Notebook Covers
This first notebook cover that I finished this week took ages to make. My temperamental sewing machine keeps refusing to catch the bobbin thread with the needle. Occasionally I can force it to, then it runs for a while, then I go to turn the piece I’m working on and realise it was just making sewing noises and everything I thought I’d just sewn is loose 🙁 I kept going back to this until it was finished, then put the machine away so it can’t annoy me anymore. I had a collection of felt pieces I’d made with natural coloured wools and plant fibres. None of them were big enough for notebook covers and either too thick or too thin for coin purses, so I thought I’d make a few natural coloured collage notebook covers. Or just one as it turned out. I used some unbleached calico as the backing fabric to sew the pieces onto. I really like the way this turned out. This is the front:
Some of the grey pieces are from a piece of felt I made for Karen’s Weather Challenge, using grey Gotland Locks for rolling clouds. This is the back:
I machine stitched the top edges together, then finished off the edges and the flaps with some grey/brown thread I spun myself. It was quite chunky for a thinnish thread, but I like the way it looks.
This next notebook cover is probably the nicest one I’ve ever made. I used a piece of nuno felt that I made for my Beyond Nuno book. It has some gorgeous flowery blue synthetic fabric nuno felted onto merino tops. I made a little tie for the front from an off-cut of the nuno felt. I cut a strip about 8-10mm wide and wet it with soapy water and rolled between my palms until it formed a cord. I used a spring toggle as the fastener. This is the front:
I really love the colours and the way the fabric rippled so nicely.
I’m getting better at letting things go and listing them on etsy, but if this doesn’t sell before the listing expires, I’m keeping it!
13 thoughts on “Notebook Covers”
I agree – the blue is fabulous. I like the way the pattern has a diagonal slant on the notebook – it very much reminds me of the sky and sunbeams. The thin cord is a good fastener for it.
The first notebook looks very ‘cuddly’ and I would just have to pick it up and hold it! I like the colours too – classic and stylish.
(Oh, and you made me flinch with your mention of the challenge because I haven’t done my entry yet.)
p.s. not the weather challenge, but this one:
http://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2013/07/02/third-quarter-challenge/
Thanks, Lyn 🙂
I was just thinking about that challenge recently. That’s next on my list of things to do.
It sounds like your machine may have a timing problem. That can be calibrated in a tune up. I take mine in once a year for that. Your journal covers are really beautiful both in color and technique. I like the patchwork idea.
Thanks, Judy 🙂
Yeah, I think it must be timing too, everything else I’ve seen suggested is resolvable, but nothing I tried works. I probably ran it too much! If I can find someone to tune it for less than the cost of a new one, I’ll get it done.
Both are lovely Zed. I love the way you make use of all your scraps.
Thanks, Marilyn 🙂
I love the Gotland locks rolling clouds; very atmospheric.
Thanks, Liz 🙂
Both are really nice but the blue one would be hard to sell for sure. I hope you can get your machine working. 🙂
Thanks, Ruth 🙂
I had a quick look at prices and they were more expensive than the machine was, maybe I’ll google how to fix it myself.
I guess I will be the odd one out and say I like the gray patchwork one the best. I do like the the felt string closure one the blue one. Lyn what are you worried about its not even September yet. 😀
Thanks, Ann 🙂
I like the cord too, I made one for the brown and grey book too from braided yarn.