Book Cover with Handles

Hello and happy summer! Me and the kiddos have been enjoying the first weeks of summer. I've been trying to plan sewing projects for my daughter and this one is perfect for her - a Book Cover with Handles. She's 9 years old and knows the basics and then some, so this project is perfect for her as it's mostly straight stitching. Handles are added to make it a bit whimsy but also functional. Let's make this book cover!

Book Holder with Handle Instructions

Materials Needed:

• 2 Fat quarters of cotton fabric in contrasting patterns
• HeatnBond Craft Extra Firm Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing
• HeatnBond Fusible Fleece
• 5" Elastic piece
• Decorative button
• Iron – I love Oliso!
• Sewing Machine
• Rotary Cutter and Mat
• Ruler
• Stilleto or chopstick

Cutting:

• Cut one 5" x 9 1/2"" cotton rectangle - for the outer cover spine
• Cut two 4 3/4" x 9 1/2" cotton rectangles - for the outer cover front and backside
• Cut one 13 1/2" x 9 1/2" cotton rectangle - for the inner body
• Cut two 8" x 9 1/2" cotton rectangles - for the inner book sleeves
• Cut two 13 1/2" x 9 1/2 HeatnBond fusible fleece rectangles - for the outer and inner body
• Cut two 8" x 4" HeatnBond extra craft firm fusible interfacing - for the inner book sleeves

Tips

• Use a 1/4″ seam allowance unless noted otherwise
• Follow the instructions for HeatnBond Fusible Fleece and HeatnBond Extra Craft Firm Fusible Interfacing as directed on the package

Let's Begin!

Make the Book Cover Handles

1. Take an 8" x 4" cotton rectangle and adhere to an 8" x 4" HeatnBond extra craft firm fusible interfacing. Fold the handles into fourths. Fold in half lengthwise and press.[gallery size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_4.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_5.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_6.jpg|"]
2. Open the fold and bring the bottom and top edges into the middle crease and press.[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_7.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_8.jpg|"]
3. Fold in half again and press again.[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_9.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_10.jpg|"]
4. Edgestitch along the sides and baste each end. Repeat and set the handles aside Proceed with the front body.[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_11.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_12.jpg|"]

Make the Front Cover Body

1. Piece the spine to the front and backside. With right sides together, align a 4 3/4" x 9 1/2" rectangle piece to the right side of the 5" x 9 1/2" spine rectangle piece. Pin in place and sew using a 1/4" seam allowance.[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_13.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_14.jpg|"]
2. Take the second 4 3/4" x 9 1/2" rectangle piece and align to the left side of the 5" x 9 1/2" spine rectangle piece (wrong sides should be facing out). Pin in place and sew using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press each seam open and press.[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_17.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_18.jpg|"]  
3. Adhere the pieced front cover to a 13 1/2" x 9 1/2" HeatnBond fusible fleece rectangle.
4. Attach the elastic loop to the left side. Fold the elastic in half, making it into a loop.
5. Find the middle center on the left side of the front cover and baste the loops raw ends in place.[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_26.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_27.jpg|"]  
6. To attach the handles, starting on the left side, locate the middle center and desired placement of the handles. Pin in place and baste both raw ends into place. Repeat for the right side.

Make the Inner Body

1. Adhere the13 1/2" x 9 1/2" cotton rectangle to the 13 1/2" x 9 1/2" HeatnBond fusible fleece rectangle.
2. To make the inner book sleeves, take an 8" x 9 1/2" cotton rectangle and adhere to an 8" x 9 1/2" HeatnBond Fusible Interfacing rectangle.
3. Fold in half lengthwise and press. Edgestitch along the length of the fold and baste the raw sides. Repeat for the second sleeve.[gallery size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_22.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_23.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_24.jpg|"]
4. Take one sleeve piece and align the raw edges to the inner bodies left side. Clip in place and baste in place. Repeat for the right side.[gallery size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_30.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_31.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_32.jpg|"]

Assemble the Book Cover

1. With right sides facing in, lay the front cover body to the inner cover. Make sure to tuck in the handles and elastic in place. Clip in place. Leaving a 3" opening on the bottom (this is where you turn the piece right side out. Sew using a 1/4" seam allowance (making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end from the opening).
2. Turn the piece right side out through the opening on the bottom, smoothing out all the corners and smoothing out the sides using a stiletto or chopstick. Pop out the handles and elastic as well. Press with an iron around the entire piece.[gallery size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_34.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover_35.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover-36.jpg|"]
3. Hand stitch the bottom opening closed.
4. Attach the front button in desired area, matching it up with the elastic on the other side.
5. Insert your book into the inner sleeves and you're done![gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover-Main-6.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover-Main-7.jpg|"]  

  [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover-Main-11.jpg|,https://blog.thermoweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Cover-Main-5.jpg|"]