Fabric Book Cover Tutorial

PIC 1

Measure the total width around your book in the “close-book” condition, from front cover edge to back cover edge (as shown in the picture), this will include the cover and the thickness of the book. Name it lower case a.
Measure the height of the book from top to bottom of the cover and name it lower case h.
Add a little allowance to the measurements so that the book fits nicely into the fabric cover, not overly tight or loose. As a rule of thumb, add 1/4″ (0.25″) to the width and height respectively, i.e A=a+0.25″, H=h+0.25″, the capital letter A and H is the fabric book cover after sewn up. 
Remark: If you have a very thick hardcover book, or, if you are adding thick padding to the fabric book cover just like the quilted hexagon book cover as shown in the main picture, add 1/2″ (0.5″) to the width and height respectively instead.

PIC 2

Gather all the materials and tools needed for sewing the fabric book cover.
Let’s do a little maths to calculate the actual fabric size that needed for sewing up the fabric book cover.
The fabric book cover needs 2 flaps or pockets at both left and right sides to fit in the plastic covers of the book, thus, add 3″ for each left and right flaps respectively.
Seam allowance is 3/8″ (0.375″) for each side.
As an example, for this A5 notebook with a measurement of 12.5″ (a) and 8.5″ (h), the fabric size is
Width = [W] + (Seam Allowance x 2) = [A+3+3] + (0.375×2) = [12.5+0.25+3+3] + (0.375×2) = [18.75] + (0.75) = 19.5″
Height = [H] + (Seam Allowance x 2) = [12.5+0.25] + (0.375×2) = [8.5+0.25] + (0.375×2) = [8.75] + (0.75) = 9.5″
Cut out 2 pcs. fabrics in the size, one piece for exterior layer and one piece for interior layer.
Ribbon bookmark length is about H+3″.
Elastic cord fastener is about H+1″.

PIC 3

Draw and mark the dimensions you have calculated above onto the fabric, W and H, where W is A+3″+3″, A is a+0.25″ and H is h+0.25″. Seam allowance is 0.375″.
The elastic cord is 4″ from the right sewing line, the bookmark is about 0.5″ from the center.
Create any patchwork design within the rectangle of A and H if you wish to. Note that the front cover is on the righthand side of the fabric, hence, the patchwork should be on the right after the 3″ flap allowance, as shown in the picture.

PIC 4

Stack both the exterior fabric and interior fabric together with right-side facing each other.
Sew a straight line at the side of both layers together on the front cover (the one with the hexagon flower patchwork or applique). Leave a 4″ opening at the other side as shown in the picture (red dashed lines).

PIC 5

Turn piece right-side out, press seam flat. Topstitch near the edge as shown in red dashed lines.

PIC 6

Fold the edge and tuck 3″ deep in between the exterior fabric and interior fabric to create the flap. Refer PIC 7 for more detail.
Position the elastic cord and bookmark in between the layers, pin.
Sew the top and bottom sides as shown in red dashed lines.

PIC 7

This is how the flap “in-making” looks like as per instruction in PIC 6 above.

PIC 8

Make zig-zag stitches across the elastic cord to secure it in place and prevent it from snapping away from the seam; make sure the stitches go through the elastic cord.

PIC 9

Turn the book cover right-side out from the 4″ opening that you have provisioned earlier. Note that the opening is now at the edge of the flap inside the layers (before turning out).

PIC 10

How to make a nice sharp corner when turning the piece right-side out?
First, insert your thumb from the opening to reach the corner from inside.
Next, fold the seam allowance down as shown in the picture.

PIC 11

Push the corner out from the opening while still holding the folded seam allowance.
Repeat the same to all 4 corners.

PIC 12

After turning out, the fabric book cover will get wrinkled. Press with an iron to smooth it out.

PIC 13

Topstitch to close the opening at the edge of the flap.
Add a wooden bead at the end of the ribbon bookmark and tie a knot to secure it.

PIC 14

The exterior of the fabric book cover.
For the matter of fact, this fabric book cover is reversible between exterior and interior. You can turn the cover inside out for a different look, but the elastic cord will be hidden inside the flap.
However, you can make it 100% reversible by simply add another elastic cord at the interior of the flap and sew the bookmark at the center of the cover.

PIC 15

Insert the plastic book covers into the flaps to wear the fabric cover.

PIC 16

The front look.

PIC 17

The back look.

PIC 18

Fasten the elastic cord across the back cover to close the book when not in use.

PIC 19

With the same notebook I used to sew the denim fabric book cover above, redraw the pattern by adding a detachable flap at the back cover.
The measurement is the same as before, however, instead of a straight flap at the back cover, chamfer the corner as shown in the picture.
I am using the same measurement so that you are able to differentiate what has changed in this adaptation. You may make a slightly wider width to cater a thicker book.
Add a thick lace as a fastener of the flap.

PIC 20

Follow the same sewing instruction as the Fitted-Width tutorial, instead of sewing both side seams and tuck it in between the layers, you just have to do it the one side.
Add elastic cord, bookmark and lace fastener in between the layer.
Sew around and leave an opening at the chamfered flap.

PIC 21

Turn the book cover right-side out from the opening.

PIC 22

Iron and press it flat.
Topstitch to close the opening to complete the sewing.

PIC 23

Insert the original plastic cover to the front flap.
Fold the back flap and tuck into the lace faster to secure it.

PIC 24

The lace fastener provides some friction to the flap so that it won’t easily come off.

PIC 25

Done~