew around the two sides and top of the case.

17. Turn the case right way out.

18. Fold the open top edges of the inside and outside fabrics in about ½” and iron, then sew it closed.