DIY Your Own Fauxdori (Traveller’s Notebook)

Not everyone likes to be a writer, but some of us like to write things down especially when it helps in organising their routines, making life easier and speeding up activities before end of the day. As for me, I personally have my own notebook which I can list down ‘THINGS TO DO’ and ‘THINGS TO BUY’. Well, I do feel there’s a need for me to do this although to some people it might not be that important. Talking about having a notebook, I stumbled across a quite trending necessity in the creative industry called as ‘fauxdori’ or ‘traveller’s notebook’ but I would love to just refer it as daily journal since not every of us could afford to travel by daily basis.

You can actually just sew yourself 1, 2 or even a dozen of fauxdori on your own if you are a creative person and kind of DIY freak. Let’s look at how I have done this and even better, selling it for extra bucks on Etsy and Carousell. 

First of all, you will need to buy the essential items before starting to create your own fauxdori or alternatively look for any of the left-over fabrics available in your sewing room, such as unused fat quarters or unwanted clothes from your store room if you are on a tight budget.

• 1 Fat Quarter Fabric (preferably cotton or light-weight linen/canvas)
• 3-4 blank notebooks (with 40-60 pages each)
• 1 metre of thin elastic string/cord (preferably with matching colour)
• 4 pairs of metal eyelets and eyelet puncher
• Decorative elements (i.e. metal charms, buttons, label)
• 1-side adhesive thick interfacing/Pellon for cover lining
• Threads with matching colours

It’s up to you to decide on the size of your fauxdori. Sometimes, you need to pre-measure the fabric with the notebook/insert that you bought. You can also add more notebooks if you prefer thick one. It is easy to add in as many as you want because it will be tied up through the eyelet using an elastic cord.

Step 1)   

First of all, prepare the sewing area, tools and materials for sewing.

Step 2)
Measure, mark and cut the fabric, interfacing fabric and linings.

Step 3)   

Extra fabric from Step 2 can be used as the inside pockets. Fold the fabric into two parts so that your fauxdori will have pockets behind the front and back covers. Fix each sewn pocket to both parts.

Step 4) 

Now put the wrong side of the fabric together and sew them together (top stitch) but leave an opening.

Step 5)
Pull the fabric from inside and press it flat, Iron at medium heat and press hard on each of the corners to flatten up the fabric.

Step 6)
Sew the opening closed and top stitch at every side. Iron again at each of the sides.

Step 7) 

Punch 4 eyelet holes and fix the elastic loops. Add on decorative elements such as buttons, metal charm or ribbon.

Step 8) 
Insert the blank notebooks


In addition, you also can sew 1-2 pouches with matching colours as valued-added items to your fauxdori. The pouches can be used to store scrapbook items such as stickers, colourful pens, markers and etc. Stuff the pockets with these pouches, fasten the elastic string around the cover and ta-da, you are ready to go!

This post is written down by Linda Lazin, the content writer for WhizurlShop’s Blog based on her sewing experience. Your story could be different.