INSTRUCTIONS:
- Cut out the following rectangles from the fashion fabric:
ONE: 10 1/2" x 17" for outer covering.
TWO: 10 1/2" x 8 1/2" for the inside sleeves
TWO: 12" x 7" for the closure flap
ONE: 6 1/2" x 16" for inside pocket
ONE: 9" x 19" for back envelope
- Cut 7" square of clear vinyl for see-thru pocket.
- Zig zag stitch around all raw edges of fashion fabric pieces. If sandwiching fabrics together to make the fashion fabric, make sure all edges are even and use multiple zig zag or overcast stitches if you have them on your machine.
Creating See-Thru Pocket
IMPORTANT: Work with each rectangle of fabric separately before sewing them together.
- Wrap bias tape all around the outer edges of the 7" vinyl piece, temporarily securing bias tape with pins. Stitch through bias tape and the vinyl, neatly mitering the corners. Remove pins as you sew.
Creating Inside Pocket
 - With right side facing down, fold up 7" of inside pocket rectangle leaving flap up. Cut, then sew a 6 1/2" piece of bias tape on the top edge of the folded up 7" pocket.
- Sew 6 1/2" of hook and loop tape just below the bias tape, according to manufacturer's directions. Sew other side of 6 1/2" hook and loop tape to inside of the top edge of the inside pocket flap, 3/8" down from top (see illustration 1). If you wish to do any decorative stitching on the front of the pocket's flap, do it now: Straight stitch on the top edge of hook and loop tape, but instead of sewing across the bottom edge, use a decorative stitch, sewing from the right side of flap. This avoids having to coordinate the stitching line and decorative stitch with one another.
 - With inside pocket still folded up 7", pin and then sew bias tape all around the inside pocket, carefully covering all edges. When sewing bias tape on the top edge of the flap, overlap the hook and loop tape and stitch "in the ditch" through both tapes (see illustration 2).
Creating Back Envelope
- With the right side of the 9" x 19" rectangle for back envelope facing down, fold up 7" from bottom. sew a 9" piece of bias tape to top edge of folded up envelope, as with the inside pocket.
- Sew a 9" piece of hook and loop tape 3" down from top edge of folded up envelope, according to manufacturer's directions.
- Sew other side of 9" strip of hook and loop tape to inside top edge of envelope flap, 3/8" down from top.
- If you wish to do any decorative stitch on the front of the envelope flap, do it now: sew a straight stitch on the top edge of hook and loop tape to attach it, but instead of sewing across the bottom of hook and loop tape, use a decorative stitch, sewing from the right side of flap and checking to make sure it is catching the lower end of the hook and loop tape. Several parallel lines of decorative stitching are very attractive.
- Sew bias tape all around the envelope, keeping flap free and the envelope still folded up 7". When sewing bias tape on the top edge of the flap, overlap the hook and loop tape and stitch "in the ditch" through both tapes.
Creating Closure Flap
- Placing the Pattern for the closure flap on the corresponding rectangle, trace around pattern and cut out two pieces.
- With right sides together, sew the two pieces all around, using a 3/8" seam allowance, leaving about 3" of flat side of the flap unsewn and open, to avoid unnecessary bulk.
- To do the decorative stitching, turn flap inside out after sewing pieces together. Sew a decorative stitch all around the closure flap, making sure it is consistently parallel to the outer edge of the flap.
- Add your initials to the front of the flap by apply Iron-on Insta Letters on flap according to manufacturer's instructions.
 - Attach with pins or baste the unsewn end of closure flap to the back of the back envelope, at the juncture where the closure flap and the back envelope meet on the inside when the envelope is open. Leave 9 1/2" of the decorated flap sticking out, making sure it is centered and even, and that the decorated side of flap is up (see illustration 3). (To insert decorative trim all around the flap as in the victorian style cover, sew a trim all around the outer edge of one of flap pieces, right sides together. Stitch the two pieces of closure flap together, right sides together, with the trim inside. Turn them inside out, and the trim will appear on outside).
Creating Inside Sleeve
 - Cut two 10 1/2" pieces of bias tape and stitch to one of long ends of each inside sleeve rectangle. The taped sides should face each other with about a 2" gap in the middle.
- Attach the D rings (which will hold the shoulder straps) at this time, in the following manner: Cut four 6" pieces of bias tape and pull each piece through a D ring (see illustration 4).
 Sew together the ends of the tape using a 1/4" hem and evenly sew tape to each corner of the inside sleeves, 1" from each corner (see illustration 5).
- On left sleeve, once the D rings are in place, sew down three sides of the see-thru pocket to the left side of inside sleeve, leaving the top unsewn and stitching around the outer edge of the tape, parallel to the previous stitch line. Back stitch at the top corners of the pocket. Although it is unlikely to happen when book is closed, if you are concerned about papers falling out of the see-thru pocket, cut a 4" x 7" piece of fashion fabric to form a little flap on the top. Sew bias tape around it on bottom and sides. Sew the raw side, right sides together 1" down from the top, to the left inside sleeve, making sure it overlaps the top of the see-thru pocket. Sew or glue (with Velcro adhesive) hook and loop tape to the inside of flap and also to the top of the see-thru pocket. This will take the place of labor intensive zipper installation all around the cover, simplifying the project.
- On right sleeve, stitch down the inside pocket to the right inside sleeve on three sides, leaving top flap free. Stitch "in the ditch".
- When closed, the two hook and loops, already sewn on the inside pocket, should meet with a minimum of "gap" on the sides, creating a secure pocket.
Attaching Each Piece To The Outer Covering
 - To attach back envelope/closure flap to outer covering, open up the large outer covering rectangle, right side up, and sew the back envelope, with closure flap behind it, sticking out, to the outer covering by sewing through the point where stitched, and also down the sides of the back envelope, again stitching "in the ditch" (see illustration 6).
- To attach inside sleeves to outer covering: with bias tape-covered side of sleeves facing each other, and see thru pocket and inside pocket both facing up and stitched on, baste each sleeve to the left and right outer edges of the wrong side of the outer covering, top, sides and bottom, leaving a 2" gap in the center to allow the binder to enter.
 - Now that the see thru pocket, inner sleeves, closure flap and back envelope have been sewn or basted to the outer covering, it is time to sew Wrights bias tape all around the outer covering, pinning and/or basting the tape on before sewing by machine (see illustration 7). When machine sewing, be careful to create neat and consistent corners. They can be mitered if desired (on both sides), or the corners may be cut to a "rounded" shape, giving it a more casual look which may be easier to execute. (It is this author's opinion that any corner which looks neat is perfectly fine, as long as it is consistent throughout). TIP: Tiny "imperfections" can easily be disguised with a well placed button. OPTIONAL: Top stitch an embroidery stitch all around the bias tape if desired. Choose an embroidery stitch which is narrow enough to fit around the edge and does not overlap onto the cover itself.
Final Touches
- Bring closure flap to the front. Sew the two decorative buttons on the front cover, one close to the tip of the closure flap and the other at the far left of the front cover.
- Sew a 6" strip of the 1/8" wide elastic at the end, making a circle. Twist it into a "figure 8" configuration. Secure one end of the loop to the button on the flap, sewing it by hand with needle and thread to the top layer of closure flap. Loop the other end of the "figure 8" around the other button on the cover to keep it closed when not in use. Tie Wrights small tassel to the center of the "figure 8". It will dangle and move as you walk.
- To make shoulder straps, place your new date book cover and purse by your side and decide how long you would like your straps to be. Cut two pieces of the bias tape to this length plus 8" for turning under hems. Sew bias tape together lengthwise to make a virtually indestructible shoulder strap.
- Attach straps to the D rings by pulling each end through each ring, turning up a small hem, then sewing it together on the inside.
- Place the 9" x 7" binder in the cover, which should fit fairly snugly over the book. Fill the binder with Day Runner® or similar calendar pages, address pages, and other inserts which are available for you to use. These inserts, although designed for the store-bought, expensive date books seen everywhere, will fit perfectly in your new, hand-made date book and purse.
Variations and Tips
- Do not fill up your new purse/date book cover with bulky items such as large hair brushes, makeup bags, etc. The purse is much more attractive when not "bulked up". The inside pocket is perfect for your checkbook. The back envelope can hold a lot: a lipstick, comb, small change purse, pens and other items no thicker than 1" - 2".
- If you wish to make your shoulder straps "detachable", there is a product on the market called "swivel eye bolt snap" which is only 1 5/8" in length.
- If your sewing machine does not have decorative stitches, narrow, flat decorative trims can be sewn or glued on where instructions call for a decorative stitch and it will look just as pretty.
- Although I have thrown my date book cover in the washing machine and dryer without it falling apart, it would look new longer if washed by hand in Woolite or a similar product. Rinse and hang to dry.
-There are other devices to keep the closure flap closed: Side release buckles can be found at Jo-Ann Fabrics and hardware stores in 1" size. They can be sewn on the front cover and the closure flap with more Wrights bias tape or grosgrain ribbon.
- After some use, the ink from writing on documents stored in the see-thru pocket might adhere to the clear vinyl, especially in warm weather. In that case, "goo-gone" or a similar product applied with a soft cloth is very successful in removing it.
- Enjoy!
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Date Book Cover and Purse
