My First Checkbook Cover

I made my first checkbook cover this week.  It's one of those little projects I've wanted to try for awhile.

I used Rebecca Mae's checkbook cover tutorial.  The fabric is New Chevron from the Botankia Collection by Paula Prass for Michael Miller.

It was so easy that this won't be the last cover I make, especially since I had a little something go wrong, which I didn't notice until too late.

I was using heavyweight Pellon fusible interfacing and the directions didn't say how long to press it.  After my first pass, it wasn't sticking very well, so I tried again.  It seemed fused to me, but after I turned the cover inside out and did my topstitching, I noticed that one corner felt a bit thin.  The interfacing had folded back, probably during the turning-inside-out process.

Next time, I'll do one of two things differently to solve that problem.  The directions called for interfacing that was 1/2" smaller than the fabric, to reduce bulk.  So I probably should stitch around the interfacing to secure it to the fabric.  

Alternatively, I could cut the interfacing and fabric the same size, and since you have to sew around the edges before turning, that would do the trick, too. 

This is why I needed a new checkbook cover.  I bought a new purse and I wanted everything that went into it to be coordinated.  If I only had black or brown purses, I could move the contents from one to the other.  But all the purses I buy are bright colors or patterns, and that means lots of opportunities for new wallets, etc.

New turquoise cell phone holder in the lower left, always a good combination with coral / orange.

Vintage kimono segment in the background.

The little flamingo purse is just for fun; I don't use it.  But the zippered California "woodie" leather pouch was purchased just for the new purse.  It's a "blender" accessory, just like we use blender fabrics in quilts.

I was able to reuse my mustard-colored wallet, because that color is in the car pouch.  The chevron fabric was the only thing in my stash that tied all the colors together.  

All this makes it quite exciting every time I delve into my new purse.