How to Sew a Quilted Book Sleeve

One of the first things I learned to make was a book sleeve.

I remember how daunting it felt at first… now they seem so simple to make.

I hadn’t made one with knit fabric until this tutorial, and it was nice to have a little challenge.

I am so in love with how it turned out, and even though it takes a little more maneuvering the fabric and being more patient with my machine, the results are 100% WORTH IT!

If you are not used to working with knit fabric, I highly recommend making your book sleeve with a woven fabric on your first try as it is a much easier to fabric to work with. The other big difference I will point out in these fabric is that knit tends to be stretchy & woven does not, so the book sleeves I made with knit fabric hold larger books than the ones made of woven. If you’re wanting to put a large/thick book inside your sleeve, I would size up your measurements for woven fabric. I haven’t played around with any other sizing, but if I do I’ll refer back to this post and update.

These are great to tuck the current book you’re reading in to take along with you on all your adventures… well, the adventures you experience out here in the real world that is…

Here’s what I did if you’d like to make a cozy sleeve to bundle your book in.

Video Tutorial

Supplies

Main Fabric (2)
Lining Fabric (2)
Batting (2)
Tie Fabric (2)
Matching Thread

Sewing machine
Iron (if you’re using knit fabric like me, you won’t need an iron)
Fabric Scissors
Pins or clips
Ruler fabric tape measure

Measurements

Main Fabric: 8.5″x11′
Lining Fabric: 8.5″x11″
Batting: a little larger than the size of Main Fabric (I always leave a tad extra overhang of batting when I’m quilting just in case of stretching or anything. Then I just trim the batting away to the size of the fabric I’ve sewn it to once I’m done quilting it together).
Tie Fabric: 4.25″x17.25″

Of course, if you want your sleeve larger or smaller than mine, you can adjust the measurements.

Instructions

Step 1: Cut the fabric.

How I cut the shape of the fabric ties:

I cut the fabric ties in long rectangles to the size given above (4.25″x17.25″).
On the right end of each tie, I lined up my ruler diagonally to reach across the last 2 inches of the fabric tie. I cut on that line.

Step 2: Quilt your main fabric.

Pin your main fabric pieces to your batting pieces.

You can quilt whatever design you like. I chose to quilt lines that would be parallel to the rib knit fabric I chose because I thought the contrast would look cute that way. I sewed my lines 1 inch apart.

Step 3: Pin and sew your main fabric together.

After you’ve quilted both pieces, pin your main fabric right sides together.

You want to pin the top, bottom, and one side together.

Leave one side open. The open side will be where you slide your book in.

Sew together using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 4: Flip your project right side out.

Step 5: Prepare your book sleeve lining.

Place your 2 lining fabric pieces right sides together.

Pin the top, bottom, and one side (just like you pinned your main fabric pieces).

You also want to leave a gap in this step.

You can see I left about 4 inches open on the side that I chose to sew together. This is to pull your main fabric through later on once we sew it to the lining.

Sew together using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 6: Prepare your book sleeve ties.

Fold your fabric tie fabric right sides together and pin.

Leave the bottom open so that you can turn the ties right sides out after sewing.

Starting from the pointy bottom, sew the open edge using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 7: Flip your book sleeve ties right sides out.

If you’re using woven fabric, iron your fabric flat. It’s not necessary to do a top stitch on your sleeve ties, but I did for mine because the knit fabric is so thick, it didn’t lay as neat as I wanted it to.

Step 8: Adjust your main fabric inside your lining.

Keep your lining fabric inside out. Do not turn it right sides out like you did your main fabric.

The right sides of your main fabric should be facing the right sides of your lining fabric.

Step 9: Sandwich your ties between your main fabric & lining fabric.

Make sure each tie lines up with each other evenly.

You also want to ensure that your fabric ties are lined up where you want them to be on your completed book sleeve… I wanted mine to be as centered as possible.

Step 10: Pin & Sew together your book sleeve.

Sew all the way around your opening using 1/4″ seam allowance.

As far as I know, most sewing machines allow you to pop off the base which allows you to get the book sleeve lined up underneath your needle & rotate easier.

Step 11: Pull your main fabric through the gap in your lining fabric.

Remember that gap I told you to leave in the lining fabric? Pull your main fabric through it.

Step 12: Pin and sew your lining fabric gap shut.

I sewed mine at a 1/8″ seam allowance. This exposed seam doesn’t matter because it will be inside your book sleeve, and not visible unless you pull it out and look for it.

Step 13: Top stitch your main fabric & lining fabric together.

We’re almost done!

Stuff your lining inside your book sleeve.

Press your seams (DO NOT SKIP this step… especially if you are using woven fabric. You’ve come this far, and pressing will make your project look more clean in the end).

You can pin the edges to make it easier to handle your fabric.

Sew your top stitch around the entire gap at a 1/8″ or 1/4″ seam allowance… it’s preference really. For a woven fabric, I would probably do 1/8″ seam allowance, but because I was using a bulky knit fabric, I chose to sew 1/4″ seam allowance for my top stitch and I think it looks great.