What You Need to Make a Fabric Book Cover
A fabric book cover is a rectangle of material folded and sewn to wrap around a book, with flaps that tuck inside the front and back covers. You need fabric large enough to wrap around your book with 2 to 3 inches of overlap on each side, plus two pieces of lining fabric if you want a finished interior. Most people use cotton quilting fabric, cotton canvas, or linen — anything sturdy enough not to tear when you open and close the book repeatedly.
Beyond fabric, you will need a needle (hand or machine), thread that matches or complements your fabric, scissors, a ruler or measuring tape, and pins. If you are machine sewing, a sewing machine is essential. If you are hand sewing, a needle and thread are enough. Many people also use an iron to press seams flat, which makes the cover look neater, but it is not required.
Key Takeaways
- Measure your book's height, width, and spine thickness, then add 2 to 3 inches on each side to calculate the fabric rectangle you need.
- Cut your outer fabric and optional lining fabric to size, then pin and sew them together with a quarter-inch seam allowance, leaving a 3-inch opening to turn the cover right-side out.
- Turn the cover through the opening, press it flat, and hand-stitch the opening closed using a ladder stitch or whip stitch.
- Fold the cover around your book and find the flaps inside the front and back covers with a few stitches or fabric glue if you want them to stay in place.
Measuring Your Book and Calculating Fabric Size
Start by measuring your book in three directions: the height (top to bottom), the width of the spine (the thickness of the closed book), and the width of one cover (front or back). Write these numbers down. A standard paperback might be 8 inches tall, 1 inch thick at the spine, and 5.5 inches wide per cover.
To find the width of fabric you need, add the three measurements together, then add 4 to 6 inches for the flaps that will tuck inside the front and back covers. Using the paperback example: 5.5 + 1 + 5.5 + 4 = 16 inches wide. The height of your fabric should match the height of your book, or be 1 inch taller to give yourself a small margin. So for that book, you would cut a rectangle roughly 16 inches wide by 9 inches tall.
If you are making a cover for a hardcover book, measure the same way but add an extra half-inch to the spine width to account for the thickness of the boards. Hardcover books are also heavier, so consider using a thicker fabric like canvas or upholstery cotton.
Cutting and Pinning Your Fabric Pieces
Cut your outer fabric to the dimensions you calculated. If you want a lined cover (which looks more finished on the inside), cut a piece of lining fabric to the same size. Lining fabric is usually a lighter cotton or cotton blend and does not need to match your outer fabric — many people use a contrasting color or pattern on the inside.
Place your outer fabric and lining fabric with the right sides facing each other — the sides you want to show should be touching. Pin around all four edges, leaving one short side (the 9-inch edge in the example above) unpinned. This unpinned edge is where you will turn the cover right-side out later, so leave it completely free.
If you are not using a lining, you can skip this step and move straight to sewing. An unlined cover is simpler and works well if your outer fabric is attractive on both sides or if you plan to glue the flaps down instead of stitching them.
Sewing the Outer and Lining Fabric Together
Using a sewing machine or hand needle, sew around three sides of your pinned fabric with a quarter-inch seam allowance — that is, a line of stitches a quarter-inch away from the edge. Start at one corner of the unpinned side and sew along the long edge, around the opposite short end, and back along the other long edge. Stop a quarter-inch before you reach the starting corner. Do not sew the unpinned short edge.
If you are machine sewing, use a straight stitch and a medium stitch length. Backstitch at the beginning and end to lock the thread. If you are hand sewing, use a running stitch or backstitch, keeping your stitches small and even — aim for about 8 to 10 stitches per inch.
After sewing, trim the corners diagonally, cutting away the excess fabric about a quarter-inch from the corner seam. This reduces bulk when you turn the cover right-side out and gives you sharp, neat corners.
Turning, Pressing, and Closing the Cover
Reach through the unpinned opening and grab the fabric on the opposite side, then pull gently to turn the entire cover right-side out. The outer fabric should now be on the outside and the lining on the inside. Push the corners out gently with a blunt tool like a chopstick or the end of a wooden spoon to make them sharp and square.
Press the cover flat with an iron if you have one, paying special attention to the seams. This step is optional but makes the cover look more polished. If you do not have an iron, you can press it under a heavy book for a few hours.
Close the opening by hand using a ladder stitch (also called an invisible stitch). Fold the raw edges of the opening inward a quarter-inch and pin them closed. Thread a needle and knot the end. Bring the needle up through the fold on one side, then cross over and insert it into the fold on the opposite side, sliding the needle inside the fold for about a quarter-inch before bringing it back out. Cross back to the first side and repeat, moving along the opening. When you reach the end, knot the thread on the inside and trim it.
Fitting the Cover Around Your Book
Slide your book into the cover, centering it so the spine sits in the middle and the flaps are even on both sides. The flaps should fold inside the front and back covers of your book. If the flaps are too long or too short, you can trim them or adjust your measurements for the next cover you make.
If you want the flaps to stay in place permanently, you can hand-stitch them to the inside of the book cover using a few small stitches along the top and bottom edges. Alternatively, use a fabric glue or a glue stick to adhere the flaps to the book cover — this is less visible than stitching and works well if your book's cover is not valuable. If the book is a library book or borrowed, do not glue anything down.
For a removable cover that you can take off and wash or reuse on another book, skip the gluing and stitching. The friction of the flaps tucked inside the covers is usually enough to keep the cover in place during normal reading.
Choosing Fabric and Customizing Your Design
Cotton quilting fabric is the easiest choice for beginners because it is widely available, affordable, and comes in thousands of patterns. Cotton canvas and linen are more durable and give a more tailored look. Avoid stretchy fabrics like jersey or knits unless you are experienced — they are difficult to sew straight and will not hold their shape around a book.
You can add decorative elements before sewing the cover together: embroider a design on the outer fabric, sew on appliqué patches, or use fabric paint to add text or images. Do all decoration on the flat fabric before you pin and sew the outer and lining together. You can also add a ribbon bookmark by sandwiching a length of ribbon between the outer and lining fabric before sewing — position it at the spine so it hangs down the center of the book.
If you want a reversible cover, use two different outer fabrics instead of an outer and a lining. Sew them together the same way, and you will have a cover that looks different depending which side you fold outward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a book cover without a sewing machine?
Yes. Hand sewing takes longer but produces the same result. Use a needle and thread, a running stitch or backstitch, and keep your stitches small and even. A hand-sewn cover is actually more durable in some ways because the thread is less likely to break under stress than a machine seam.
What if my book is an odd size or shape?
Measure it the same way — height, spine width, and cover width. The formula stays the same. If your book is square, a square cover works fine. If it is very thick, add extra width to the spine measurement. The cover will fit any rectangular book as long as you measure accurately.
How do I wash a fabric book cover?
If the cover is removable, slide the book out and hand-wash the cover in cool water with mild soap. Lay it flat to dry. If the cover is glued or stitched to the book, do not wash it — spot-clean with a damp cloth instead. Always check the fabric care instructions before washing.
Do I have to use a lining fabric?
No. An unlined cover is simpler and faster to make. The raw seams will be visible on the inside, but many people like that look. If you want a finished interior, lining is worth the extra step and fabric cost.
What thread color should I use?
Match the thread to your outer fabric if you want the seams to blend in. Use a contrasting color if you want the stitching to be a design feature. For lining, match the thread to the lining fabric since that is what will be visible on the inside.