Oilcloth Post-It Note Holder - Easy Sewing Tutorial

Use this easy sewing tutorial to make a post-it note holder from oilcloth! It makes a great gift for teachers and co-workers!

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Handmade teacher gifts for Valentine’s Day seems like a great idea when you’ve got one kid with one teacher.  But when you’ve got several kids, and some of them have more than one teacher, it’s easy to half a dozen teacher s on your gift list.

This post-it note holder makes a great teacher gift, even when you’ve got a large teacher gift list!  It’s the perfect size to toss into a purse or tote.

It’s made from oilcloth so there’s no need for finishing raw edges.  You could use faux leather or a high quality felt if you prefer.   A square of plastic canvas sewn into the back of this post-it note holder to give it body.

The closure on this post-it note holder is simply a band of fold over elastic that you can flip to the back to open, or to the front to keep the flap closed.  Finish it off with a felt heart, or maybe some decorative buttons.  Or leave it plain if you want to keep it super simple.

I love using fold over elastic for a closure! See how I use it on a simple business card wallet, and as a page holder in a handy composition book cover.

You could make a whole stack of the post-it note holder gifts in an evening and have handmade thoughtful gifts for all the teachers on your list, plus some to give to friends!

Materials

3.5” x 19” oilcloth (or faux leather or high quality felt)

3” x 3” plastic canvas

3.5” fold over elastic (use the thinner type used for hair accessories, not the thicker plush type used for cloth diapers)

Washi tape or masking tape

Felt heart or other embellishment

Make the Post-It Note Holder

Fold the oilcloth in half the short way so it measures 3.5” x 9”.  Finger press to crease.

Top stitch close to the folded edge.

Fold the folded edge over another 2 ¼”.  Finger press to crease.

Top stitch close to the folded edge.

Turn the entire piece over.  Place the fold over elastic across the piece, 1” from the stitched (folded) edge.  Use washi tape or masking tape to hold it in place.  (The elastic tends to slide on the slippery oilcloth surface so tape close to the edge to minimize slipping.)

Baste the fold over elastic in place at the sides, stitching close to the edges.  Stitch only through the one layer.  (You’ll need to open it out while sewing.)

Remove the tape.  Turn the piece back over, so the elastic is now on the back.

Insert the plastic canvas between the two back layers, then stitch across the oilcloth 3 ¼” from the stitched (folded) edge.  Use washi tape or masking tape to mark your stitch line.

Tip:  Use washi tape or masking tape to mark a straight line across the oilcloth. 

Trim any uneven edges.

Stitch around the three unsewn sides 1/8” from the edge.

Insert post-in note in the pocket.  Fold the cover over, and flip the elastic around to the front to secure.

Stitch and/or glue a heart embellishment on the elastic.