It all started with a journal I bought from Walgreens. It was almost the perfect journal: perforated pages, large size, narrow lines and a hard cover. The flaw? I didn’t care for the cover pattern. If you are a visual person like me, when we love how something looks, it just feels better when using it. So, I embarked on figuring out how I could cover the journal. I thought, why not cover it in a mini quilt! I had tons of scraps and a few mini charm packs so the experimentation began. My first go around, I used a mini charm pack from Bonnie and Camille.
Since I didn't have a pattern, I had to figure out my measurements and how to construct this ‘mini quilt’ for my new favorite journal. I was entering new waters.
But sadly, it didn’t fit my journal. Fortunately, it ended up fitting my Dream Book Planner so I wasn’t as heart broken. I was about half an inch too short all the way around and I made a miscut on one row which forced me to have to alter the edges. I made some adjustments and, as we say in our home, gave it another ‘loving try’. This time I used some of my favorite orange, peach and blue scraps from two quilts I had previously made. I decided to go all improv! That was a first and I immediately fell in love. I just started sewing all the scraps in random placement and my heart was singing when everything came together in the end.
Next up, I made a few covers using composition notebooks, thinking that those would make great gifts since friends could easily replace the notebooks and use the cover over and over. That was when I decided to embark on writing a pattern so that quilty friends could make their own. Keep in mind, it was my first time to write a pattern and I was REALLY nervous. But thanks to some encouragement, these handy Canva Quilt Pattern Writing Templates by Elizabeth Chappell, wonderful testers and an excellent Tech Editor, Elisabeth of Elisabeth Quilt Co. , I ended up with my first published pattern, which also includes a link to a tutorial on my new YouTube channel as a bonus.
I thought of selling it. However, in the end, I decided since so many people helped me along the way to even get to the point of writing a pattern, I would make it a free download on my website for anyone to enjoy. The pattern is written to use with a composition notebook but I also added a section where you can make it custom to any journal or book of your choice. Here are a few other Quilt Journal Covers I’ve made as gifts.
You’ll notice that I used a Sashiko stitch on all but one of my Quilt Journal Covers. It gave them something ‘extra’. You will find me using my Baby Lock Sashiko often for quilty things, or you could use a decorative stitch as well. One of the journals incorporated an orphan block I had laying around and in the other two I used paper piecing and applique which perfectly covered a starch stain!
I hope you enjoy making these Quilt Journal Covers as much as I do and I can’t wait to see yours!
Keep making lovely things,
Belle