DIY Quilted Fabric Calendar

Instructions for Crafting a Quilted Calendar:

1. Cut two 17.5 x 19-inch pieces, one 21.5 x 23-inch piece, and two 3 x 3-inch squares. 

2. Choose one of your 17.5 x 19-inch pieces to be the pocket on the back of your calendar and press it in half. You can also press the 3 x 3-inch squares into triangles.

3. Using your water soluble pen, mark the top of your calendar, the other 17.5 x 19-inch piece, with lines.
   
   Starting horizontally, mark a line 3/4-inch from the top. The next line is 1.5 inches below that, then a line 2 inches lower, make four more lines with 2-inch gaps between each.
   
   Vertically, make a line 3/4-inch over, then a 2-inch gap, 1/2-inch gap, 2-inch gap, and 1/2-inch gap, for the rest of your lines. 

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4. Once you finish your lines, you are going to put the batting inside. Put your backing down face up, your batting in between, and your top will go on top. Use basting spray to baste it. 
   
   Note: You can use your preferred method of basting.

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5. Use the soft fuzzy part of your Velcro and line up with each of your lines. Cut the Velcro to fit the lines. ​

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6. Stitch the Velcro on top using your sewing machine.
   
   Go all the way back off the top of the quilt and start stitching. Hold your Velcro as you come up to sew it. 
   
   Stitch all the way to the end and off the edge of your top.​
   
   Note: If the Velcro tries to move simply raise your walking foot, put it on top of the Velcro, lower it, and continue to stitch.

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7. Add a second line of stitching below your first stitched line to keep your Velcro securely in place. 

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8. Repeat with all your Velcro pieces.

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9. Trim off all the edges by lining up your ruler and cutting off the excess with your rotary cutter.

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10. Add the pocket to the back of your calendar. Turn your quilt over, and match up the pocket piece (fold side up) with all of your raw edges.
    
    Base with a large stitch about 1/8-inch away from the edge. Base all the way around. Then, bind it with whatever method you like.

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11. You can use a plain fabric to make your squares that the numbers on your calendar will go over. Or, for special occasions, you can use decorative fabric. 
    
    Cut your fabric into 2.5-inch strips, and your fusible fleece into 2-inch strips. Then, sub-cut your fabric into 2.5-inch squares of fabric and 2-inch squares of fusible fleece. 

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12. Use the hook part of your Velcro, and cut that into 2-inch segments.

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13. Find the fusible side of your fusible fleece and fuse it to the wrong side of your squares (half of your squares will need this).
    
    Leave a 1/4-inch margin all the way around the squares for when you fuse it down.

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14. Take the hook portion of your Velcro and sew it onto the back of your fabric, measuring 1/2-inch down.
    
    So, from end to end and then repeat on the bottom.
    
    Note: A regular sewing foot works but a walking foot makes this process easier.

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15. Place a plain fabric square right side down on top of the Velcro on the Velcro-sewn square, leaving the fusible fleece on one side and the wrong side of the fabric on the other side.
    
    Sew that piece of fabric onto the Velcro piece and stitch all the way around with 1/4-inch seam for each side.
    
    However, leave a small hole on one of the ends for turning the sewn square inside out.

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16. Clip the corners of the square to reduce the bulk, but only slightly. Do not clip any of your stitching.

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17. Using that hole you left when you were sewing the edges to turn this piece right side out. Grab a dull-ended object and poke out your corners from the inside.

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18. To close up that hole, first, fold in the edges of the hole and finger press until it looks good. Place it under your presser foot, and edge stitch all the way around (1/8-inch from the edge).
    
    When you get to an end, put your needle down, presser foot up, turn 90 degrees, and continue to stitch until finished.

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19. Center the number on top of the square and iron the number onto the square. 

20. Repeat this process for all of your numbers as well as the months. When repeating this process for your months use a long rectangle to fit the name of the month on it, instead of the small square. 

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21. Keep all of the extra months or days inside the pocket on the back of the calendar.

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