Kona Club Challenge: Binder Cover by Cathy from Cathy's Blueberry Patch

We're so excited to have Cathy  from Cathy's Blueberry Patch take the Kona Club Challenge this month! Cathy is a prolific quilter and she does it all while she works full time! It's been a pleasure meeting and getting to know Cathy in blogland and we're so happy to feature her on Kona Club Challenge.

Cathy used the colors we sent out in August 2014 for Kona Club for her project today. We hope you enjoy this tutorial and make your own Binder Cover! We are giving away the fat quarters that Cathy used in this tutorial so be sure to leave a comment on this post to win!

Binder Cover

Hello!  My name is Cathy Erickson and I blog at Cathy's Blueberry Patch.  I work full time as an elementary school principal so I like to say I am a weekend quilter.  I am married to a very patient man who knows how to build awesome cabinets for all my fabric!  We have 2 married children and live on a small blueberry farm.I have been quilting in a big way for the last four years but have been sewing since I was very young.  I call myself a modern quilter.  I love fabric and I am a huge fan of Kona solids.

I decided to make something a little different for this project.  It would make a great gift for someone else but it might also be something you might like to make for yourself!



Supplies:

• 4 FQs of Kona Solids ( I used Cornflower, Daffodil, Grapemist, and Windsor)
• 1 FQ of Kona Solids OPTIONAL (this is for the lining and I used Kona Snow)
• Scrap piece of batting measuring 14" by 23" at least
• 1-3 ring binder 1" (I used an inexpensive Hilroy binder measuring 11.75" by 21.5" when open and lying flat.  The spine measured 1.5")

All seams are 1/4"

Cutting Instructions:

Decide which Kona FQ will be your feature colour for the outside binder cover and cut:

• Two 8" x 13.5"main cover

From the 3 remaining FQs cut:

• Two 8" x 13.5" inside flaps
• Two 8" x 13.5" inside flap lining
• Two 6.75" x 8" inside flap pockets
• Ten 2" x 8" spine pieces assorted colours
• Two 2.5" x 8" inside pocket top edge from a colour which contrasts from the pocket

Sewing Instructions:

Arrange the pieces for the binder spine in a pleasing order and stitch together.  Press the seams to one side.  Centre the spine section to the front cover pieces and stitch as shown in the photo.  Trim the top edge of the spine section.  Place the outside binder cover on your batting, baste as desired and quilt as desired. I like straight lines and lots of them!

Press down 1/4" the long side of the pocket top edge.  Stitch pocket top edge to pocket.
Press seam towards pocket top edge.

Press pocket top edge towards the pocket, covering the seam.
Top stitch close to the edge, encasing the seam. Repeat for second pocket.

Layer your flap pieces in this order - Inside flap, pocket, inside flap lining and finally batting scrap measuring 8" x 13.5".

Stitch flap to flap lining, making sure you have inside flaps which are mirror images of each other as in the picture below.  Trim batting from seam allowances, press and top stitch edge. Nice!

Stitch flaps to main binder cover.  Again, trim excess batting from seam allowance and press.  At this point test the fit of your binder in your cover.  You want there to be some looseness as the top stitching at the end will also reduce the amount of wiggle room. Trim your binder cover to measure 12.5".

With right sides together, stitch top and bottom edge of flaps to outside binder cover.  Trim batting from seam allowance.  Trace the rounded corners of the binder on all 4 corners and stitch a curved corners.  Trim seams and turn to right side.  Press carefully.  At this point, you may wish to place lining on the inside of the binder cover.  Slip stitch to top and bottom inside binder encasing upper and lower bottom edge.  This is completely optional.  Otherwise, press spine of binder top and bottom edge to the inside.  Top stitch carefully around the entire outside of the binder cover.  I added a second row of stitching to secure the seam at spine edges.

 And there it is!  A lovely covered binder to store all your patterns and notes in.

Giveaway!

You could win 4 fat quarters of the Kona Cotton Solids Cathy used to make her Binder Cover.
Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win.

If you are no-reply/Wordpress blogger please leave your email id in the post.

We will leave the giveaway open till Monday, September 28.
Winner will be announced Tuesday, September 29.

Good luck everybody and enjoy making your very own Binder Cover!
Many thanks to Cathy  from Cathy's Blueberry Patch for this great tutorial.

Click here for more details on Kona Club.