Sew a gift for the person who has everything!

Are you frantic looking for last minute gift ideas? Here is one for you. It only takes a little fabric, a few minutes of your time and a little stitching at the sewing machine.

Sew a paperback book cover to give to your reader friends, family, teachers, pastor, etc. They will treasure it. Make one for yourself, too.

The cover is 5" x 8" when closed and has an attached bookmark.

A great fabric to use is fake suede, but you can use whatever you want. Use old "jeans" to make the kids some bookcovers. Create your own fabric out of scraps. How about a patchwork book cover? Make the inside different from the outside. You are the designer!

Cutting Instructions

1. Cut 1 piece of fabric 11" x 9" for the outside cover.

2. Cut 2 pieces of fabric 4-1/2" x 9" for the inside pockets of the cover.

3. Cut 1 piece of fabric 1/2" x 9" for the bookmark or use ribbon.

4. Cut 2 pieces of firm cardboard 3-1/2" x 7-1/2"

Decide On Your Design

Before you make the bookcover, give some thought to personalizing your bookcover by adding monograms, other embroidery, decorative stitching, appliques, fabric paint, etc., to your bookcover.

Sewing Instructions

Note: If your fabric will fray, finish one of the 9" edges on both of the smaller inside pocket pieces. You can zigzag, serge finish, bind, or turn under 1/4" and stitch.

1. Lay the large piece of fabric out flat with the right side up.

2. Lay the smaller pieces of fabric with the right side down on the larger fabric and the unfinished 9" edges together.

3. Stitch a 1/2" seam around all of the outside edges.

4. Press the seam allowances open.

5. Grade the seam allowances. (Trim a little off of the seam allowance that is closer to the inside of the cover.)

6. Trim the corners off at an angle to reduce bulk.

7. Turn right side out.

8. Press.

9. Turn under the 1/2" of the single layer of fabric to the inside at the top and bottom in the center of the cover. You may want to finish this edge if your fabric frays.

10. Center the bookmark at the top center inside under the 1/2" turned down seam allowance.

11. Glue baste or fuse to hold the seam and bookmark in place.

12. Glue baste or fuse the bottom 1/2" single layer seam allowance.

13. With the right side up at the sewing machine, topstitch 1/4" around all of the edges.

14. Insert the cardboard into each side pocket having the seam allowances toward the inside.

Insert a favorite paperback book! That's a cool gift for anyone at any age!

These bookcovers make great bazaar gift items too.

Be creative and have fun making and giving your unique bookcovers.

You can make bookcovers for any size book. Just change your dimensions to be a little larger than your book.

Enjoy your bookcovers! It just makes sense!

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2005 Marian Lewis - All Rights Reserved

1st Step To Sewing Success