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Fabric book sleeve

by MASTER

Make a simple protective fabric sleeve for a paperback or hardcover when you want to protect a book or create a custom cover.

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What's inside

Fabric book sleeve

Make a simple protective fabric sleeve for a paperback or hardcover when you want to protect a book or create a custom cover.

⏱ 53 min★ Medium
Target

You have fabric, interfacing, thread, and a book but no sewn sleeve sized to that book.

Obstacle

Cutting and aligning outer fabric, lining, and interfacing to match the book dimensions and keeping the layers from shifting while sewing can create uneven seams and a poor fit.

Expectation

A finished fabric sleeve that fits the book snugly, with pressed seams, fused interfacing for structure, and a neat topstitch along the opening.

Materials
  • • Main fabric — 0.5 yard
  • • Lining fabric — 0.5 yard
  • • Fusible interfacing — 0.5 yard
  • • Thread — 1 spool
  • • Straight pins — 20 pins
Tools
  • • Sewing machine — 1
  • • Iron — 1
  • • Fabric scissors — 1
  • • Ruler or measuring tape — 1
  • • Seam ripper — 1
Steps
  1. 01
    Measure and cut fabric
    Measure the book's height and width, add 1 inch total seam allowance and 2 inches for the flap, mark and cut outer fabric, lining, and interfacing to the rectangle.
    ⏱ 10 min
  2. 02
    Fuse interfacing and press
    Center interfacing on the wrong side of the outer fabric and fuse with the iron following the manufacturer's instructions; press the lining flat.
    ⏱ 8 min
  3. 03
    Layer and pin
    Stack outer (right side up), lining (right side down) and interfacing, align edges precisely and pin both long edges and corners, leaving the top open for turning.
    ⏱ 5 min
  4. 04
    Sew side seams and trim
    Sew 1/2 inch seams along both long sides with backstitches at ends, then trim corners and excess seam allowance to reduce bulk.
    ⏱ 15 min
  5. 05
    Turn, press, and topstitch
    Turn the sleeve right side out through the open top, press edges flat, insert the book to check fit, fold the top edge inward 1/4 inch and topstitch 1/8 inch from the edge to finish.
    ⏱ 15 min