Fabric Check Book Cover

I have seen this idea floating around - and decided that I wanted to make a pretty check book cover for myself!

I couldn't find a tutorial anywhere though, so I figured it out by trial and error, looking at my old boring cover, and here is how I did it!

Cut 2 pieces of fabric 8" x 16" and 1 piece of interfacing 8" x 16".

I used 2 different fabrics, in complementing colors. 

Iron the interfacing to 1 of the pieces of fabric.

Place your 2 pieces of fabric right sides together and sew along the outside edge with 1/4" seam allowance.  Leave a 2" opening along the LONG side for turning.

Turn right side out through the opening and iron flat. 

Top stitch 1/8" from the edge along the 2 short edges. 

Then, place pins 3.5" from the short edges to judge where to put the ruffle, and where to fold the fabric. 

If you want to add a ruffle, cut a piece of fabric 1.5" wide by 20" long. Sew a long stitch down the middle, and pull one of the threads to gather.
Pin the ruffle on the outside fabric, about 1" in from one set of pins (or in other words, about 5" from one edge).
Sew down the middle of the ruffle to secure.





Next, fold the short edges toward the center along the line that the pins make. See picture below. The outside fabric should be primarily showing, and the ruffle should be on the outside. These folds should be 3.5" inches from each short edge. Pin the folds in place.  Make sure the 2" opening used to turn right side out is nicely tucked in. 

Top stitch along all 4 edges with 1/8" seam allowance:

As you can see in the picture above, I also tore out the plastic divider from my old check book cover and sewed it right onto this fabric one.  I use carbon copy checks, so I really need the plastic thing :)

That's it!  Very simple!

You can fit a check book and register easily inside - and your check book now has a beautiful cover that stands out, is easy to find in your purse, and makes life more colorful!

 

 

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