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How to Make a Fabric Book Cover (VIDEO) – Easy Book Jacket

Give your favorite book or old Bible a makeover with my easy tutorial. I’ll show you how to make a fabric book cover to size in a matter of minutes! Every book lover knows how ugly things can get if you accidentally spill some coffee or tea onto the book you’re reading. In most cases, the book suffers catastrophic damage and that can be tough, especially if it’s one of your favorite novels. God knows I’ve lost my share of great books to critical coffee wounds.

There’s a way to prevent that though, a fun way indeed! Reusable fabric book covers!

bunny using a book with fabric book cover

They’ll keep your books safe from accidents, and give them that neat touch of class and style. Not only that, but you can use them to easily recognize some of the books that have been worn out over time!

Now get ready for action because you’re about to learn how to sew a fabric book jacket in just few minutes with this DIY fabric book cover tutorial of ours!

diy fabric book cover standing

Below you will find my step by step written tutorial with VIDEO instructions for all the visual learners. I’ll show you how to measure your book and calculate the dimensions to make your own made-to-measure book jacket. You can use it for everything from a notebook, to dictionaries or your favorite books and Bibles.

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How to Make a Fabric Book Cover

Supplies and tools

supplies needed to sew fabric book cover

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How to Sew a Book Cover (Jacket)

Watch the diy fabric book cover video first and then follow the written step by step instructions below.
Please enjoy and don’t forget to Like and SUBSCRIBE over on YouTube to be kept up to date with new videos as they come out.

Reusable Fabric Book Cover VIDEO TUTORIAL

FABRIC BOOK COVER INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Measure the book

Take the book you want to make the fabric book cover for, and measure from the edge of the back cover to the edge of the front cover of the book. Add 8 inches (20cm) to that length.

Then measure from the top edge of the cover to the bottom edge of the cover. Add 2 inches (5cm) to this measurement.

taking measurements of the book to sew a book cover

Now go ahead and cut out the fabric in the size you just got.

STEP 2: Cut fabric

Cut your outdoor fabric according to the calculations above. In short:

  • FABRIC WIDTH = book width + 8″ (20cm)
  • FABRIC HEIGHT = book height + 2″ (5cm)

The dictionary I’m making this fabric book jacket for measures 15 x 9 inches (38 x 23)

My fabric piece measures 23 x 11″ (58 x 28)

cutting fabric to sew fabric book jacket

STEP 3: Make side pockets

Put the fabric onto your workspace with its right side facing down.
Fold the ends of the shorter edges inward about a 1/4 inch (6mm), and press flat with your iron. Pin in place if the fold do not hold.

pressing edges of the fabric book cover

STEP 4: Stitch side pockets

Sew the folds in place on both sides with your sewing machine. Backstitch at the beginning and the end of each seam. Those seams need to be durable.

hemming the side edges of the cloth book cover

STEP 5: Pin and mark stitching line

Take the book you want to make the fabric book covers for. Spread the fabric so that the shorter edges are on the sides and place the open book onto it, with its covers facing downward. Center the book on the fabric so that there are about 4 inches (10cm) of extra fabric on each side.

Fold the excess fabric over the book covers, close the book and pin the folds in place. Don’t make it too tight or too loose, try to find the middle.

folding sides of the fabric book cover

Open the book up and mark the fabric about an eighth of an inch (3mm) away from the top and bottom edges next to the corners of the book. You need the markings on the folded sections only, they don’t need to be longer than that. Sew along those marks to make the pockets for the book cover.

STEP 6: Stitch down along the marked lines

Again, backstitch at both ends of the seam to reinforce it.

making fabric book cover - showing the stitching lines of the pockets

STEP 7: Clip and turn around

Clip all four corners of the cover with scissors to reduce bulk. Turn the entire cover inside-out and push out the corners with the back of a pen or a chopstick.

STEP 8: Press

Press the cover flat with your iron.

Fold the upper edge to the line where you made the seam on the pockets. Use your iron to press the folded section and keep it in place. Stitch along that fold. Repeat the same process with the bottom edge of the cover.

pressing finished fabric book cover

STEP 9: Insert the book, use and enjoy

Carefully slip the book covers inside the pockets of the fabric book cover. Make sure whether the book fits nicely.

Your new fabric book cover is now finished and ready for those long reading sessions!

inserting a book into the fabric book cover

STEP 10: Add ribbon bookmark (optional)

Stitch a ribbon to the upper right edge of your book cover to add a bookmark. It’s sew cute!

Of course, you can stitch a separate denim bookmark. It’s up to you – either way will work

sew a book cover with a bookmark

OPTIONS: Cotton and interfacing alternative

I’ve mentioned this before, but you can use cotton fabric and interfacing instead of outdoor décor fabric if you want to.

Since the fabric book cover needs to be waterproof, you’ll need to apply the interfacing to the cotton after Step 2 of our tutorial. Other than that, the process is the same, so you can just follow the tutorial regularly.

NOTE: This is a fixed width cover, but you can easily make it adjustable if you add a flat elastic at the back and leave the right side edge unsewn and stitch the top and bottom seam allowances down.

What do you think about our How to make a fabric book cover tutorial? I hope it can help you solve your book safety problems! Now that you know how to sew a book cover, you can go ahead and make one for all your favorite books. You can also make a few for your friends who love to read, they’ll love the gift! Have fun enjoying your novels with no worries about their safety!

Do you like this fabric book cover and jacket? Pin for later:

how to sew a book cover and FREE book cover pattern

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RELATED SEWING PROJECTS FOR READERS:

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 11 comments
Melynda Brown - March 3, 2021

Hello, this is one of my favorites for Encouraging Hearts and Home, this week! I hope you stop by and say hello, this post has been pinned! Thank you for being a part of Encouraging Hearts and Home, we appreciate all that you share. Have a great week ahead!

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Laurie - March 5, 2021

Nice idea, and I think the fabric you chose is beautiful!

Thank you fir sharing your pattern at the Homestead Blog Hop this week!

Blessings!
Laurie
☘️

Reply
Laurie - March 5, 2021

*for, not “fir”. I’m country but not THAT country! ?

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    Helen - March 5, 2021

    Lol, I spend few minutes trying to find and correct *my* mistake. I’m still bleary-eyed and stumbling about with feet dragging. I think I need more coffee 🙂

    Reply
Donna @donnas_crative_space - March 5, 2021

This is great, I can’t wait to give this a try! I have loads of books I want to look after and making a cover seems the perfect way!

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April Harris - March 7, 2021

I have a number of treasured old books that would benefit from protective covers and these are beautiful. Thank you for sharing this project and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party Community. I’m featuring this post at the party this week. Hope to ‘see’ you there! Take care, stay well, and I wish you a wonderful week!

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    Helen - March 8, 2021

    Thank you so much April. It’s lovely to hear you liked them.

    Reply
Shelbee on the Edge - March 7, 2021

What a wonderful idea! I love the thought of a bookcase filled with beautifully fabric covered books! I do cover some of my books for various reasons but I usually just use paper. The fabric is a brilliant twist. Thanks for sharing and linking with me!

Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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Naush Samama - March 8, 2021

I love the idea of using fabric to cover the book. I have used wall paper, but fabric is a new one for me. Excellent idea.
Thank you for sharing with us at Meraki Link Party.
Have a wonderful week.
Much love
Naush

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Stephanie 139a - March 11, 2021

Love your fabric choice, and what a great idea – thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo

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Louise K. - March 24, 2022

These are great instructions and your cover is beautiful!

I’m going to make a few for paperbacks that I will be reading at airports and on planes on my next trip. I’d rather not have people know what I’m reading. The books aren’t “bad”, I’m just a private person, lol!

Reply

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