DIY Patchwork Notebook Cover

When I was in high school, a family friend showed me how to make my very first quilt block. I remember sitting at her kitchen table, a little nervous to cut into the fabric.

Quilting sounded like something only very experienced sewists could do. But she smiled and said, “Just sew one block at a time.” And she was right. Before long, those pieces turned into something beautiful.

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That’s the fun part about patchwork. It looks fancy, but it’s really just simple steps stitched together.

A DIY notebook cover is the perfect place to try patchwork or quilting if you’ve ever wanted to give it a try. It’s small, quick, and very forgiving. You can use fabric scraps you already love and turn them into something useful that you’ll see every day.

Plus, there’s something extra special about pulling out a notebook wrapped in fabric you made yourself.

In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to sew a simple quilted notebook cover that’s beginner-friendly, fun to make, and a great way to grow your sewing skills one stitch at a time.

Easy DIY quilted notebook cover sewing tutorial

VIDEO: DIY Notebook Cover

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Patchwork Notebook Cover Tutorial

Materials Needed

Notebook to collect measurements
(2) 2.5" Charm Pack or (100) 2.5" cotton fabric pieces
11" x 16" cotton lining fabric
11" x 16" cotton batting
1/2 yard Mediumweight Iron on Interfacing
Thread
Self healing mat
Rotary Cutter

Step 1

The interfacing will need to cover around 20" x 30" of fabric. You can cut multiple pieces and overlap them to make this work.

Place the interfacing on a flat surface that can take the heat of an iron. Make sure the fusible side of the interfacing is facing up.

Step 2

Arrange the squares into diagonal rows over the top of the interfacing. Make sure the squares are touching on all sides.

Once you are satisfied with your design, use a hot iron and press all the squares to the interfacing. You've just made a fusible grid!

Step 3

Fold each row of squares with right sides together vertically where there squares form a natural line. Stitch a 1/4" seam allowance.

Repeat this with all the vertical rows. Press.

Step 4

Fold each row of squares with right sides together horizontally where there squares form a natural line. Stitch a 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 5

Repeat this with all the horizonal rows. Press.

Cutting Instructions

Measure around the notebook and add 7". Measure the height of the notebook and add 1". These are now the measurements you need to follow Step 6.

Step 6

Trim the sewn patchwork piece down to a rectangle based on the size of your notebook. Adding 7" to the width and 1" to the length.

Notebook Sewing Instructions

Step 7

Once you've cut the patchwork fabric, batting and lining with the measurements from the cutting chart above, place the wrong side of the patchwork fabric over the batting fabric.

Quilt the two layers together following along the seams already sewn. Press well.

Step 8

With right sides together, stitch the patchwork and lining pieces together. Leaving a 5" opening along one of the long sides. Press.

Step 9

Turn the notebook cover right side out and press. Topstitch along the short edges of the cover.

Step 10

Turn the two side edges of the notebook cover towards the wrong side of the cover. Measure and make sure they are each 2" wide. Pin in place.

Step 11

Topstitch along the top edge and bottom edge of the cover. Attaching the side flaps and closing the opening you made in step 2. Press.

Step 12

Slide the notebook into each of the flaps.