Photo Album Cover

I recently found (a long story, this is the short word for it) about 90 old black and white family photos. I ordered archival photo sleeves and a 3-ring binder for storing the originals (after I scanned them all and stored the digitized version my computer).  I was really disappointed that the binder was an ugly black color with a slick finish and that the album would not close completely.

So, the old creative mind got busy and I thought of covering it with fabric with a Velcro tab. I found some scraps of fabric in my Amy Butler stash, some Velcro and some polyester batting.  Here's the result:

And here is how I did it!

I laid the album opened on some kraft paper and drew lines 5/8 inch bigger all around.  I cut out two pieces this size in the main fabric.  I used a scrap doubled to make the tab in a coordinating fabric.  I used the same coordinating fabric to cut pieces almost the same size as the front and back (without the spine) and pressed those in half.  Cut one large piece of batting the size of the entire album cover and another small piece for the tab.

Start sewing the tab by attaching the polyester batting to the back of one piece with a 1/4 inch seam.

Then make a sandwich of the front and back with right sides together and the batting on top of one piece. 

Be sure to leave one side open for turning.

Trim the corners and edges and turn the tab right sides out.  

Sew a piece of Velcro on the sewn end opposite the open end.

Sandwich the batting, the album cover front right side up, and the side pockets at the two ends.  

Sew all the way around.  

Please notice: The pockets should be pressed wrong sides together and right sides showing on top of the sandwich. I had to rip the seam out and do it over--but you'll see how this became a plus shortly.

Sandwich

Side pockets on the ends (right sides showing this time).

Sew through all layers, all the way around with a 1/4 inch seam.

Don't forget to place your tab centered on the back cover between the side pocket and the back fabric.

The front cover should have a piece of Velcro centered and about 1 inch in from the seam.

Before I ripped the side pocket off and re-pressed it right side out to sew back on, 

I noticed the pattern which I had centered on the front.

Why not stitch around the flowers frame and quilt the front cover?

So I did!  All three large patterns on the front and back and spine.  Nice touch!

And a good save for that mistake and the time it took to correct it.

The final sandwich has front with batting, side pockets, tabs and Velcro 

and the back cover with right sides together.  Sew 1/4 inch

but not all the way around.  Leave an opening on the bottom so that you can turn the fabrics right side out.

Don't forget to trim the corners first for neater corners on the finished product!

Now the old plastic album looks nice--and stays closed to protect the old photos.

That's my Dad and his Mother, my grandmother Nana, about 1930.