Sew a book jacket
This book jacket makes a lovely gift to give to a friend or family member that loves to read.
This one will cover the standard size paperback book, but you can adjust and customize the size to fit any book.
It doesn't require a lot of fabric and would be a great project for using up some of your stash. You need 2 pieces of material measuring 23 cm. x 42 cm. That's about 9 inches x 16.5 inches for those of you that are non-metric. You will also need a piece of quilt batting the same size. If you didn't have quilt batting you could use an extra piece of material just to make it a bit more sturdy.
Lay the 2 pieces of fabric with the right sides together and add the batting to the top. Stich around all the edges but leave an opening about 4 cm. wide on one side. This is so you can turn it inside out.
To add a bookmarker ribbon, lay a piece of ribbon between the right sides of the fabric. (I forgot that picture). Be sure it only gets sown into one seam. You might need to tuck it up between the right sides so that it doesn't get sown twice.
To add a bookmarker ribbon, lay a piece of ribbon between the right sides of the fabric. (I forgot that picture). Be sure it only gets sown into one seam. You might need to tuck it up between the right sides so that it doesn't get sown twice.
The tricky part is to turn the book jacket inside out through the opening. This requires some careful poking, pushing and pulling.
Before turning be sure to trim off the corners. I forgot to do this while making this book jacket so had to poke each corner back through the opening and snip off the corner.
Snipping off the corners will make a much neater corner when the book jacket is turned in the right way.
Many sewers will skip this next step, which is pressing. I think it is a very important step as it will give you a much neater top stitched row. Once the book jacket is turned so that the right sides are showing press all edges carefully.
Do a row of top stitching all around the book jacket.
When you get to the neatly pressed opening you left, just top stitch right over the opening.
Lay the book jacket so that the inside is facing you. Fold each end over about 5.5 to 6 cm. and top stitch the top and bottom edges to form 2 pockets. This is where you will tuck the cover of the book.
Here is the finished item with the book tucked inside. The ribbon will be the bookmarker.
When closed it will look like the first picture in this series.
I love Karen's comment, that now judging a book by its cover has a whole new meaning.
You can download the instructions in pdf format. This one has all the images included.
If you want a pattern without the images, try this one.
Labels: books, sewing, favourite mysteries, reading accessories
When closed it will look like the first picture in this series.
I love Karen's comment, that now judging a book by its cover has a whole new meaning.
You can download the instructions in pdf format. This one has all the images included.
If you want a pattern without the images, try this one.
Labels: books, sewing, favourite mysteries, reading accessories
14 friendly comments:
This IS completely gorgeous, Linda. It seems to me I made one of these once, but it was long ago. I'd love it if someone made one for me! Although I do have a fabulous journal with a cover made of raw silk with appliqued stuff on it. I bought it from an artisan in Wolfville...wonder where it is?
Thanks Jodi, it was a nice little project to make. I bet your journal cover is lovely. Hunt for it and use it.
Hello Linda I think the old admonition "never judge a book by its cover" will take on a new meaning with such a lovely cover. Your instructions - text and photos - are great.
Linda, Thank you so much for the instructions for the book jacket! I will certainly print this off. You did a lovely job of illustrating! :-)
Hi Linda, Oh this was lovely, I'm up in my 'summerhouse' now over the weekend and it is here I do all my crafty/arty things so thank you for a great idea. It is a perfect thing to do with all the beautiful smaller pieces of material I have stored in my cupboard.
Thank you Linda, have a great weekend/ Tyra
I'm so jealous of your creative talents..I can't imagine having such time and energy to do such a thing..one of those..someday I will do this things on my list. LOL
Hello Linda, my first visit what a lovely blog your photographs are wonderful I love wildlife and I am a dog lover, with knitting an crafts thrown in. best wishes Julie.C
Karen, I love your interpretation of the old saying
Thanks Shady Gardener
Tyra, enjoy your weekend at the summer house and I hope you get some crafting done.
Thanks for visiting Rhonda
Hi Gingerbread, nice to meet you. Thanks for visiting and taking time to comment.
Good morning Linda, You are so crafty! (hmm, seems I saw that somewhere in your blog title...)
This is a really nice project and something I might actually be able to do. I just don't like to use a sewing machine! If I did this I'd probably hand-stitch the whole thing. Of course that would take longer, and not look as neat.
I used to own a sewing machine but think it might be in the attic. I probably would need a new one if I actually thought I'd use it.
Thanks for such an understandable step-by-step explanation.
It might be hard for some to believe, especially crafty people like you--but there are actually people out there who don't sew! I'm glad you do, because I have always loved hand sewn or knitted,etc., things (like my grandmothers afghan, etc) I'm just not good with them.
Lovely cover. I made a number of these many years ago for family member Christmas gifts in reds and greens with shiny gold thread all through.
You've inspired me to make a new on in spring colours for my morning devotional book :-)
Once it's made I'll post a pic on my blog for you.
BTW, your comment on my 'soap box' made me laugh. I too can picture other uses and one of them gave me a fit of giggles (albeit it was rather morbid).
Even I can do this one.
Very pretty also.
You always have good ideas.
Hi Linda
Great tutorial, very easy to understand. I'm thinking birthday gifts, two of my daughters have journals (Wendi's is for gardening)
I'm going to print this one.
Dolly
Wonderful idea!!
Diane
excellent idea ... I think I've seen this in one of my sewing books but glad you reminded me -- it's a great gift idea and way to use up scraps.
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