Homemade "midori" Style Cloth Notebooks

[betsypreston]

I've got a coupla genuine Midori notebooks, but I wanted to try to make a few of my own so that I could sort my different inserts.

 

These are both made of cloth stuck to a core of Pellon Peltex 70 heavy interfacing/stabilizer using Heat n Bond Lite iron-on adhesive. There are two eyelets on the spine, and one on the back cover with elastic to hold the insert and close the book. I finished the outer edged with satin stitching (with my sewing machine). The "trout" notebook has a that pocket wraps around the cover.

 

I made a few cereal box and copier paper notebooks to show how different sizes fit. The cover is slightly bigger than a Midori Traveler's Passport size in order to take bigger inserts. The following all fit nicely.

 

"Midori" Style Cover

Folded: 4.24in x 6.25in / 11cm x 15.5mm

Open: 8.75in x 6.25in / 22cm x 15.5mm

 

Leuchtturm1917 Jottbook Pocket

3.58in x 5.87in / 91mm x 149mm

 

Banditapple Carnet Peewee,

Field Notes,

Clairefontaine Basic Life. Unplugged

3.5in x 5.5in / 90mm x 140mm

 

Midori Traveler's Passport

3.5in x 4.88in / 89mm x 124mm

 

 

Image heavy...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2013 by betsypreston

[apkayle]

This is beautiful. If I had the money to spare, I'd pay to have you make one for me. o_o

[Cerbervs]

Those are very nice books I like the pocket in the 2nd one.

[Daisy25]

Oh, that's inspired! Very cool.

[betsypreston]

I haven't mastered the pocket design yet. If I just add a 2nd layer of fabric as a pocket, it's pretty tight to the cover. It's hard to get a pen in there. I'm not sure how to add some slack/dimension so that it's easier to get stuff into the pocket.

 

I made this pocket a little bit wider than the cover, then let it bunch up a little here and there so that there is a little slack. I'm not completely thrilled with the results, although it does work.

Edited August 11, 2013 by betsypreston

[leomitch]

Wow! Betsy, those are excellent! My hat's off to you. Well done!

 

Best regards

Leo

[Earthdawn]

Looks great !

 

Very well done.

 

I love seeing great workmanship like this.

 

Congrats

[purplepen]

BEAUTIFUL !

[TMac]

Great job. I'm always envious of folks that have this ability/creativity.

[betsypreston]

I use the same techniques that I learned making fabric boxes and fabric bowls in books by Linda Johansen.

 

The notebooks should be washable, although I've never tried it.

[aenjin]

Well done! The chickens brought a smile to my face, like these a lot.

[Leigh R]

These are ingenious!

[Florenze]

Wonderful ideas and fantastic execution! I like the pen pocket-- in fact, maybe these could also be adapted for pen storage --on the inside? Beautiful work!

[JesterKat]

I really like it! That fabric is cute and colorful without being "in your face."

A possible change for your pocket is making the pocket fabric at least 2 inches wider than the space that you are putting it in, and pleating the long sides at the bottom to fit your space. A small bit of elastic in the top hem, either on the sides where the pleats are or across the entire top hem will give the top of the pocket some tension to hold in the contents. Alternately, pleat the bottom and put a buttoned flap over top to hold in contents of the pocket like a good breast pocket on men's shirts. It'll probably take some experimentation with muslin or paper to find what works for you.

[betsypreston]

Thanks everyone for your nice comments!

 

I have to spend some time on the internet learning more about how to do pleats properly. Never tried them before so I'll definitely need to study and practice!

[N2theBreach]

Wow. Nicely done!! And you make it sound easy!

 

Would it be easier to put a button flap, as the JesterKat suggested, or to put the pocket on the inside? I like the idea of a flap to keep the pens in. It might be a bit complex, though, for the first few you make.

 

Once you get into production mode, though, it would go quicker! (Hint)

[betsypreston]

I came up with a pleat, and it's not too hard to do.

 

It's about 1/2" deep fold. I press it into the fabric, then sew the edge to the side of the notebook. Then I stitch it down flat on the bottom - sewing the pleat closed on that end. On the top end, I leave the pleat open. It seems to work, and it looks "right".

 

http://betsypreston.com/fpn/20130830_My_Midori_Notebook_03CompassesWithPleat_s.jpg

Edited August 31, 2013 by betsypreston

[JesterKat]

Woo hoo! That looks great! I tried about 4 times to draw something to explain what I meant, but failed to draw anything that meant anything to anyone else. You got it exactly as I visualized it. I'm so glad it works!

Katie

[aenjin]

Nice fabric choice on this one too! Do you think it would be possible to put a sewn-in elastic at the opening of a pleated outside pocket like this one, or would that mess with the shape of the notebook too much?

[betsypreston]

Hmmm. I'm thinking that you could have a pleat on the top, or elastic, but not both. The elastic could take up some slack in a pocket that is wider than the book. But it would pull the shape out of any pleat.

 

Not an expert opinion...just my guess how elastic would work. Sounds like it's worth a try. Would give it a ruffled look which could be really cute with something like polka dot fabric.