Back to School - Book Cover Tutorial

Your wish is my command...even if I am a bit late :-)

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Choose two fabric pieces. You’ll also need a 13” piece of elastic, 

and matching thread. ( I used contrasting colored thread so you can see 

a.) what I am talking about  and 

b.) my horrible stitching..

Measure width of book and add 0.5 seam allowance + 7” for the flap. 

In my case I ended up with the following: 18.75 + 0.5 + 7 = 26.25

Measure the height of your book and add 1”. 

In my case I ended up with 11.25 + 1 = 12.25

 Cut a piece in accordance with your 

measurements out of each of your fabrics. 

Mine is 26.25”x12.25”. 

Put one piece of fabric with the right side facing up down on your table. 

Measure 3” from the right hand side. 

Place your elastic there and pin it down.

      Place your second piece of fabric with the right side 

facing down on top of your first fabric. 

Pin it in place. 

I marked a six inch gap with double needles. 

This won’t be sewn because it is your opening through 

which you are turning your fabric right side out.

 Sew around all sides with a ¼” seam allowance.

 (you should have a sewing foot for that!)

 Don’t forget to leave that 6” gap open.

Take your needles out and clip your corners

 but be careful not to cut your seam.

Turn it inside out and iron it. 

You can use scissors or a pencil to carefully poke out your corners.

Sew your opening close with a 1/8” seam.

      Pull the right flap in and measure it so it is 3.5”. 

Pin it down ( I also iron the side so I have a nice flat crease!) 

and sew it down with a 1/8” seam.

Don’t forget to pull the elastic out of place!

Try it on your book.  Hopefully it fits!

Pull the other side in tight. Hold it / Pin it down and pull the book back out.

Sew that flap down as well.

Put it back on your book and enjoy! 

Let me know if you run into a problem or if something is confusing. :-)

Take care,

Me

Back to School - Binder Cover and Book Covers

P started middle school last year. She had to have a 3" binder for all her classes. She wasn't very gentle with that binder so after using that binder for about 6 weeks it was trashed! It ripped in the folds of the spine! I had to pay $15 for another one. We couldn't find a cover which I hoped would protect the binder from some of the abuse. But heck, I can sew and make my own! She chose some fabrics and I this is what I came up with:

Three velcro tabs which would help keep the binder close:

And a pencil holder:

The binder still took a lot of abuse but at least this time it lasted the entire school year! 

For the upcoming school year, P chose this funny dog print:

They made me smile every time I looked at them as I was sewing up the cover! Here is a closer look at the fabric:

P wanted only one velcro tab this time:

And she wanted a pencil holder that would close with velcro as well:

Also, last year, our school decided that it was a must for all students to cover their books. We looked at all the options available to us. We could cover it with a plastic foil, paper or even buy a fabric cover. All of those options were very boring to P! So she asked me if I could make some for her... and I did!

Here they are:

As you can see, I placed an elastic band in the back which folds to the front to keep the book shut when you move from class to class!

They held up really well! I washed them once through out the year but that was it! 

So this year, she choose a hidden frog fabric for science, flowers for math, and the American stars for History. 

I am reusing the covers from last year for our set of school books at home. I got those used for $7 - $10 from Amazon. This way P doesn't have to bring the books home for home work. 

Do you have to cover your kids binders and books?

Take care,

Me