Recently, a good friend of mine gave me a copy of her favorite book and we have been meeting regularly to discuss it. Since I am the type of person who likes to keep mementos that remind me of those I love, I wanted to protect the book from the wear and tear that comes from lugging it around in my bag. So I got out the sewing machine, dug through my fabric stash and came up with a simple book cover that even has a small pocket on the front for holding notes and a pencil.
I had fun making the cover, so I decided to share the instructions.
Materials Required:
1 fat quarter of your favorite fabric (if your book is large, you may need a bigger piece of fabric). If you want the inside lining to be a coordinating fabric, pick two of your favorite pieces. You could even make the strap and the pocket different fabrics if you wanted to. Use your creativity and make it yours.
A piece of non-fusible lightweight interfacing the size of your book.
One cute button (you could use a snap or Velcro if you want to or if you don't have a buttonhole feature on your sewing machine).
Instructions:
1. Measure your book. First, measure the width of the front cover (side to side), multiply that measurement by 2, then add the thickness of the book. So, if your book is 6 inches wide and 1 inch thick, your overall measurement would be 13 inches (6 x 2 + 1). Now, add 4 1/2 inches to your total - this allows for two inches of fold over to hold each cover and 1/4" seam allowance. This is the total width of fabric you will need. Now measure the height of the book and add 1 inch. This is the total height of the fabric you will need. Cut two pieces of fabric and one piece of interfacing this size (the width and height you figured).
2. Pin all three layers together - the right sides of the fabric together and then the interfacing on top. Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, stitch the two long sides and one short side together.
5. Now, if you want to add a pocket to your bookcover, cut a piece of fabric twice the height you wish the pocket to be. For example, if you want the overall size of the pocket to be approximately 4 inches wide and 5 inches high, you need to cut a piece of fabric 4 inches wide by 10 inches high. Fold the fabric in half (right sides together) so you have a piece 4 inches x 5 inches. Pin the edges and stitch the sides, leaving the edge directly across from the fold open. Trim seams and turn right sides out.
6. Turn the bottom unfinished edge of the pocket in and pin to hold them so the raw edges will be finished when you topstitch the cover. Now, place the pocket on the front of the bookcover (or the back - wherever you want the pocket to be). If you are placing it on the front, measure two inches from the right edge and align the pocket with the bottom edge of the cover (the two inches on the right will be folded over to hold the book's cover).
7. Stitch the right and left sides of the pocket to the cover. - carefully stitching near the edge of the pocket. Backstitch the seam at the top edge of the pocket for reinforcement.
8. Now it is time to top stitch around the cover. Carefully pin through all three layers of the cover (five layers at the bottom edge of the pocket - don't forget to make sure the pocket's raw edge on the bottom is turned in). Pinning will prevent the layers from sliding. Stitch all the way around the book cover as close to the edge as possible, making sure you stitch across the bottom of your pocket.
9. Now it is time to make the strap that closes the book (if you want one - if not, skip to step 11). Cut two strips approximately 5 inches plus the total thickness of your book plus 1/2 inch seam allowance (if the book is 1 inch thick, cut two straps 6 1/2 inches long by appoximately 2 inches wide). Pin right sides together and stitch the two long sides and one short side using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Trim the seam allowances and the corners to prevent bulk. Turn right sides out and fold in the raw edges of the open end. Carefully top stitch around the strap. If you are going to use a button closure, stitch a button hole in the center of one end of the strap - otherwise, proceed to the next step.
10. Now, measure two inches from the end of the strap opposite the buttonhole and place the two inch mark two inches from the end of the book cover. (The two inches on the book cover is the piece that will be folded over to hold the back cover of the book). Place the strap on the back of the cover so that when it is wrapped around the front of the book, the button ends up at the top edge of the pocket. Stitch the strap on the book cover. I anchor the strap by stitching the narrow end, another line across the space two inches from the edge of the book cover and then along the top and bottom edges between those two stitch lines so that the strap is stitched in a square pattern.
11. Now it is time to stitch the fold-over portions. With the pocket facing up, fold the right edge cover under 2 inches, carefully lining up the top and bottom edges and pin. Carefully stitch along the top and bottom directly over the top stitching you placed earlier and backstitching at the edges for strength. Repeat on the back of the cover.
12. Your bookcover should look like this. Now, fold the cover in half and estimate where the button should be attached allowing for the thickness of the book. Stitch the button to the front of the pocket (if you added a pocket) so the button doesn't interfere with what is in the pocket. If you didn't add a button, but want to use a snap or Velcro, attach it at this point.
13. You are finished! I made one of these covers to be reversible by adding a pocket and strap to the other side. The extra strap just tucks inside under the book's cover when it is not needed. Just be careful when you are attaching the pockets and the straps that you don't stitch over the pocket and strap you have already placed (I did that and then had to use my stitch ripper! Ugh!).
Congratulations! You now have a book cover to use to protect your favorite book (or to hide your copy of Fifty Shades of Gray if you are reading it in public!)
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I would love to hear your comments and see pics of your finished covers.
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