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I am a list maker. Like an “I have a list for everything” sort of person. I’m constantly putting sticky notes up with lists of things I need to remember in places I am sure to see them, and jotting down info on random receipts and pieces of paper when an idea hits.
All those lists are only useful if I can find them when I need to. And while I do have a planner (a paper one because first, I’m old, and second because I really like physically crossing things off said lists), I tend to add things to my lists while on the run when I don’t have my planner with me.
I started looking for a notepad holder that I could create to have “on the go” and came across the best pattern. It’s called the Moondance Notepad Holder and I have since sewed up quite a few of them because they are AWESOME.
The only drawback for me to this pattern is that it calls for the use of vinyl fabric for both the inside and outside. While this makes cutting out fabric and assembling the whole things a breeze, I don’t have a lot of cute vinyl fabric. Poof went the visions I had of making notepad holders in all kinds of prints.
I played around with the pattern and found a way to make the whole Moondance out of cotton fabric, which I happen to possibly have too much of. If you do have some vinyl fabric you can also mix and match which I did a few times. I used a solid black vinyl for the interior and cotton for the exterior for a few and they turned out fantastic.
Whatever combination you choose, once you start making these, you’re going to want more and anyone you show them to will be asking “Can you make me one?!”
Watch the video tutorial here:
Supplies:
This post may contain affiliate links which means at no extra cost to you I may receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links.
Cotton fabric for the exterior – 1/3 of a yard will work if your pattern can be cut from the vertical length of the fabric. If your print looks better cut from left to right (horizontally), you will need ½ yard.
Cotton fabric for the lining – 1/3 of a yard - I like to use my exterior fabric for one of the inside pockets. If you want all of the interior to be made from the interior fabric, you will need 1/2 yard.
1/2-inch-wide elastic trim - cut to 2 inches if you want to add the pen loop.
Pellon SF 101Shape Flex or similar interfacing – about 1/3 yard total
Chipboard – I have used a 2 mm chipboard from Michaels and Cricut 2 mm Chipboard
Craft knife for the chipboard
Cutting mat and cutting ruler for the chipboard
Sewing machine
Matching 100% polyester thread
Ironing board
Zipper foot for the sewing machine
Optional:
Name/bag tag – I buy mine here
Notes for sewing the Moondance Notepad Holder from cotton fabric:
Getting your fabric ready to sew will take longer than actually sewing the notepad holder. Once you have your pieces prepped, it takes only minutes to sew the whole thing together.
I use the templates from the Moondance Notepad Holder Pattern but I do alter them slightly to suit my needs. I can’t give you the specific measurements for the templates after I cut them because I don’t want to give away all the details of this paid pattern. I recommend printing out the templates and cutting them as described below.
Prep the Moondance Notepad Holder pattern templates:
Print out the pattern templates on paper.
Cut out the pattern templates.
Alter the pattern templates:
Cut 1/8 inch off the top and one side of the Moondance Lining Main template.
Cut 1/8 inch off the top of the Moondance Lining Center template.
Cut 1/8 inch off the top and 1/2 inch off one of the sides of the Main Stabilizer template.
Prep the pieces for the exterior:
Trace the Moondance Exterior template onto the wrong side/back of your exterior fabric.
Use a ruler to add ¾ of an inch to all the edges with a fabric marking pen/marker.
Cut your fabric along the second line you added.
Cut out a piece of SF 101 using the Exterior template as is (without the added 3/4 of an inch).
Center the interfacing on the back of the fabric piece and iron on.
Use the glue stick to adhere the extra ¾ inch onto the back of the fabric. I apply the glue to the extra fabric on the long sides one at a time and then fold them over and press them onto the SF 101.
Next apply the glue to the extra 3/4 inch of fabric on the short sides one at a time and fold them over and press down.
Apply a small amount of glue to the side of the corner flaps and fold toward the middle of the fabric piece. Make sure the corner is pointed and press down. Repeat for the other corners.
If you want to add a tag to the notebook holder, do so now. I sewed mine on the lower right of the front panel. It helps to put a piece of double-sided sewing tape on the back to hold it in place while you sew.
Prep the pieces for the interior:
Make two of the Lining Main pieces:
Trace the Moondance Lining Main template onto the wrong side/back of your interior fabric.
Use a ruler to add ¾ of an inch to all the edges with a fabric marking pen/marker.
Cut your fabric along the second line you added.
Cut out a piece of SF 101 using the Lining Main template as is (without the added 3/4 of an inch).
Center the interfacing on the back of the fabric piece and iron on.
Use the glue stick to adhere the extra ¾ inch onto the back of the fabric. I apply the glue to the extra fabric on the long sides one at a time and then fold them over and press them onto the SF 101.
Next apply the glue to the extra 3/4 inch of fabric on the short sides one at a time and fold them over and press down.
Apply a small amount of glue to the side of the corner flaps and fold toward the middle of the fabric piece. Make sure the corner is pointed and press down. Repeat for the other corners.
Make one of the Lining Center pieces.
Using your interior fabric, repeat steps 1-3 of the Lining Main pieces using the Lining Center template but only add 1/2 inch to the sides.
Cut out a piece of SF 101 using the Lining Center template as is (without the added 3/4 of an inch).
Repeat steps 5-8 from above.
Make two of the pocket pieces - one to hold the notepad on the right side and one to use as a pocket on the left side:
Cut out two pieces of fabric that are 7 1/8 inches wide x 14 inches tall - I like to make one out of the interior fabric and one out of the exterior fabric.
Cut out two pieces of SF 101 that are 5 5/8 inches side and 6 1/8 inches tall.
Fold the fabric pieces in half wrong sides together on the 14-inch side and iron the folds.
Iron the SF 101 onto the backs of the pocket fabrics placing it in the center and flush with the fold at the top which will leave ¾ inches at the bottom edges with no interfacing.
Sew a 1/8-inch top stitch line across the folds of the pocket fabric pieces.
Prep the right side of the interior:
Place the pocket piece made from the interior fabric on the right-side Lining Main piece and flip it over so you are looking at the back.
Fold the extra ¾ inch on the sides and bottom of the pocket piece to the wrong side of the Lining Main and clip in place. I start with sides and then fold up the bottom. Make sure the fold of the fabric does not show on the front of the lining main.
Prep the left side of the interior:
Make a pocket to hold sticky notes:
Cut out a piece of interior fabric that is 4 1/2 inches wide x 5 1/4 inches tall.
Cut out a piece of SF 101 that is 2 3/8 inches wide x 3 7/8 inches tall.
Fold the fabric in half right sides together on the 5 1/4-inch side and iron the fold.
Iron the SF 101 onto the back of the Pocket fabric (this is the side facing up right now) placing it in the center and flush with the fold at the top.
With the right sides of the fabric still together, sew around the outside open edges with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, but leave about a 1-inch opening.
Push the fabric right side out through the opening. Fold the edges of the opening inward until the edge matches the sewn edges and press the entire rectangle with an iron.
Starting with the opening, top stitch around the entire rectangle.
Pin the completed Sticky Note Pocket onto the right side of the fabric of the left Pocket piece (the one made with exterior fabric). Place it 1 5/8 inches from both the left and right sides and the bottom of the Sticky Note Pocket should be 2 inches from the bottom of the Pocket fabric.
Stitch along the two sides and bottom of the Sticky Note Pocket on top of the top stitch line you already made.
Place the Pocket piece with the attached Sticky Note Pocket on top of the left-side Lining Main piece and flip it over so you are looking at the back.
Fold the extra ¾ inch on the sides and bottom of the pocket piece to the wrong side of the Lining Main and clip in place. I start with sides and then fold up the bottom. Make sure the fold of the fabric does not show on the front of the lining main.
Sewing all the pieces of the Moondance Notebook Holder together:
Find the center of the exterior by folding it in half and finger pressing to create a line. Center the Lining Center over the center of the exterior and clip in place at the top and bottom.
Place the right and left sides of the Lining in place overlapping the side edges of the Lining Center.
Now sew around the entire outside edge of the notepad holder with 1/8 inch seam allowance. DO NOT sew the two center edges that overlap the Lining Center yet.
Cut your chipboard for the notepad holder:
Cut 2 - Use a craft knife and cutting mat to cut your chipboard using the altered Moondance Main Stabilizer template. To do this I draw on my measurements and use my cutting ruler and Cricut TrueControl Knife on a cutting mat to cut along the lines I drew. Then I go back over them 5-6 more times which cuts completely through the chipboard.
Insert the cut chipboard into the "pockets" on the left and right side between the exterior and lining fabrics (the center area you did not sew shut). Make sure you have about 1/4 of an inch of lining fabric toward the center of the notepad holder to sew shut the pocket. If not, cut 1/8-1/4 of an inch off the chipboard and test again.
**If you are adding a pen loop, place double-sided sewing tape on the tops of the two ends of a 2-inch-long piece of elastic trim. Peel off the backing and stick the tape to the underside of the left and right-side Lining pieces about 2 inches down from the top. I like to line the top of the elastic up with the top of the left and right- side Pockets.
Use your zipper foot to sew as close as possible to the chipboard and close the openings on both the left and right sides (and secure the pen loop if you are adding one).
All that's left to do is add a notepad, pen and sticky notes!
If you want to add a strap (or spots to hold markers) to the side of the Moondance, I have a tutorial and free template here.
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Happy crafting!
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