TUTORIAL - make your own Writers Compendium!

 

Back in 2018 I designed a Writer's Compendium for my Stitchery Club members. At the time I was being very intentional about sending cards, writing letters, and generally staying in contact with family and friends a long way away. Having a pretty and useful Compendium inspired me to write regularly, as everything I needed was all in one place. 

This is the original Writers Compendium from 2018...

I named the stitchery design on the cover "Writing Letters" and to this day it's one of my all-time favourite Elefantz patterns, but I don't remember ever having it in my Etsy Shop...until now. It's in there today if you're interested. 

The inside has pockets for a writing pad, stamps, cards and envelopes, and a narrow pocket in the spine for a pen or pencil...all you need to write letters and send cards, in one place. 

In the last few months, 8yo Cully May has been writing letters to her Aunty Kezzie, my eldest daughter, and it brings a lot of joy to both Kezzie and Cully May to keep in touch this way. So it occured to me that I should give this Writers Compendium to our precious granddaughter, and restock it with notepaper, cards, stamps etc. 

With that idea swimming around in my mind, I was inspired to make another Compendium for myself, and to share it with you...as my first tutorial of the year. What do you think? Would a Writer's Compendium be a project you'd like to sew for yourself, or as an addition to your gift cupboard?

Here's how I put together my new version. For the front cover background I used more of the recycled linen sheet from this year's free BOM blocks. In my stash I had one of those mini-charm packs of 2.5" squares so I used a few of those to make the 2" paper pieced circles. For one of the circles I chose the same linen fabric as the background and embroidered a postmark - ties in lovely with the writing theme.

They were appliqued within the traced border (7.5" x 10") in three rows of three, and then the block was trimmed before I finished the steps to make another Writer's Compendium. 

Because I wanted that centre postmark to pop out more, I fused a 2" circle of Parlan behind the fabric before stitching. The two circles were traced with a Frixion pen so they'd disappear after ironing. 

The other fabrics were in my stash, some from 15 years ago, another from five years ago, and one from last year. I use up what I have, and encourage you to do the same. After all, when we go to meet Jesus we shan't be taking any fabric with us so why not use it up now? Enjoy what you have and make pretty (and useful) things for yourself, your home, and as gifts or donations. No buying guilt involved. :-)

In my original Writer's Compendium, I used a thick fusible Pellon to give the compendium some structure, but in my remake I used Shape To Create Foam from our local Australia/NZ Spotlight store. It's fusible on both sides, and is much cheaper than Soft & Stable. As we have to watch our pennies this year, I was very happy to find this, and though I struggled with it at first (whilst making a large pencil case for Cully May), I have now mastered it...just needed to adjust the way it was used. 

The inside of the original Compendium has three larghe pockets, and a small one for stamps. I needed the largest of those pockets to slip my writing pad in, as it was bigger than those I find today. With this new version of the Compendium I only needed two large pockets and the small one for stamps...and I added some lace edging and a vintage button as well, just because I love them. 

This new Writer's Compendium is so lovely that I cannot wait to begin writing letters and sending cards!

I have prepared you a printable tutorial (with that little postmark stitchery template for tracing) that you can save to your computer and never lose. But I will also set up a page on my blog for the tutorial, in case you'd rather see it from here. The links are below...

Use the link below to download the complete tutorial...

DOWNLOAD The Writer's Compendium Tutorial

Use the link below to see the tutorial on its own page...

The Writer's Compendium Tutorial (visual on the blog) 

A few years ago I made a Writers Compendium for my young friend Emily, a mum of 4 littlies, over in Western Australia. She writes lovely letters and cards so I thought this to be the perfect 'useful' gift for her...and she really loved it.

I featured one of THESE little faith-filled postcards for the cover, altered the stamp pocket, and added lace to one of the larger pockets. 

I added a ribbon closure as well, as with small children I thought that would prevent things falling out if they decided to investigate. 

I hope you make one for yourself, and a few more for gifts...its exciting to find writing stationary to fill the pockets, or make a set of homemade cards to add. Buy a set of postage stamps from the post office and add a pretty pen - such a useful gift! 

And remember, you can use one of your UFO stitcheries for the cover, or simply use fabric with no stitchery needed, as long as the outer cover measures 10" x 16". Let your creativity take over and I assure you that once your first Compendium is made, the next one will be much easier and you'll feel far more confident to tweak fabrics, covers, and trims. Each each one will be unique, just like you! 

When you download the pattern please be sure to read the Extra Information at the end of the tutorial/pattern, as I have some tweaks to share, especially when using the Shape To Create Foam. 

Also, please tag me on Instagram when you make your own Writer's Compendium. I'd love to see it! 

That's it for today. It has taken me two whole days to do all this, and I'm parched for a good cup of tea and some time to plan more Compendiums. Perhaps a sewing one next time?????? I'm so tempted. ;-)

God bless, I'll be back in a couple of days with news of this past week...like the fun day I had with Cully May and Rafaella at the movies on Tuesday! My first time at the cinema since 2011. 

Hugs and prayers, 

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