Marg Low Designs

2009 diary cover

Yes, I've finished the first project for 2009, my new journal cover. Each year I make a new cover, a bit of a tradition for me now.

I'd envisaged a scalloped border and appliqued bird using some red Judy Rothermel fabrics, but no matter what I tried it just didn't want to work for me. 

Certainly not what I originally imagined myself making but it ticks two boxes: Red and Bird. Plus I do love this fabric from the Swell range by Urban Chicks. Purchased almost 12 months ago,  I've been adding other bits and pieces thinking that one day I will make something special. The thing is that special project may never eventuate, so why not cut into it and enjoy it now!

Am I making any New Year resolutions? Well I would like to spend more time in the garden and sewing and less time putting off the inevitable not-so-fun jobs, like pattern writing, bookwork, housework..... have a wonderful 2009.

last class for the year

Last night was the final class for the year.

The project was this little santa.

 

Here are some of santa's bodies. There were some rather unkind comments made at this point about him, but by the time they were ready to go home his hat was finished and pinned in place, his arms sewn on and all the stitching completed. He just needed his whiskers. Not bad for three hours work, with chatting. Packing up was a bit of rush and somehow I missed taking a photo of the completed santas. Sorry! 

I think Jenny might be addicted to the journal covers.

These are for the teachers with coordinating coloured ric rac for their respective school houses.

They look fabulous.

 And another one.

Thank you Jenny for providing such wonderful inspiration.

And there are plans to make more!

It's very rewarding when one simple project is the source for so much creativeness.

2008 Diary Cover - Tutorial

Here is my 2008 Diary cover. There is no pattern, but I thought you may be interested in covering your own diary. It's very easy.

Start with your favourite fabric, and in no time at all you'll have a pretty cover for your diary.

The secret is in the measuring. Remember to add your seam allowance and a little extra (1/4 in) for the thickness of the cover. You can adapt this pattern to fit any size diary.

This is the diary I prefer to use, A Day to Page (A5)- lots of space to write all the things I need to be doing. You can see why I like to cover it, hardly inspiring.

You will need a floral print, a stripe, iron-on-pellon, fabric scraps for the flower and leaves, vliesofix for the applique and stranded embroidery thread.

1. Measure your cover. Mine measured 8 1/2 x 13 inches. Adjust the following cutting directions as needed. The cutting measurements include a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

2. Cut the following

From the floral print, one 13 3/4 x 6 1/8inch rectangle for the outside and two 6 x 9 1/4 inch rectangles for the inside flaps. From the stripe, one 13 3/4 x 3 5/8inch strip for the outside. From the iron-on-pellon one 13 3/4 x 9 1/4 inch rectangle.

3. Join the stripe and floral print together. Press the seam towards the stripe.

4. Fuse the iron-on-pellon to the wrongside following the manufacturer's directions.

5. Applique: Fuse a piece of vliesofix onto the wrongside of the flower fabric. Cut out a flower. Repeat for the flower centre and leaves. (I fussy cut the leaves from the floral fabric.)

6. Place the applique pieces in position. Fuse in place, then whip stitch around the edges using two strands of matching embroidery thread.

7.Work a row of running stitch alongside the seam line.

8. Turn under one long edge on each flap by 1/2 inch and sew.

9. Place the flaps as shown and sew around the raw edges.Clip the corners. (I didn't have enough fabric to make both my flaps out of the same floral print, so made do with another fabric.)

10. Turn right sides out and press.

11. Turn the raw edges over and work a row of running stitch across both.

12. Slip the cover on your diary.

Enjoy!

Just use it!

One of the first projects I make each year is a cover for my diary. There is a degree of urgency about this project as I'm very reluctant to use the diary until its covered.

Here are the 2005 and 2006 covers. Each year I have to do something a little different.  A stitchery or applique and always with a favourite fabric. As I use it everyday it needs to be covered in something I love.

Sometimes you can overlook a fabric until you see it made up. This was the case with the red. The next time I visited the shop I bought what was left on the bolt. Now I'm not sure if I was lucky or unlucky (my wallet was a winner) but there was only 50cm left. I only had a Fat 1/4 of the green stripe and I agonised for ages about what to do with it. In the end I decide to 'just use it'. And as my diary cover, I got to look at it and touch it everyday. So much better than leaving it in the cupboard for that elusive 'special' project. How many pieces of fabric do I own that were 'must haves'? How many of them have never been cut? Too many!

Last year I became addicted to punch needle. So it was only natural to decorate the 2007 cover with a punched piece (Pot of Flowers pattern). Now one of the most frequently asked questions is 'Does it come undone?' And the answer is 'No, it doesn't'. My diary is proof that it will not 'pull out'.  Used just about every day last year and not one loop out of place!

The fabric choice for 2008 was very easy. I love this City Girl fabric and there was just enough left over from the bag I made and gave (reluctantly to) Jan. It's the simplest and quickest cover of them all. Normally a needle-turn applique girl, I used vliesofix and whip stitched each piece in position. The leaves were fussy cut from the City Girl fabric.

There wasn't enough fabric for the inside back flap so I used a fabric from the quilt I've just finished. I wasn't even tempted to race to the shop to buy some more. So I am very excited in saying 'this year's cover has been made entirely from my stash of scraps'. Does this mean I'm on target to purchase less and use more? Only time will tell.....