Stitching Folder Tutorial

Time for another tutorial, a stitching folder. This has come about from looking at what's available on the market, and trying to come up with something that I'm happy with, and would be happy to give as a gift. This makes a great take along, or storage for your embroidery or applique, with room for your needles, threads, scissors and a couple of larger pockets for short rulers etc.
This tutorial is also a part of the Sew Mama Sew Tutorial Contest. If you have come via Sew Mama Sew, I'd love to hear from you.

Fabrics needed

Main fabric: cut (1) piece 12 1/2 inches by the width of fabric.
For the Second pocket, cut (1) piece 8 1/2 x 6 inches



Contrast fabric: cut (1) 12 1/2 x 9 1/2
And (1) piece for the pocket 7 1/2 x 8 1/2
And (1) piece for the pocket trim 8 1/2 x 3 inches


Pocket Points 2 squares measuring 4 inches square ( I used the same fabric that was used for the flower applique)






Lining: Cut (1) 12 1/2 x 22 1/2
For the back flap cut (1) piece 13 inches x 12 1/2 inches
For the front flap cut (1) piece 16 inches x 12 1/2 inches
For the binding cut (2) 2 inch strips from the width of the fabric.

Pellon (iron on batting): cut (1) piece 12 1/2 x 22 1/2
Medium weight Iron on Interfacing, cut (1) 12 1/2 x 13 inches, cut (1) 12 1/2 x 16 inches .
Ric Rac
2 buttons
Thread
Felt (2) pieces measuring 2 x 3
1 (3) Ringed folder measuring approximately 10 x 11 1/2, with a 1 inch spine.


From your main fabric cut (1) piece 12 1/2 inches x 13 1/2 inches
From your contrast fabric cut (1) piece 12 1/2 inches x 9 1/2 inches (This will be your front panel)

All seams are 1/4 inch

1. Take your contrast piece of fabric and either applique or embroider it as desired. I've used the raw edge applique method on this one.

2. Join your contrast fabric to your piece of main fabric that measures 12 1/2 x 13 1/2. Making sure that your contrast fabric sits to the right hand side, press the seam towards the contrast fabric.

3. Attach your Ric Rac or other chosen trim on the seam line that you've just created.
4. Take your piece of lining fabric and press the iron on pellon to the wrong side.
5. Place your lining fabric down on your table with the wrong side facing upwards, now place your pieced front cover, wrong side down on top of the lining fabric and baste around the outside edge using a 1/8 inch seam.
6. Take your flap fabric and attach the iron on interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric. Press in half wrong sides together. You now have one flap that measures 12 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches and one that measure 12 1/2 x 8 inches.

7. Take your two 4 inch squares and press them wrong sides together on the diagonal. Fold again on the diagonal and press.

8. Now pin these folded squares, right sides together along an 8 1/2 inch edge of your pocket fabric.

9. Take your 8 1/2 inch by 3 inch strip for the pocket trim and press it wrong sides together.
10. Pin this strip, raw edges together over your folded squares.
11. Stitch, and press the seam away from your folded squares.
12. Attach a button to each point.
13. Fold the second pocket piece ( 8 1/2 x 6 inches ) in half wrong sides together and press. Lay this on top of your bigger pocket piece at the bottom, matching raw edges and baste the left hand edge and the bottom edge. Turn under and press 1/2 an inch on the right hand side of the pocket.
14. Open out your 12 1/2 x 8 inch flap and lay it flat right side facing you and pin your pocket to the lower left hand side, matching raw edges, and having your turned under seam allowance on the pocket running along the fold line of the flap.

15. Stitch along the right hand edge, and baste along the bottom and the left hand edge.

16. Pin a piece of RicRac down the centre of the pocket, stitch. Now measure 2 inches from the outside edges and stitch from the top of the second pocket to the bottom, forming small 2 inch pockets.
17. Take your two pieces of felt and put them together and pin in place on the upper right hand side, stitch.
18. Fold in half along the fold line.

19. Place your Pieced front, right side down in front of you, with the lining facing you. Now place your left hand flap on the left hand side and your right hand flap on the right hand side. Having the raw edges even, pin in place and baste.

20. Take your (2) binding strips and join them using your preferred method. (This is my preferred method) Fold in half wrong sides together and press along the length. Attach the binding from the front of the cover, and turn and pin in place and hand stitch down.

21. Insert your folder.


22. Enjoy.

Happy Stitching.

Edit: This folder can be used as a photo album cover, scrap book cover, diary cover. Only your imagination will limit it's uses.