Crafts   |   How to Sew a Cute Doodle Journal Gift Set - Easy Giftable Beginner Sewing Project Idea

How to Sew a Cute Doodle Journal Gift Set - Easy Giftable Beginner Sewing Project Idea

By a Bug & a Bean | Posted on 2025-10-17

Learn how to sew this cute doodle journal and corner bookmark set, an easy beginner sewing gift idea for teens. Follow our instructions to make your own on-the-go travel journal kit.

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I loved making this journal set for my 8 year old daughter! She loves writing notes and doodling and was excited to receive this little on the go kit. This project is great for absolute beginners and doesn't take much fabric to complete. Some extras I used to make this project extra special are colorful plastic snaps to keep the journal closed, and pink heart shaped carabiner hooks to clip the journal onto a backpack or purse.

Supplies

  • 1 Unlined Notebook (4.3 x 5.5 inches)
  • 2 Pieces of Cotton Fabric (main journal cover front & back) - 10 inches long by 7 inches tall (for the front and back of the notebook cover.
  • 2 Pieces of Cotton Fabric (side pockets right & left) - 8 inches wide by 7 inches tall (folded in half to measure 4 inches wide by 7 inches tall
  • 1 Piece of Cotton Fabric (pen/pencil pocket left) - 5 inches wide by 8 inches tall (folded in half to measure 5 inches wide by 4 inches tall
  • 1 Piece of Cotton Fabric (bookmark pocket right) - 5 inches width by 4 inches tall (folded in half to measure 5 inches wide by 2 inches tall
  • 4 Pieces of Cotton Fabric (1 for keychain loop, 3 for corner bookmark) - 3 x 3 inch squares
  • Heart Shaped Carabiner Clip
  • Plastic Snaps & Tool or Velcro

New to sewing? Check out or sewing essentials guide. These products are used often in my tutorials and you can see them being used in my video tutorials. Stock up on supplies now so you have all the supplies you need to sew a variety of projects!

Instructions for the Journal Cover

  1. Start by building the pen pocket.
    • Take one of the side pocket pieces of fabric and make sure it is folded with the fold on the right. Folded, it should measure 7 inches tall and 4 inches wide.
    • Take the fabric for the pen pocket left and make sure it is folded with the fold on top. Folded, it should measure 4 inches tall and 5 inches wide.
    • Align the raw left edge with the raw left edge of the side pocket piece.
    • Align the bottom raw edge with the bottom raw edge of the pocket piece. The right side will hang over 1 inch of the folded pocket fabric.
    • Fold the raw edge of the pen pocket over twice to hide the raw edge and pin it to the side pocket piece.
    • With chalk, draw lines in 1 inch intervals (these will be to store the pens/pencils).
    • Sew down each line (from top of folded pen pocket to bottom).
    • Sew down the entire edge of the pocket fold, catching the fold of the pen pocket.
  2. Build the Bookmark Pocket
    • Take the remaining side pocket piece of fabric and make sure it is folded with the fold on the left. Folded, it should measure 7 inches tall and 4 inches wide.
    • Take the fabric for the bookmark pocket right and make sure it is folded with the fold on top. Folded, it should measure 2 inches tall and 5 inches wide.
    • Align the raw right edge with the raw right edge of the side pocket piece.
    • Align the bottom raw edge with the bottom raw edge of the pocket piece. The left side will hang over 1 inch of the folded pocket fabric.
    • Fold the raw edge of the pen pocket over twice to hide the raw edge and pin it to the side pocket piece.
    • Sew down the entire edge of the pocket fold, catching the fold of the bookmark pocket.
  3. Make the keychain loop
    • Take one of the 3 x 3 inch squares and fold in half, iron.
    • Unfold. Take one edge and fold to center fold line, iron.
    • Repeat with other edge.
    • With two edges folded in, fold in half again to cover raw edges.
    • Sew a line down each side of the keychain loop.
  4. Attach all pieces and sew
    • Lay one piece of the main fabric right side up (10 inch wide by 7 inch tall)
    • Place the pen pocket aligned with the left raw edge (right side up, fold toward center)
    • Place the bookmark pocket aligned with the right raw edge (right side up, fold toward center)
    • Fold the keychain loop in half and pin raw edges to the top right.
    • Finally, place the remaining piece of main fabric right side down. Clip all around your journal cover to keep everything in place.
    • With quarter inch seams, sew around, leaving a small gap on the right pocket for turning.
  5. Turn and Top Stitch
    • Using the gap on the right, pull the fabric through the gap and turn your project right side out. Iron all around your project.
    • While closing the turning gap, sew along the edges around your entire journal cover.
  6. Attach Extras
    • Using a tool, attach plastic snaps to the center of your journal cover. This will let you keep your journal shut when not in use.
    • Attach a cute heart carabiner hook to the keychain loop so you can clip the journal cover to your backpack or purse.

Instructions for the Bookmark

For the journal cover, we made a small pocket to hold a bookmark. These are instructions to make an extremely simple 5 minute corner bookmark without any turning needed. For this, you just need the remaining 3 cotton squares, and fabric pinking shears.

  1. Fold one of the squares in half diagonally and sew along the edge of the diagonal line.
  2. Stack the squares with wrong sides together (The pattern side will face down on the bottom square and up on the top square).
  3. Align the top and right raw edges of the diagonal square with the top and right edges of the top most square.
  4. Using a quarter edge allowance, sew all the way around the entire square.
  5. To keep edges from fraying, cut around the entire bookmark with pinking shears.

That's it! I hope this was a fun a simple project idea that you can give as a gift. With the holiday season around the corner, it is a special gift to be able to use your time and sewing talents to make a personalized gift for a friend or family member. Reach out by email or social media if you have any questions about this project.

View the Video Tutorial for this Project

Do you want to visually see how to put this project together? Watch our video tutorial on TikTok as we sew this project. Follow our account for more sewing project ideas, tips, and tutorials.

@abugandabean This cute gift idea is beginner friendly and can be whipped up in minutes. Step by step instructions and measurements on abugandabean.com. #sewingtutorial #sewingproject #easysewing #handmadewithlove #sewingtok #sewingideas #diycrafts #crafttok #sewingfun #sewwithme #craftymom #craftymoms #beginnersewing #sewingforbeginners #learntosew #sewingmywayto10k #fyp #craftyideas ♬ pop violin instrumental(1371630) - KAZU