The end of 2019 is nigh so it’s time again to prepare my journaling for 2020.

I’m planning to use again an Hobonichi Techo. I love the size and the flexibility, it’s half way between a journal with dates and calendar and a bullet journal, so plenty of pages for personalisation. In addition, I got a 2 years monthly planner from Target for 3 dollars when I was in Chicago for long term planning.

Since anything that goes in my bag is at high risk of being caffeinated by my leaky KeepCup, I need a new cover to host both books. Also an excuse to do some quick sewing.

Material

• Leftover legs cut from a pair of jeans that became shorts over summer.
• Some unknown fabric from scrap bags I’m always so tempted to buy.
• Ribbons.
• Thread, needles, pins and a sewing machine come in handy too.

Execution

I suck at tutorials, but I’m also extremely forgetful so every time I need to do something I’ve done a while ago, it’s like learning from zero again, so let’s try to write something I can use next year.

1) Cut all the bits.

• a panel for the inside of the cover.
• These are my measurements for the Hobonichi:
• Length:
• Height:
• Seam allowance: 1.5 cm each side for top and bottom and 1 cm at side

2) Sew all the bits.

3) Done!

I said I was bad at tutorials!

Ok ok…

The pieces of fabric needed are:

• an inside panel and a back panel, same size
• two flaps
• two rectangles for the internal pocket and a pen holder on the outside
• a long string
• a tiny bow (optional)

The inside panel is divided in 3 “pages” as it closes like a purse.

1. Sew the flaps. On the left, only top and bottom; on the right also the side.

2. Sew the pocket on the rightmost “page” as well as the pen holder (or a pocket) on the back panel.

3. Pin the ribbons on top and the strings on the right edge.

4. Place the right side of both panels together and pin.

5. Sew around at 5mm leaving a gap to turn.

6. Turn the cover and top stitch. Ta da!

 

This version is a tad more sophisticated than last year’s (Back from College Hell): it features an additional part to hold the booklet, a cute bow and a multiple pen holder on the front. My skills are far from being perfect, top stitching still needs more practice, but in a year time, my ability of sewing straight has definitely improved. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to sew as much as I’d planned since I spent a fair amount of time in airports in this last part of the year, but that means that I’ll have more projects for next year!!

Not sure if this is being optimistic or just being a fool…