If you’re looking for a stylish way to carry your notebook, pens, highlighters, and even your phone, check out this super cute notebook pouch tutorial!
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If you’re anything like me, you’ve always got a book or notebook with you. (I’ve generally got several, but I’m a graduate student, so I guess that’s to be expected!)
But sometimes, when the urge hits to do a little writing, I have to scramble to find a pen buried somewhere deep in the bottom of my purse or backpack.
But no more! This cute notebook pouch is perfect for keeping everything together in one place. My notebook is safe from being beaten up in my backpack, and I can keep a few pens and highlighters tucked away in the front pocket so they’re always there when I need them. Plus, with a pouch that perfectly fits my phone, I can keep everything I need secure and easy to access.
But why am I trying to sell you on the merits of this pouch? If you’re here, you probably can already see how perfectly it would fit into your day to day life. Or maybe you know it would make a perfect gift for a loved one!
So let’s get into it.
To make a notebook pouch you’ll need:
- Two colors/patterns of fabric: For the main one (the camper fabric, in my example) you’ll want to get half a yard/meter. For the secondary one (pink, in my example), you could get by with just a fat quarter. I used quilting cotton for both.
- Fusible fleece: I used Pellon lightweight fusible fleece. Something like this will work.
- Fusible interfacing: You just need a small piece. I used the Dollar Tree crafters square fusible interfacing. Super inexpensive and works great.
- Snaps & Snap Tool: These are the snaps and snap attachment tools that I use all the time. You can also find snaps and the attachment tool at Michaels and most fabric stores.
- Matching thread: I used a light pink Guttermann thread.
- Other sewing essentials: Sewing machine, scissors, cutting mat, rulers, pins or clips, etc.
Pieces & measurements:
This project consists of three main parts, plus the snap piece. Here’s a little breakdown of the pieces.
The overall pouch will be made up of five “parts” (not five pieces!). Now let’s move on to each piece.
In my example, my pouch is made up of two fabrics. Fabric style 1 (campers) and fabric style 2 (pink). So when you see Fabric styles 1 and 2 on these images, that’s why. But you can do whatever colors/patterns/styles you want. If you want them to be all the same, go for it! All different? Give it a try!
For part A, you need TWO pieces of fabric cut 9.75″ H by 8.5″ W and ONE piece of fusible fleece cut 9.25″ H by 8″ W.
In my finished example, this is the pink middle piece. For part B, you need TWO pieces of fabric cut 8.75″ H by 8.5″ W and ONE piece of fusible fleece cut 8.25″ H by 8″ W.
For part C, you need TWO pieces of fabric that are 8.5″ W and then slanted at the top. On the left side, it’s 7″ H, and on the right side, it’s 6″ H. The easiest way to accomplish this is to cut a piece that is 7″ H by 8.5″ W. Then, on the right side, make a mark one inch down from the top. Then line your ruler up with the top left edge and the mark you made on the right side. Cut on that line.
You’ll follow the same strategy for your fusible fleece. You need ONE piece that is 8″ W and 6.5″ H on the left side and 5.5″ H on the right side.
For part D, you need TWO pieces of fabric that are 2.5″ W by 2.5″ H but rounded at the top. You’ll need ONE piece of INTERFACING that’s 1.5″ W by 1.5″ H but also rounded at the top.
When all is said and done, you should have EIGHT pieces of fabric, THREE pieces of fusible fleece, and ONE piece of interfacing.
What are the dimensions of the finished pouch?
The final dimensions are: 9.25″ T x 8″ W.
Can I make this pouch bigger, smaller, wider, taller, etc.?
Absolutely! If you want the pouch to be 2″ taller, add 2″ to the bottom of Part A and Part B, as well as the corresponding pieces of fusible fleece. You might not want to add 2″ to Part C because that will make that pouch quite deep, and you might have a hard time digging out your pens, highlighters, phone, etc. Make yourself a paper pattern first to see if that front pouch will still meet your needs. Adapt accordingly.
If you want the pouch to be 2″ wider, add 2″ to the left/right of Part A and Part B, as well as the corresponding pieces of fusible fleece. You may need to adjust the angle on Part C. Make yourself a paper pattern to play around with, and adapt accordingly.
Directions
Step 1
Gather your materials! I’m using a patterned fabric and a complementary pink fabric. Both are quilting cottons.
Step 2
Cut out the pieces as per the earlier directions. You should have eight pieces of fabric, three pieces of fusible fleece, and one piece of interfacing.
Step 3
Take one of each of the main cotton pieces (one Part A piece, one Part B piece, and one Part 3 piece) and attach the corresponding piece of fusible fleece. The fusible fleece piece is a little smaller than the cotton piece. Position the fleece in the middle of the cotton piece, so there is space left around all the edges.
Step 4
Grab both of your Part B pieces and put them together, pretty sides facing. The fusible fleece will be on the outside. Sew along the top, 0.25″ away from the edge.
Do the same with your Part C pieces.
Do NOT sew along the top of your Part A (backing) pieces.
Step 5
Now press open your Part B and Part C pieces.
Step 6
Once pressed open, sew along the top edge of your Part B and Part C pieces, 0.25″ away from the edge. This will keep them pretty and flat when you assemble everything. Do not sew them together at this point! We’re going to do that in the next step!
Step 7
Lay your Part C pieces on top of your Part B pieces. The bottoms should line up. Measure 3.5″ from the left and make a line. Then sew along that line from the bottom of Part C to the top of Part C. What you’re doing here is creating two separate pouches. I put my pens and highlighters in the thinner one, and my phone in the larger one.
Step 8
This is just to show you what I mean and where you should stop sewing. I stopped just at the top of the Part C piece. Don’t forget to backstitch to keep it securely attached through lots of regular use!
Step 9
Let’s move on to the little flap that will keep everything nice and tidy. Like with Part B and Part C, you’re going to attach your interfacing to the back of one of the flap pieces. Then put both pieces together, pretty sides facing, and sew around them 0.25″ from the edge. Don’t sew along the top edge, as we need to turn the flap right side out.
Step 10
Turn the flap right side out! Press flat.
Step 11
Take ONE of the Part A pieces and lay it down, pretty side up. Then set your combined Part B and Part C pieces on top of it. The bottom of all the pieces should line up.
Step 12
Find the middle of your Part A piece and the middle of your flap piece. Place the flap piece down, and use a pin or clip to keep it in place. If you want, you can sew very carefully, very close to the edge, if you are worried it might slip in the next step. That’s what I did, because I’m not the best at keeping everything contained!
Step 13
Now take your second Part A piece. Lay it pretty side down over the other pieces. Pin or clip all around the edge. You need to leave a gap of 2″ or so in order to turn it after. I left the gap at the top right.
Sew all the way around, 0.25″ from the edge.
Step 14
Turn the whole thing right side out. There are a lot of layers, so it can be a bit of a pain. I used a chopstick to help push/guide the fabric. Make sure to push all the corners out the best you can.
Once it’s right side out, give it a good press. Then, with either your sewing machine or by hand sewing, close up the hole in the top right that you left for turning.
Step 15
Attach your snaps! I put a notebook in the pouch before attaching my snaps to make sure that I was placing them in a spot that wouldn’t make the pouch too tight. (This is the notebook I have in there if you’d like to see the dimensions.)
Step 16
And you’re done! You have yourself a beautiful, practical, custom little notebook pouch! You can put more than just notebooks in there, of course. Use it to carry around your favorite book, or something else entirely!
I couldn’t include a picture of my phone in the pouch because… well, I took the picture with my phone! But an iPhone fits in there perfectly.
Will you give this notebook pouch a try?
I’d love to see what you make, and if you adapt it any to make it better suit your needs! Follow me on Instagram and tag @theserialcreative when you show off your gorgeous notebook pouches!
For more awesome projects, tutorials, and patterns, check out my archive of free resources here.
Happy making!
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