Fabric Book Cover Tutorial

I made a really sweet little book cover the other day and enjoyed the process and the results so much I thought I'd write a tutorial on it.  And it's pouring with (much needed) rain outside so what a good way to spend a day, right?

Close-up of the cover.

The back.  Grubby window optional.

The inside of the cover.

At our Quilting Club's Christmas lunch the other day I received a little book covered with a lined cover and a cross stitch design on the outside.  Now I can't cross stitch to save my life but I did love how this book cover was lined so I sat there with it unfolded and inside out and figured out how to sew one....and then I wrote it down real quick so I wouldn't forget.  I don't know about you but my brain doesn't work inside out and unfolded so I was very proud of myself!  

This is the wee cross-stitched book cover I received.

You will need a book - any old book will do.  I like to choose a standard size notebook so it's easily replaceable.  The one I use in this tutorial is just a school exercise book.

Lay your book down on it’s spine and open.  Measure from edge to edge (A) and top to bottom (B) and write these measurements down so when you’re interrupted by the kids you don’t have to start all over again.

Add about 8” to your edge-to-edge measurement.  You’ll need this much for the hems, the fold in flaps that hold the cover on to the book and some ease when you shut the book.

Cut a piece of fabric for the outside of the cover A + 8” by B + 1”.

Cut a piece of fusible medium-weight non-woven interfacing A + 8” by B + 1”.  If you don’t have fusible medium-weight interfacing – use something else!  Calico would do.  It’s just to add a stabilizer for when you embellish.  I always have a couple of metres of it on hand because it’s cheap and very useful for things like this.

Cut a piece of fabric for the lining A by B +1” (you don’t need to add anything to A for hems as the edges are inside the flaps of the cover and don’t need to be hemmed).

Iron your interfacing to the wrong side of your cover fabric according to manufacturer’s instructions.  (Optional:  swear as your interfacing sticks to the unidentified goo on the bottom of your iron.  Make your usual promise to yourself to always use a pressing cloth.)

Lay your book out flat on the right side of your cover fabric and mark your flaps and the center.  This is so you know where your central collage motifs should go.

Now the fun bit!  Collage and embellish to your heart’s content!  Rummage in your scrap box, find some bits of lace, yarn, ribbon – use your imagination.  I often lay things out to get an idea but I leave a lot of it to serendipity.  Remember, the bottom layers will be obscured a lot so leave your central motifs to the last layers.  This is a chance to use some of those fancy stitches on your sewing machine that you never use too.  And a bit of couching.  And if you don’t like something you sewed down, then no reverse sewing required – just cover it up with something else!  Sew on a few buttons or beads and do a bit of hand embroidery as a final touch.

First layers.  Blocking in some larger fabric shapes.

Second layers.  Couching in some fuzzy yarn and ribbon.

Third  layers.  The main collage elements.  I also hand stitched on some buttons and did a  hand embroidery after this.

Once you are happy with your collage, turn over a small hem on your short sides of your cover and stitch down. 

Go and sort out the kids lunches and then remove the furry interloper from your work before continuing.

Then lay out your cover fabric right side up and fold over your flaps.  Pin flaps down and then lay your book down over the cover.  Close your book, holding your fabric as you do to see if you have enough ease.  Thicker books need more ease.  

Once you are happy with the amount of flap turn over, take your book away and lay your lining fabric down on top, wrong side up.

This layering bit is the only tricky part so I've included two photos so you get it right.  Cover right side up with flaps turned in, then lining wrong side up on top of flaps - so cover and lining are right sides together - note to self: shouldn't have used calico so you could see wrong/right sides of lining!

Sew down the two long sides with a quarter inch seam.  (You can make this seam larger if you need to make the cover snugger, but book cover thickness and embellishment thickness can alter the seam allowance needed so start narrow, unless you love your unpicker!

Unfold your cover to the right side and press it gently to crisp up the corners. 

*Edited to add a series of photos to demonstrate the turning process (especially for Suz!)

Above you can see what it looks like after the long side seams are sewn, looking at the lining side.

And if you peek in one end you can see the flaps and the right side of the cover.

Then you turn it right side out and you get this.  The right side of the cover but the flaps still need more turning.

Here is one of the flaps turned over.

And here is the other flap flipped over.

Both flaps flipped over looking from the lining side now.

And a peek under one of the flaps.  I've pulled back the lining too so you can see the wrong side of the cover.    The raw edge of the lining sits well under the flap so you don't need to hem it (you could if you were really keen!).

Slip it onto your book and admire!  Adjust your seam width a little if need be.  Then wrap it up and tick it off your Christmas present list.

I used craft stamps and heat settable ink to print the heart image and the name.

Here's the back.  The heart is a little collage made a while ago:  lots of bits laid out, covered in tulle, free-motioned stitched and then cut out into a heart shape.

Pretty cool, huh?!

Close up.  See the little tuck in the fabric in the top right?  You don't notice little errors like this in the whole, slightly messy, collage type sewing, so don't get hung up on them.

I had huge fun sewing these up and my son has already put in an order for one too.  I'd love to see any that you do and I'd appreciate any feedback on how easy this tutorial was!  Happy stitching!