How to Sew Book Sleeves in 3 Sizes
If you’re a reader or have a bookworm in your life, you will understand the need for today’s tutorial! Reading is a big part of my life, and since I’m also in the taxi mom phase of parenting, I take books with me everywhere I go. I almost always have a book in the car or tossed into my tote bag, and this is obviously no way to preserve the covers and pages of said books.
I’ve been wanting to make a few book sleeves for myself for just this reason! I got busy and sewed up some protective book sleeves in three different sizes. Not only are they beautiful and fun to use, they serve their purpose very well and keep the pages and covers of my book intact (even more important with library or borrowed books!)
These sleeves have an outside pocket for my little notepads, journals, or pens, and the ideas for customization are endless. The large size, it turns out, even fits my iPad Pro!
I created a video tutorial of this project for you, in which you’ll learn how to sew these easy, beginner friendly book sleeves in three sizes.
If you would like a printable version of this tutorial, you can click here to purchase that for a few dollars. (Or here on Etsy if you prefer). It’s a more convenient way to follow the instructions and use it again and again without having to refer back to the video, and you’ll always have the measurements for the different sizes right at your fingertips.
At the end of the post, I’ll include several ideas for changing up and customizing your book sleeves! These will make excellent handmade gifts for your reading friends, so I’ll include some ideas on how to gifts it what to pair it with if you’re making book sleeves to give as gifts.
But first, here’s the video tutorial …
How to Sew Easy Book Sleeves for Any Size Book
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This project is very simple and fast to make, so they’d be very easy to batch sew if you want to make several to give as Christmas gifts. The medium size is probably the most practical if you’re just guessing on which size people might like to receive, as it tends to fit most paperbacks.
For a nice gift, you can pair the book sleeve with a good book, a little journal, some “This Book Belongs To …” labels and you can even add a handmade bookmark (maybe even to match the sleeve!).
Ideas for Customizing Your Book Sleeves
This project is so versatile. Once you get the basic gist of making book sleeves, you’ll be able to customize it and make it your own. Here are a few ideas:
Make a laptop or tablet sleeve with using the same method!
Use a pretty ribbon or piece of trim to wrap around the button instead of the elastic closure.
Customize the pockets to include pen pockets, or to fit your favorite not pad or bookmark.
Include pockets in the inside too!
Bundle a book sleeve with a favorite book to give as a personal gift.
Embroider a favorite quote on the front of your book sleeve.
Use a lonely quilt block or two to make your book sleeve, or piece together fabrics for a scrappy look.
Use a fabric panel for the front of your sleeve.
Make a matching bookmark with my fabric bookmark tutorial (see my shop and YouTube channel for this more tutorials!)
I hope you enjoy this tutorial and make some book sleeves! Don’t forget you can grab the convenient printable version of this project from my shop so you don’t have to watch the video every time you need those measurements!
