Tutorial: Hana Patchwork Book/Planner Cover

Welcome to {Give me Liberty Inspiration Blog Hop}!  I can't wait to share with you the {Hana Patchwork Book/Planner Cover Tutorial}. You might not know that this year, one of my goal is to enjoy record little events within daily. Little drawings or phases that I read from articles or words of wisdom. The planner I have been using is from {Moleskin} and it works for me. I like the clean space and it is a weekly planner rather than monthly, so I could have the week plan out and check into the following week schedules.  I am still an old-fashioned person who loves to write down events throughout the week and enjoy hand-writings.  Here within this tutorial I will show you how to make your personal Hana Patchwork Book/Planner Cover. How to measure your book/planner rather just give you measurements. Are you ready? Let's get started!

Open book/planner in half; make sure you could lay the book/planner evenly on the table, so you can get accurate measurement. The diagonal measurement is the long length of the patchwork row. Measure the thickness of the book/planner. You want to add that to the measurement as well.  So, check the diagonal length is measure 13.25". The patchwork piece will need to be larger than the measurement, plus the 0.50" of the thickness of the book.

Here is the measurement for the actual planner size: 8.25"x10.75". I added 1" to the length of the planner and 2.25" to the width ( I have added the thickness and seam allowances to this as well).

This is the patchwork layout;  Each patchwork block is unfinished at 2"x2", which is the little dash square. If you check on the diagonal length you can see there are total of 11 patchwork blocks. If your book/planner is bigger, you'll need to piece more patchwork blocks.


note: All the sewing is set with 1/4" seam allowances, unless noted! 

Step 1: Always iron the cloth and trim the edge of the fabric before you start your real cutting. Sorry for being bad example here. I didn't press the cloth, but I highly recommend it! It does make the measurement off if it is really wrinkle. 

 Step 2: Here I selected 24 of fat sixteenths (9"x11") of Liberty Lawn prints
             Cut 3 pieces of 1" (WOF=width of fabric) stripes from each print.

 Step 3: Prepared all the 1" stripes before you start sewing; aren't they pretty?

 Step 4: Bring three stripes of fabric together. Play with the fabric contrast; such as colors, prints in scale and contrast as themes.

 Step 5: Sew stripes together.  Repeat all the stripes sewing until you run out of the 1" fabric cuts

Step 6: After sewing all the 1" strings. Press the back seam allowance open;
             Repeat to all the stripes sewing

Step 7: After finished all the seam allowance open pressing; check on your sewing measure.
             The sewn stripes should be 2 1/2" after sewn together at this time. 

Step 8: Trim the end of the sewn strips 

 Step 9: Cut the sewn stripes in 2" wide; repeat for all sewn stripes

 Step 10: For the planner I used; there are total of 76 set of 2"x2" blocks

Step 11: Start layout for the Hana Patchwork. Watch for the block directions. Each Block is the opposite direction from the next one. So it creates woven look

Step 12: Join blocks into rows! Don't jump at this step and just grab two blocks and sew together! I highly recommend sewing the blocks in the row as you layout, so you will not get confused or mess up with the direction

Step 13:  After sewing blocks into rows; Check if you have miss place one or two in opposite direction or are you please with your layout? yes?

Step 14: Join the block; Now, each row of the blocks work as a unit after they sewn into a row. You will find the center block and place it to the next row's center block.

 Step 15: This is how rows join look like.

 Step 16: Complete the Hana Patchwork Piece

 Step 17: Press the seam to one side; no need to open the seam allowance.
                Warm iron press has been working out great for me.

Step 18: Sandwich the patchwork; It would be just how you would sandwich a quilt.  I used the single thread to basted the pieces. For the backing, it will just like how a quilt finishes, so you might want to find something that you love for the backing piece. I used 100% linen for it! 

Step 19: Quilting; adjust the sewing foot and quilt 1/16" away from the sewing seam; repeat for the other side of the sewing seam. You can be creative the why you like to quilt! It is a personal book cover, so feel free to make your own. 

 Step 20: This is how it looks like inside after quilting for the cover

 Step 21: This is the finished patchwork piece, now you can set it aside!

A closer look of the quilting lines. Here, I enlarged sewing stitch length for the quilting.

It will make the patchwork look clear and nice! 

Step 22: Prepare for the inner pockets which is the part that the book cover; front and back insert into.
For this planner measurement 
              Cut 2 pieces of 10"x9.75" fabric for the inner pocket
              Cut 2 pieces of 9.5x9.25" fusible light weight interfacing
              Cut 1 piece of 10"x12" fabric for the inner pocket ( which for keeping stickers, or notes etc.)
              Cut 1 piece of 9.5"x 11.50" fusible light weight interfacing
How to measure your own:
Close the book/ planner before measuring. Measure the width of one side book cover. The one I have is 5" and the high is 9.75". However, you want to double the size for the width, so 5x2=10"

Step 23: Fold the inner pocket in half then iron repeat for the other two pockets

Step 24:  After repeat press the inner pocket; sew 1/8" seam at the press side of the pocket
               Prepare binding pieces; cut the fabric 2.5" WOF and determine the length by your pocket ( I always have mine longer, so I cut mine at 2.5"x10.5". Fold the binding fabric in half and sew onto the folded side of the pocket piece ( Just how you would finish a quilt).

Step 25: Attach the small pocket piece to the large pocket piece.

Step 26: Finish the binding for the pocket pieces; now you can set aside the pocket pieces

Step 27: Trimming Hana Patchwork piece. Use Be-gone pen for making is a safe way to start if your patchwork piece didn't line up nicely. After quilting, I checked patchwork piece. It lined up pretty nice, so I went ahead trim the edges by using rotary cutter and ruler.

Step 28:  Trim off all four sides of the patchwork and save all the edge trimming

Step 29: Place the book or planner on top of the Hana Patchwork Piece. Now it is time to trim the patchwork piece to the final size.  I added 1" to the length of the planner and 2.25" to the width ( I have added the thickness and seam allowances {{1/4"}} to this as well).

Step 30: Insert Inner Pockets. Pin the inner pockets to the patchwork piece. You may create as many small pockets as you like. I keep mine simple, since i plan on putting stickers and stamps in the small pocket.

Step 31: Set the seam allowance to 1/8" and sew around the pin pocket piece and the patchwork piece

Step 32: Close look for the basting line.

Step 33: Fold your 2/3 finished Hana Patchwork cover then insert your book/planner for final checking before adding binding

Step 34: Binding the Hana Patchwork Book/Planner cover. Cut the binding pieces in 2.5" WOF. The length would depend on your perimeter of the patchwork piece

Step 35:  This is an option step! You may skip it! I add a little trim ribbon for pen holder

Step 36: Attach binding just like how you bind a quilt. I used be-gone pen to mark the two binding ends then sew together

Step 37: Complete the binding attachment

Step 38: I hand stitched the binding as I prefer the final touch added a little imperfect hands on to it.You may machine finishing binding

Step 39: TA-DA! Hana Patchwork Book/Planner Cover is completed!

Don't let this photo fool you! It looks like the left and right side are bigger than the planner, but when it is closed. It only left about 0.5" on each side. I did purpose left the top and the bottom 0.5" longer than the planner length. I also have a note book that I carry in my tote all the time. I decided to included the notebook in this cover, so added extra space in the measurement. 

I love how this patchwork cover turns out! It is super soft and lovely!  I am off to make a few more now! As many birthdays are around the corners and would be great for gifting to teacher for appreciation day.

Thank you for following up this fun tutorial! Again, this tutorial is for Personal use Only! It is always honored and kind being credited as original creator of a tutorial. When you do that it shows a lot of respect and kindness to anyone who share/write tutorials or ideas on their blog.  It also brings great encouragement for them or me keep sharing and writing. Thank you! 


{Give me Liberty Club Inspration Blog Hop}

February 24th: Kick Off! A Crafty Fox 
February 25th: Astrid at Red, Red Completely Red
February 26th: Svetlana at Sotak Handmade
February 26th: Andy at A Bright Corner
February 27th: Chase at Quarter Inch Mark   <---- me!
March 1st: Emily at Simple Girl Simple Life
March 2nd: Ashley at Film In The Fridge
March 3rd: Lee at Freshly Pieced
March 4th: Audrie at Blue is Bleu
March 5th: Amanda at A Crafty Fox

Have you heard?

This post  fabric provided by {Westwood acres liberty lawn club} 

Have you heard about the {Give me Liberty Club Inspiration Blog Hop} kick off today? Amanda from {Westwood Acres Fabric} is sharing her sewing tips with Liberty Tana Lawn fabric on her {blog} today.

Beginning of the February, I received an email invitation from Amanda to join the {Give me Liberty Club Inspiration Blog Hop}. Amanda has a few options on the fabric cuts, I decided went with small cuts, but more print options of Liberty Lawn fabric. I recevied a great range hand- picked 40 fat sixteenths from Amanda. You think what can you do with fat sixteenths { 9"x11"}? Oh! You are going to be surprised that you actually can do a lot with these small cut fabrics! It is perfect for patchworking and perfect for small projects {Another patchwork dress for Maggie?}

So you might wandered what is Liberty Tana Lawn fabric?
As I was browsing the web and found a very nice written post by {The Vintage Traveler}. Within this post, the author gave a in-depth overview of the history and Liberty Lawn.  I particular like the softness and the colors that Liberty Lawn uses. The liberty colors are unique and has nice color definition on each prints. The texture is so soft and perfect for hand-sewing. Not to mentioned that they have some lovely collection from the classic children stories and Hello Kitty prints. Here is the {clip} that you can watch how they produce their fabric in their factory.

Westwood Acres Fabric has a wonderful {Libery Tana Lawn Bundle Club}. It is a great way to start a small collection of Liberty Tana Lawn and a way to add some special cloth into stash!

With all the 40 prints that I received did you know what colors or prints I went with? It was a hard decision to start with. I have a tutorial all ready for you on this coming Friday. Meanwhile, please check out the other bloggers who participated in this Blog Hop

{Give me Liberty Club Inspration Blog Hop}

February 24th: Kick Off! A Crafty Fox 
February 25th: Astrid at Red, Red Completely Red
February 26th: Svetlana at Sotak Handmade
February 26th: Andy at A Bright Corner
February 27th: Chase at Quarter Inch Mark   <---- me!
March 1st: Emily at Simple Girl Simple Life
March 2nd: Ashley at Film In The Fridge
March 3rd: Lee at Freshly Pieced
March 4th: Audrie at Blue is Bleu
March 5th: Amanda at A Crafty Fox

A coat with all the patchworking

A few days ago, I managed to finish Maggie's patchwork coat. Oh! It was a lot of thinking how to line the lining inside and lots hesitations! I ended up machine sew the neckline and the bottom of of the coat then hand-stitched the sleeves. Originally, I wanted to add the Peter pan collar, but the neckline turned out smaller than I could handle, then I decided to leave it as how the pattern described.  I just need to add a set of snaps on the coat opening to finish this patchwork coat!

I love how sometimes, I can work something small and still enjoy a bit of the sewing process. My sewing with quilts' mojo is very low, but still is there! I have't been able to spend hours just sew without interruptions lately. I still am working on the birthday quilt, slowly. But now it seems not in such a rush and hurry anymore! Each day is a little patchworking here and there! Oh, I think hope in May the quilt top will be done!

Oh! many of you ask for the organizing fabrics. I might be the wrong person for this, but I will write up a post to share how I organized mine around here! It is nothing fancy, but very old fashion way! Oh! I expected some laughs and good giggles from many of you!

Weekending is happening here and it is another gotta run weekending!

xxc

Cloth Lover !

 {Kumiko Fujita:Rainbow text prints}

 {Lecien: basic dots}

 { Love Osaka}

 {Sugar Flower}

 {Personal 1st stash from 2006}

 {DS collections}

{Feedsack Fabrics}

Are you cloth lovers? I think 99.999999999999% who visit here, are!  I hope you'll like this post today. I have been wanting to challenge myself to write this post for a very long time! I hope at the end you can share your two cents with us!

I have stashes that have been sitting around for a very long time. When I finally have my own studio space last summer, I realized my stashes are very big! I will never compared to other people, but to myself! It has been growing and will continue to grow! I really don't want to fill the shifts, but the empty space is getting less month after month.

Recently years, I've getting into different idea about colors, patterns and designs on the cloth. Each year seem more simplify and clearly knowing what really I would repeat using the same print from project to project. So lately, I narrow down to a few thoughts on my notebook and I'd love to share with you!


Do you go with designer only? 
I do! I have almost all the Denyse Schmidt fabrics and continue to purchase her fabric line as she releases! I love the retro and classic colors that she uses. Of course, all the stories behind her each fabric lines is really attache to me. The charm and the colors always plays well with other fabrics as well. However, I rarely use them!  I am so afraid one day I will run out! So the true is I used to purchase a full yard bundle and plus a fat quarter bundle. The fat quarter bundle is to play with and the full yard bundle is to keep!I called myself the royal fan!

Do you get peer pressure when you buy fabric? 
Oh! I am not really  actully a peer pressure buyer! Although,  I don't really have friends to sew with or shop with, but I have many Instagram friends would show their stashes when they have acquired new stash  I always ask questions when they share their new stash. Maybe simple question like do you like the new line? how's the color? how's the cloth texture?  When I see the same fabrics flowing around everyone's photo. I start do a little research on the colors and the designs then I would go ahead purchase some prints.

What kind of fabric attract to you?
If you ask me a few years earlier, I'd say anything Denyse Schmidt. I probably didn't realized what fabric designs and colors that I am attached to until 3 years ago. I was getting fabric that think I must have at the time. I wasn't a picky buyer! Now, I am attracted to fabrics that have nice contrast in colors and simple designs. Since the earlier stashes that I purchased likely are in large prints. It is hard to do the fussy cuts, play with paper-piecing and hard to see the nice design of the fabric when the face got cut in half.

Do you buy a full line fabric anymore? 
Yes! But not always! It is hard to keep the fabric budget when try to buy the full line of fabric. If you have noticed that the fabric price has gone up so much in last few years. When I first started I paid $7.25 a yard and now it is $11.25 in retail store or you could find some online store for $10.50 or $10.75 a yard. But the true is, it will not stop me getting new fabrics! I look at getting new fabric as investment to my works. I always need new colors in the stashes and there will always be one of the colors that I have been looking for. I don't remember when was the last time purchased the full line of fabric, but have eyeing on few collections that recently released. I really like a few fabric shops out there that are selling fat eighth bundles, fat quarter bundles. I could get a taste of the fabric line before invested big money into something that might not work later. There's always more "want" than "need"!

Where do you buy fabric? 
99% of the stashes I have is purchased are from online shops. Yes! There are many oopys purchases! There are time when I received the fabric is not what I thought from the listing descriptions or the cut is funny! Sometime the half yard is cut in 17"wide rather than 18" wide or the fabric isn't being handle nicely! Likely I step away that shop. I've always wish I could live in a city that runs many great fabric shops. The  only time I could shop in an actual fabric store is when I travel during the summer! I always make a stop or two in the local fabric store and just get a fat quarter; sometimes, I could get a few prints if the store carries great collections. I do wish to build the stash in the shop rather than in the computer monitor.

Is it worth to collect feedsack? 
It is a very hard question to answer! I say Yes to cloth lovers who likes vintage look and uniqueness. Feedsack fabric is hard to come by these days. The price is very high if you purchase from some online shops! I have been very lucky, since I lived in many small towns and was able to discovered feedsack in the thrift stores from time to time!  I also have friends who are feedsack lover as well and they live around the world. They often kindly share their treasure with me and it helps to build the collection. Feedsack fabric do carry its own distinct colors and patterns that the reprint fabrics cannot mimic. They also have nice textures and the history that come with it.

Do you like the fabric world now?
Yes more than No! I like the how each designer come with their own personal collections and expended their concept into the next collections. I also like being able to have options!  Recent years, mix and match is very popular! I love to see everyone's mix and match in their quilts, bags, patchwork, clothes. I think that's where the personal creative start! The No part would be; Gosh! I can never catch up with so many great prints! Again there's always more "want than need". I try to be careful with all the new fabric shopping! It is easy to go on hundred of dollars if not careful planned!

What's your fabric shopping cart looks like?
I have a few shopping carts that fill with fabrics that I "want"! However, there are more window shopping than actually purchasing now. It is nice to be able to see all the want fabric together!This year, I try to be a picky shopper when purchase fabrics now! I have been going with more basic designs, small scale prints, and colors that I have almost none such as oranges, purples, browns, greens. I even have add a few charm packs to the shopping cart and thinking maybe I could start with a charm pack and to see the colors and texture in person before inquire the large bundle, so I won't feel bad if I purchased the full bundle and wasn't quiet the same.

Last, Do you like Japanese fabrics? 
Yes! I do! Some of the Japanese fabrics come with very rich colors. I can't stop tell you how much I love Suzuko Koseiki's collections. I love the finest fabric texture that she uses in her fabric.  If you have noticed that many American designers have used Japanese fabric printing company to print their fabric collections! Yes, the quality is great and I like how all the fiber woven has not flaws in them so far! It seems like some of the Japanese fabric price has marked higher than other fabrics. It is roughly $4-4.5 a fat quarter ( Also could seen some are priced at $5.00, but I have seen $3 a fat quarter 30's reproduction in the retail shop. However, I am not encouraging or discouraging on the fabric consuming. I really think it should work on best of your personal need! Sometimes, a little "want!

And you?

xxc

Patchwork delight!

The patchwork delight title should be patchwork delight and with a oopsy! 

I know, lots tiny squares going on and more to come! These hand-quilting pieces are just nice to have around. I can make a few stitches between this and that. Yesterday, as a day off from work. I was able to spend a great afternoon with a cup of tea and enjoy the hand-quilting time. By 7p.m. I had all the 5 pieces done and it felt so great.  Since the assembling part will not take too long to finish up I though I'd have Miss Maggie's patchwork coat done in no time.

Then each patchwork piece got traced with the pattern used erase water marks on then I  sewn the baste line around the marking lines; quickly I cut off the patterns as it is getting close to the end.... Then there's a big SCREAMING! OH MY GOODNESS!! Little did I know I should know better!!!! The right side of the front coat needed to be reversed! I always done that! I always forget to reverse the pattern! Then I tried to fix the right side coat with the crazy idea of patch on more pieces.. it didn't work 't. So I will rework on the right panel of the patchwork coat with a bit self-talking!! It should be good if I start the patchworking tonight and work on the hand-quilting tomorrow. Maybe I will have a patchwork coat to show you next week?

fingers crossed!

xxc