Battleships folders - a tutorial

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Just recently I've rediscovered playing Battleships through teaching the game to my girls.  Now I'm not talking about the new fangled computer version, but the good old-fashioned pencil and paper version! See this post on my other blog - Be Our Best for more details about the game itself!

Anyway - playing this game again, inspired me to make some special little folders to hold the papers in and that the girls can use for playing the game!

I decided to shy away from the usual pinks and purples I work with for the girls..

And here's one in action! (they had to play a game as soon as they saw their new little folders!)

There is a little slide in pocket for a pencil in the centre - and space to store finished games or extra notes..

They're nice and simple to make - and could be used for things other than battleships too - like wordsearches, sudoku, crosswords, or just plain paper for writing or drawing!

First the materials:

2 pieces of stiff card - 14 x 22 cm (5.5 x 8.75")

1 piece outer fabric - 34 x 24 cm (13.5 x 9.5")

1 piece inner fabric - 34 x 24 cm (13.5 x 13.5")

1 piece inner fabric- 34 x 12 cm (13.5 x 4.75")

1 piece inner fabric - 16 cm square (6.25" square)

1 piece each inner and outer fabric for flap - 10 x 6 cm (4 x 2.25")

sew in velcro 6 cm (2.25")

First of all, attach one piece of the velcro to the inner fabric flap piece - about 1 cm in from long edge, and centrally placed.

Then sew around three sides of the flap pieces (right sides together) and trim the corners.

Turn right sides out, and topstitch close to edge.

Attach the flap to one end of the outer fabric (right sides together and centrally placed) then attach the other half of the velcro on the other end, 2cm  ( 1")in from edge and centrally placed.

Take the inner fabric piece (34 x 12 cm)/(13.5 x 4.75")  and double turn then stitch one of the long edges.

Take the 16 cm (6.25") square piece of inner fabric and double turn and stitch all 4 edges:

Then fold diagonally and cut like so:

Then you need to pin all the inner pieces of fabric on top of the largest piece like this:

And stitch securely in place.

Now place the two pieces,right sides together. Pin and stitch around 3 sides, leaving the edge with the flap open.

Turn right sides out, and push the first piece of card all the way in, then stitch along the edge of it to hold in place.

Make another line of stitching 2 cm  (1") further along - this will form your pencil pocket.

Push the remaining card into the other side, fold the edges of the fabric inside and stitch closed.

DONE!

Add the pencil...

Add the battleships sheet (you can download one for free here)

Or a wordsearch, crossword or something else (fits A4 paper)

And use it!!

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

Have fun playing!