File Folder

 

 This little experiment was a custom order: my sister asked for a stylish folder to transport lose leaves. I decided to go for a paisley fabric with contrasting bias tape.

Materials for a folder that will hold letter sized paper:

• shell and a lining piece of 18.5" x 13" each
• pocket piece 18.5" x 7"
• interfacing 18.5"x 13" 
• bias tape
• elastic for closure

 I cut all pieces with rounded edges as this makes adding the bias tape so much easier. First step was to fuse the interfacing to the shell piece.

Then I prepared the pocket piece by sewing bias tape along one long end and pinning the pocket piece to the lining.

 For the closure, I added the elastic to the shell and backstitched a couple of times to hold in in place securely. The backstitching is close enough to the edge to disappear under the bias tape later.

 Time to assemble the layers, the shell and lining fabric go wrong sides together. I basted the around the perimeter to keep the pocket, lining and shell aligned. Then I added the bias tape to encase all raw edges.

The final step was to sew a vertical line down the middle through all layers. This divides the pocket and helps folding down the middle. And that was it!