Scrappy Checkbook Cover

Note: This is the first tutorial I ever wrote! I ended up making a new checkbook cover with the same tutorial, you can read about it here:

Since nearly everyone enjoys a “how-to”, we thought we’d start a D.I.Y. column with some easier projects you can make at home. For starters, we’ve chosen a scrappy checkbook cover. Even though using a checkbook is becoming less common, that doesn’t mean one should be stuck with the plastic cover that comes with the box of checks. Instead, use a few scraps of fabric, fusible interfacing, and muslin to create a cute cover for those seldom used checks.

You will need:

Several scraps of fabric 71/4″ long to total 7 1/4″ x 14″ (we used 7 scraps 2 1/2″ x 7 1/4″)
Muslin 7 1/4″ x 14″
Fusible Interfacing (light to medium) 7 1/4″ x 14″
Sewing Machine (you could hand sew, it would just be more work)
Rotary cutter (scissors would also work, but are often less accurate)
Ruler
Rotary mat

Trim your scraps so they each measure 2 1/2″ x 7 1/4″ (since that is the size used in the photos, you can adjust if you use different sized scraps).

Sew the strips together in twos,

press the seams of the sewn strips all the same direction (left or right) and then pair the sewn sets and sew again,

continuing until all strips are sewn and fabric measures 7 1/4″ x 14″.

Trim muslin and fusible interfacing to same dimensions as pieced fabric.

Follow directions included with fusible interfacing and fuse it to the pieced fabric.

Place muslin against right side of pieced fabric.

Pin around all edges before sewing.

Sew around parameter of fabric 1/4″ from edge, leaving an opening about 3″ in the middle of one edge.

Clip corners near stitching before turning.

Carefully turn right side out.

Using a bone folder, scissors, or other pointy object, carefully turn corner points.

Press flat, turning under the edges of opening to match edge.

Sew 1/8″ from edge around parameter of fabric.

Quilt as desired. Here you see straight lines on the seams and then two straight lines on each strip.

Fold two short edges in so piece measures about 7″ with a gap in the middle.

Stitch through all layers of fabric on two edges to form pockets. The machine will not like sewing through all these layers, so take it slow and careful.