Classy Steno notepad cover ~ tutorial ~

I think these make darling (and useful!) gifts for friends and co-workers.  Not only will your office pals use these with style, but wouldn't they make cute journals, too??!  You'll love this easy tutorial ~ there's only four pieces to the pattern.  Grab your scraps and let's get started!

Materials needed:
Cut 1: 7" x 20.5" rectangle (exterior fabric)
Cut 1: 6.5" x 20" rectangle of fusible interfacing, such as Pellon
Cut 2: 7" x 7.5"  rectangles (pocket sleeve - I use the same exterior print for this.)
Cut 1: 7" x 9" rectangle (lining - I use a coordinating print)
6" x 9" Steno Pad

Optional items: (highly recommended)
8" strip of 1/4" wide elastic
Heat-n-Bond Lite for any applique' work you might want to add

STEP 1:

• Fuse your interfacing to wrong side of exterior fabric piece by centering it onto the wrong side. (TIP: I cut my interfacing a bit smaller than the fabric to reduce the bulk when sewing and turning the piece.  It gives it a cleaner finish ~ trust me)
• Add any applique' detail to front using the Heat-n-Bond Lite. (TIP: Try enlarging an initial in lowercase 'Subway' font to size 250 or 400 in a word processing program.  Print it and cut it out to use as an applique'.)
• Pin strip of elastic 2.5" up from the bottom.

STEP 2:

• On the top end of each of the 7" x 7.5" pieces, turn under one (1) of the 7 inch ends one-quarter inch.  Press with iron.  Fold it again one-quarter inch. Press and top-stitch.
• Using your pinking shears, cut the 7" ends of  your lining piece so that they are zig-zagged.  If you don't have this kind of scissors, just use your machine and zig-zag (or serger) the ends so they don't fray over time.  They won't ever show, so don't bother hemming them - you just don't want them to fray.  I guess you could just fray check the ends, too.  

STEP 3:

• Layer the pieces as follows (see picture below):
• bottom layer --> long exterior piece, right side up.
• middle layer --> place each hemmed pocket sleeve piece right side down on each end of the exterior piece, matching raw edges.
• top layer --> lining piece should be centered right side down along the exterior piece.  the zig-zagged ends of the lining will overlap the hemmed edges of the pocket sleeves. 

•  Pin and stitch all the way around the perimeter of the exterior piece, using a 1/4" seam allowance.   Trim corners.  I like to use my pinking shears on the seam allowances.

STEP 4:

• Turn right side out, beginning with turning the lining.  Then, turn each pocket sleeve.  Press.

• Insert the steno pad and you are done!

I promise, these can be whipped out in no time!  Use the assembly line approach and make several at once; then you'll always have a gift ready to give. :)

Merry Christmas from sew.simply.creative!