Personal Progress Packet Tutorial

I promised this tutorial over a year ago.  And well, better late than never, right?  This personal progress packet is really a pretty simple project and requires only 1 1/2 fat quarters so if you catch them on sale, you can make them for pretty cheap too.

The personal progress packet holds all the booklets needed for Personal Progress, plus True to the Faith and For the Strength of Youth.  There’s even room for a pen!  Pretty handy, right?
Let’s get started then.  Forgive all the pictures, but sometimes I think they do a better job explaining the steps than I do.

Supplies Needed for your Personal Progress Packet:

Ribbon not shown

Fabrics- 3 pieces cut to 9″ X 19″ (outside, inside and pocket) They can be all the same or all different.  For this example I did two of the paisley and one of the medallion
Felt- 1 piece cut 8″X 18″ (you can cut this slightly larger,  it’s a bit easier, but will have a little more bulk in the seams
Ribbon- 2 pieces cut approx. 13″
Any embellishments for the front

Assembling your Personal Progress Packet: 

Take the piece for your pocket and press in half, wrong sides together on the 9″ length.  Your finished piece should be 4 1/2″ X 19″

Add any embellishments to the front of the packet.  In this example I used velvet ric rac from American Crafts- yummy stuff!

Now we’re going to build the sandwich for our packet.  First lay down the inside lining of the packet, right side up.  Line up the raw edges of the pocket piece with the bottom of the lining.

Place the exterior of the personal progress packet, right side down on top of the pocket piece.  Pay attention to where the embellishments are- they should be on the left side of the packet.  Finally, lay the felt piece on top of everything.  Pin around the edges.

The final step before we get ready to sew, is to place one of our ribbons between the layers.  Line it up with the top of the pocket, make sure it’s tucked inside and won’t get caught in any of the seams.

Sew around the entire personal progress packet, using a 1/2″ seam allowance.  Try to catch the felt along at least one short side and one long side to help hold it in place (it will be a scant amount that gets caught, but it makes turning easier.)  Leave an opening along the bottom for turning (marked by the arrows).  Clip all the corners and turn.

Press all the seams flat, turn under the opening so the edges are even and top stitch around the entire packet, closing the hole.

Now we’re going to stitch in the pockets.  From the left side measure over 5 1/2″ and again 1″.  Sew down these seams, backstitching at the top, 2-3 times to reinforce the pocket so it doesn’t pull out with use.  From the right side measure 5 1/2″, this will leave an opening in the middle just shy of 5 1/2″.  Sew down this seam, again reinforcing the top of the pocket.

The last step for your personal progress packet is to add the final ribbon piece.  Turn the packet over.  Take the ribbon and fold it over twice so no raw edges are exposed.  Line it up with the pocket seam on the opposite side of the already placed ribbon.  Lining up your seam with the existing pocket seam, sew down the ribbon 2-3 times to reinforce it.

Now fill your personal progress packet, fold it and enjoy!

Linked up to Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up party.