Sew a Book Cover that Will Magically Adjust to All of Your Books!, by The Literary Sewist on YouTube. 6 min 23 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 23 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Close your book and measure its height and width. Add 1 1/4 inches to the height for seam allowance and a comfortable fit, and add about 1 inch to the width.
Cut a main fabric piece and a lining piece to your measurements. Cut a piece of fusible interfacing the same size and fuse it to the wrong side of the main fabric with a hot iron.
Cut a strip of fabric for the strap, about 2 inches wide and long enough to wrap around the book plus overlap. Fold it in half lengthwise with right sides together and sew along the long edge.
Turn the strap right side out, press it flat, and topstitch along both long edges. Thread the elastic cord through the strap and knot or secure the ends.
Place the main fabric and lining right sides together. Pin the strap ends between the layers at the side edges, pointing inward.
Sew around the edges with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, leaving a 3 inch gap on one side for turning. Clip the corners.
Turn the cover right side out through the gap, push out the corners, and press. Fold the raw edges of the gap inside and pin.
Topstitch all the way around the cover close to the edge, closing the gap as you go.
Slide the book into the cover and stretch the elastic strap around the front to hold it closed.
Tips and common mistakes
The video notes a correction: place the top line 1 1/4 inches above the height marker, not 1/2 inch, for a comfortable fit.
Use a walking foot or a slightly longer stitch if your fabric is thick or slippery.
Press each seam as you go so the finished cover lies flat.
Keep the elastic snug but not tight, or it will pull the cover out of shape.
Questions
Will this cover fit any book?
The elastic strap lets it adjust to books of different thicknesses. Very large or very small books may need different measurements.
Can I make this without a sewing machine?
Yes, you can hand sew with a backstitch, but it takes longer and the seams may be less neat.
What fabric works best?
Medium weight cotton or canvas holds up well. Avoid stiff or very stretchy fabrics.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
