Owl Planner Cover

I thought I'd post this project to give you some eye candy until I get my next project worked on.  This is a planner cover that I was commissioned to make for a very lovely client.  She loves owls and wanted something pretty to cover her day planner.  This is what I made:

It is a quilted cover that slides onto the planner's front and back covers.  The owl fabric was so lovely that I chose to recreate it as an applique in the center of the planner's front.  I cheated a little... the eyes are cut from a black and white polka-dot fabric!

This is the interior of the planner.  You can see the two panels under which the planner's front and back covers slide, as well as the quilting detail.  The whole planner is bound like a quilt would be bound, though I stitched it into place by machine on the back and hand hemmed to the front.  This is so that the dimensions of the inside of the planner were not compromised.

Also note that I stiffened the panels that hold in place the planner's front and back covers, I figured they would do a better job if they weren't floppy.  I wrapped a piece of duck canvas inside a cover of the green fabric and stitched that in place with several parallel lines of stitching.  I then basted them in place, and they were sewn in place when I sewed the binding on.

I don't really have a pattern for this project, though I did take notes so that I can do it again in the future if needed.  The basic steps aren't that hard.

1. Know the dimensions of your planner.  How tall and wide the covers are, and how thick the spine is.

2. From this you can determine the size your planner cover will need to be.  Don't forget to add seam allowances for the binding!

3. Have fun playing with the design of your planner cover!