SandyinZ4

Checkbook cover- Basic directions

1/4 " seams throughout.

4 squares of fabric 8" x 8" (1 piece for cover,
2 pieces for pockets, 1 piece for inside lining)

1 square of batting (or felt or pellon) 8" x 8"
1 piece of fabric 1 3/4" x 6"
optional- small piece of plastic lid (from margarine top etc.)

Place one square of fabric right side up on square of batting.

Sew a diagonal line from one corner to opposite corner. Continue sewing diagonal lines on either side approximately 5/8" apart and continue until entire piece is covered with quilted lines.

Make pen holder:

Take the small 1 3/4 x 6 piece and fold one of short ends twice to make a neat fold, leaving a small 1/4 opening.

Optional-Cut a small piece of the plastic lid approx 1/4" x 1" and slip into the little fold. This helps the pen clip onto the edge of fabric easier.

Fold one long side approx 1/4 (one fold) and place approx. 1 inch from bottom of quilted piece with unhemmed short edge matching raw edge of quilted piece. Pin to hold in place and sew down one side, reinforcing stitching just a little at the folded side (where plastic is). Fold in other side approx 1/4" and sew that side down also.

Take 2 more squares and fold each in half. Iron so that fold is pressed.These will be the little pockets to slip check book and register into.

Assembly- If you would like a more finished edge, assemble as follows:

Lay quilted piece down with batting down and quilting up. Place one of the folded 'pockets' on top of quilted part, having fold in center and raw edges touching. Place second folded piece just the opposite. Place last 8 x 8 square (lining) right side down on top of pockets.

Note: As I sew around each corner, I round it off with stitching.

Secure with a couple pins to hold everything in place. Begin sewing about a third of the way over and sew around until you come back to bottom of where you started. Leave approx 3 inch opening. (Note: I try to start sewing on the opposite edge of pen holder side.)

Trim around curved corners if you made them round.

Turn right side out and press. Then fold in opening and topstitch around entire edge to close opening and give it a finished look.

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Alternate Assembly: If you do not like turning things inside out and you can do a good serged edge or make a good zig-zag close stich, this will also work.

Lay quilted cover part face down. Place remaining square (lining) right side up on top and then place each pocket on top of that. Zig-zag around entire edge, rounding corners if desired. As you can see in pictures, I am not good with this method. Leaves edges too raggedy. Hope you can do better if you choose this way.
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Alternate options and my preferences- I like to make these a bit fancier. So I use coordinating fabrics for the liner and inside pockets. Instead of folding the pocket pieces in half, I cut them in half making them 8 x 3 3/4. Then I sew them together, along one long side. Set seam and then open up and iron so right sides are showing. I usually make these matching and liner a coordinating color. I also trim the entire pieces down to 7 3/4 as I like mine just a bit snugger but easier to learn if everything is the same size at first.

Also, I found that the batting ( I was using Warm 'N Natural) was a bit too thick for my liking and so I used one layer of felt. That worked better. I also tried using a piece of pellon and liked that as well as it made it much easier to turn and do the top-stitching.

I also found that if I made two at once, I could do the quilting much easier and keep switching one from front to back and keep on with continuous quilting of the outside cover part.

I am sure you will experiment as I did and come up with your own ways.

I did try one to look scrappy and sewed scraps onto a piece of pellon with fancy stitches. Don't like the zig-zag edge though.

Hope this helps and please post yours if you make any.