Kantha Quilt Inspired Junk Journal Made From a Sari Rag Rug

I love the look of an Indian Kantha quilt. You know the ones with a variety of eclectic patterned fabrics and a bold white running stitch throughout. Recently I had an epiphany about making a Kantha inspired junk journal cover. I have so many fabric scraps begging to be up-cycled, yet I have no desire to sew or quilt. I do however have a trip coming up to India and a sari rag rug on hand so the idea of combining the two was a no brainer.

Want to come to India with me in February 2027 on the Namaste and Notebooks creative retreat? Keep reading, all the details are below.

In the meantime – this is not my first time at the crafting with a sari rag rug rodeo. These area rugs are easily found – I got mine at Five Below. Sure they are great on the floor, but I put mine on the wall previously. Checkout my DIY Colorful Rug Headboard. This post is from 2014 but over 10 years later it is still hanging on the wall looking great.

Cut Up Your Rag Rug

Instead of hanging or stepping on my rug this time I cut it up and salvaged all of the colorful sari remnants inside! They are great for jewelry, textured weaving or as I have discovered making a Kantha inspired junk journal cover.

Side Note: You don’t need sari remnants if you have an actual sari. I see these beautiful dresses at the thrift store all the time just begging to be repurposed into something.

Supplies for Making a DIY Kantha Inspired Junk Journal

Sari Rag Rug
Scissors
Embroidery Needle
Embroidery Floss
Piece of Cardboard
Adhesive Back Felt
Waxed Thread
Glue Stick
Ruler
Pencil
Awl
India Themed Ephemera
Binder Clips

Pick and Cut Your Fabric

After I tore apart my rug I selected some of my favorite sari bits. Next step was to cut them down into smaller pieces. A traditional quilt would probably have more exact sized shapes, but I figured it would all even out with the stitches.

Quilting Adjacent – I seem to skirt around the idea of quilting without actually quilting.

Glue Down the Sari Pieces

I used a regular glue stick for this. Sari fabric is so thin it worked fine. I do recommend smoothing over everything well. I have an entire post over on my Substack about uses for hotel room keys – including smoothing down collages.

Get Ready to Run – Running Stitch That Is

Hold the phone – I used a ruler. I know, I know – it’s crazy. However I wanted my running stitches to be somewhat even. I measured a dash every half inch.

How to Stitch Fabric and Cardboard

I found that poking the holes first was a big help. I used the guide on the back of the cardboard and just made the holes with my needle. From here cover the entire thing with a running stitch.

Cover the Inside of Your Junk Journal

Once the stitching is complete fold the raw edges over the cardboard and glue down. Trim a piece of adhesive backed felt to the size of your journal cover. Remove the backing and adhere. This will make your cover stronger, hold your edges down and cover the stitches on the underside.

P.S. Have you subscribed to my newsletter yet? The Glue Gun Gazette is full of crafty fun stuff.

Gather Ephemera For the Signatures

Luckily I am an ephemera hoarder and have a stash of India themed papers to use inside my journal. I gathered up a few of my favorites including pages from old copies of National Geographic, vintage wrapping paper, books written in Hindi and more. I typically like to use between 12-14 sheets of paper per signature.

Did somebody say ephemera? Don’t forget to peruse the selections in my Etsy shops.

Once you have the paper you want picked out cut them down to size and fold them. The folds do not have to be exactly in half but they should be so that the edges of the paper are within the journal. Stack the pages together in the order you want.

Fold the journal cover in half as well and insert your papers. Attach the papers to the cover with a binder clip on each side.

Using an awl poke a hole in the center – all the way through the paper and the cover. Repeat with two more holes equidistant from the edges of the cover.

With waxed bookbinding thread use a 3-hole pamphlet stitch to attach everything.

Trim Out Your Junk Journal

If you want to add trim (which of course you should) now is the time. These are three different journals…

The Kantha inspired junk journal we just made.
A travel journal made from an actual sari I thrifted and tore up.
Gorgeous indigo kantha journal with handmade paper from The Stitching Project.

If you think these journals look amazing with items sourced in Texas, think of the fun we could have making one in India! Yup, if sorting through a literal rag rug had you wishing you were knee-deep in an actual sari offcuts pile in Jaipur — that’s basically Day 8 of of the art retreat I am hosting in India called Namaste & Notebooks.

Namaste and Notebooks – February 2027

If this sounds like the crafty adventure of a lifetime – get in touch for more information. I have worked closely with the folks at Creative Arts Safaris to put together the perfect blend of culture and crafts.

What can you expect at Namaste and Notebooks?

Goodie bags full of new and vintage India themed bits and bobs. You won’t have to find everything we will be crafting with, I am bringing you a curated head start!
Sightseeing at the Taj Mahal, the Pink Palace of Jaipur, Lakshmi Narayan Temple and more!
A visit to the Sanganer paper mill where we will learn about the process of hand making paper from textile offcuts plus snag some sheets for our travel journals.
Delicious meals at places like the Anokhi Cafe and hotels such as the Neemrana Fort Palace.
We will create our own block print designs before ever leaving the US and pick them up in Jaipur where we will enjoy a block printing workshop.
Not one but two chances for a tiger spotting when we spend the night and go on a safari at the Ranthambore National Tiger Reserve.
Visit The Stitching Project in Jaipur where we will rummage through the offcuts pile, hunt for sari silk remnants and sort through naturally dyed khadi fabrics. We will also learn all about how this small business and how it runs and helps sustains the community.
LOT’S of shopping! Let’s look for ephemera at a second hand book market, scout trims and fabrics at the Chandni Chowk market in Old Dehli, search for junk journal treasures in the main markets of Jaipur, stop by the market stalls of Pushkar. Plus spots of free time in New Dehli to explore even more markets like this one!
A stop in Neemrana for visits to a block printing museum, walking the steps of Chand Baori and an afternoon by the hotel pool.

PLUS SO MUCH MORE! I can’t hardly wait.

All the information about signing up for Namaste and Notebooks is over on the Creative Arts Safaris website. Lot’s of amazing women are already signed up!