Does anyone sew here?

[ColleenSwerb]

Donna Downey has been making and selling these Inspiration Journals (http://www.donnadowney.com/shop/home.php?cat=15). Journals with fabric covers that are kept shut with a big pretty button and some elastic. I was all excited cuz she was gonna post a video tutorial on how to make them.

Except the video tutorial is $35. :blink: Same price as buying the supplies and going by the printed instructions. I CAN'T justify $35 on it just to learn how to make it.

So. It can't be THAT hard to make one of these. And I have a book binding book that I've been reading lately. So I can figure out that part.

What I'm really curious about, is how she sew the cover entirely. It doesn't look like she left part of it unsewn to turn the fabric right sides out, and then hand sewed the rest. Kwim? I don't know how to get that look, and it'll drive me insane to have part of it left looking stupid, lol.

So, anyone have any tips? Or advise? Or know of a decent tutorial for something like that? I'd be forever grateful (as will my sanity since I want to attempt one of these this weekend with some fabric scraps. :)

[mrsmbm]

Well, right off the bat I noticed the top stitch around the edges. So she probably left a small hole to turn it, and then did a decorative top stitch around the whole thing, which will seal the hole and make it look cute.

I didn't look too much in depth, so that's my best guess. :) Way cute stuff, though!

[ColleenSwerb]

*goes off to google top stitch*

Thanks Mandy :) I'm a total sewing newb so any help is appreciated.

ETA: I totally understand now, thanks Mandy!! I'm excited to try this out this weekend!

[Nettio]

Aww man, I was excited when she said she was going to post a video tutorial because it looks like a fun project but $35 is a bit more than I want to pay for that especially when the kit with materials is the same price.

It doesn't actually look like it'd be too hard to figure out. There's a better photo of the inside of one in this post (http://donnadowney.typepad.com/simply_me/2008/07/been-sewing.html).

[my4boys]

I do sew and I am thinking it looks kinda like a book cover so there would not need to be a hole for turning it back to the right side, KWIM?. You have totally challenged me and now I am gonna try to make my own pattern for this....I make my own patterns for purses that I see online and don't want to buy, so much cheaper:thumbup: I will let you know if I come up with something!!!

[my4boys]

OK after reading Lynette's post I saw the close up and I now know that it is not like a book cover but a full piece. My best guess would be that the hole for turning would be topstiched closed...I think someone else said that already though. It is just so darn cute and I am thinking how much fun they are.....I am so gonna make some to match the purses I have made in the past and sell them as a set :)

[ColleenSwerb]

Aww man, I was excited when she said she was going to post a video tutorial because it looks like a fun project but $35 is a bit more than I want to pay for that especially when the kit with materials is the same price.

It doesn't actually look like it'd be too hard to figure out. There's a better photo of the inside of one in this post (http://donnadowney.typepad.com/simply_me/2008/07/been-sewing.html).

Yea I went back through the blog posts to see that one Lynnette. I have everything except the grommets, so buying the kit isn't logical for me.

The inside book part would be easy. I'm not going to use it as an art journal, just as a notebook. The kit does come with the instructions, just in print form on 3 pages of regular paper. I like the visual of the video tut though, which is why I was disappointed too.

For the inside, you would just take however many pieces of paper, fold them in half, and then punch 3 holes in the fold part (that's where the ribbon from the spine gets threaded through to hold the pages in).

The cover had me stumped, but I think it's like Mandy said. You would just measure out your cover size and sew it right sides facing in, leaving a hole to pull it through. Then use a top stitch to seal off that hole and give it a finished look. You might not need to do it right sides facing in and then turning it right side out through a hole, but I like the finishing that doing that gives.

At this point I might work on this project tonight cuz now it's not as hard as I thought it would be, lol!

[NettieB]

My mother is the expert, def. not me, but in looking at the pictures, I'd recommend ironing, then combining pieces with fusible tape, then top-stitching...

[ColleenSwerb]

And I went on Etsy, cuz I'm a glutton for punishment, and found some SUPER cute fabric books. Totally motivated to try this tonight, lol.

[ColleenSwerb]

My mother is the expert, def. not me, but in looking at the pictures, I'd recommend ironing, then combining pieces with fusible tape, then top-stitching...

Oooooh that's a great idea! And, less to sew! I bought some fusible tape randomly the last time I was in the craft store........

[my4boys]

I am so jealous...maybe I can try it when the kids are at school tomorrow....I really want to do this one too!!!1

And I went on Etsy, cuz I'm a glutton for punishment, and found some SUPER cute fabric books. Totally motivated to try this tonight, lol.

[ColleenSwerb]

I am so jealous...maybe I can try it when the kids are at school tomorrow....I really want to do this one too!!!1

Etsy is SUCH a motivator for me to try things, lol. How flipping GORGEOUS is this book??
http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.36783545.jpg (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14854986)

I'm working on learning various bookbinding techniques, so eventually I could definitely make books like that. I'm just not there yet, so I'll start with a DD imitation piece and work my way forward, lol.

[my4boys]

Just make sure you post pics girl....I LOVE that b&w book...flippin gorgeous!!! I would also love to hear about your book binding, I have wanted to try this too but never seem to have the time to commit.

[ColleenSwerb]

Ok, wish me luck! I'm starting one now! :thumbup:

[Nettio]

Yay! I want to see it when you're done! :thumbup:

[psalm149]

I would also imagine it's turned and topstitched.