Patchwork journal cover tutorial

Start with a piece large enough to cover the notebook plus flaps at each end to fold in. This is approximately 3/4" -1" taller than the notebook one way and the measurement around the notebook plus flaps that cover at least 3/4 of the cover on the inside in the other direction. Iron on a piece of fusible fleece or batting the height of the notebook by the measurement around the outside of the closed notebook plus 1/4-1/2".  Experiment to see what you like.

Fold it around the notebook to check if it is big enough. If not add some more fabric to the flaps.

Cut a piece of lining 1/8" smaller each direction. Sew outside patchwork and lining right sides together leaving an opening 3-4" to turn. Trim corners diagonally.

Turn right side out through the opening.

Press very carefully, keeping the lining rolled to the inside. If you want to quilt it, do at this point.
Place it around the notebook and fold the flaps in, not pulling too tight because you are going to topstitch all around and you need a little extending. Pin the flaps in place to be sewn in the topstitching.

Topstitch very close to the edge catching the flaps as you go. I will warn you, they want to flip under as you get to them so you may want to pin them in place. This is what it looks like after topstitching.

This is what the inside looks like after topstitching.

Here is the notebook slipped into the flaps.

On the next one I am going to make the inside flaps bigger so they cover all of the wording inside the back cover of the Composition book.

Here is a shot of the book laying on a table.

Here is a close up of the topstitching.

I ended up taking Dad to the emergency room for a nosebleed and then to a dr. appt. in the afternoon, so needless to say, the cleaning isn't done but the tutorial is. You can see where my priorities are.