Part 3 of Our Special Feature - Journals
A Series Project by Janet Carija Brandt

“Journal-mania” continues to sweep the creative world, as the journal designs themselves become as elaborate and expressive as the thoughts that are recorded in them! Janet’s third project in the JOURNAL series combines the dual passions of quilting and journaling!

Review Part 1 – Basic Journal
Review Part 2 – Bound Journal

MATERIALS
2 pieces wool, contrasting colors, 9” x 19” each, for inside and outside of cover
2 yard green cotton
½ yard red cotton
½ yard cream cotton
3 fat quarters of coordinating colors
Fusible web product
Pigma pens
1 button

NOTE
Like the two journals that came before, this project can have the “pages” filled before or after. In this case, the pages are the individual blocks of the quilt and the ‘before’ means before the quilt top is put together.

Cut 8 red squares 6 ¾” each
Cut 8 green squares 6 ¾” each

Before you start playing with the fabric, take some time to see how this quilt will fold up into a journal. Start with any size square piece of paper. Fold then cut according to the diagram.

This is how your quilt/journal will ‘read’. I found it helpful to number the pages and make little design notes on each page, such as which side is the top of the page. Consider if you only want your project to read as a journal or only as a quilt or if it doesn’t matter to you. I think the last option is really the most interesting.

Fuse and stitch in place various design elements on each block. Be sure to include some of the cream on each block since this is the easiest to write on. The entire quilt top could be a light color fabric with no other design, just what you write or draw after the quilt/journal is complete. A simple drawing of the sample project is shown as an example or starting point for your own piece.

Cut a 29” square for the quilt back. Arrange the blocks on top of the wrong side of the quilt back fabric. Leave a scant 1/8” space between each block. (You should see the wrong side of the backing fabric in these spaces) Fuse the blocks to the backing. Carefully cut your quilt backing between the blocks as shown in the diagram. Trim the outside edge. Add a machine blanket stitch around the edge of each block and each cut edge.

Fold up your quilt/journal in the same sequence that you folded your paper mock-up. *Always start folding from page 1.

Fuse the 2 pieces of wool together. Cut to size and shape in diagram. Carefully cut slits at the four corners, add button and cut slit on tab all as shown in diagram.

NEXT: Part 4 – Accordion Journal / Baby Growth Chart