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Hi, sewing friends!
For today’s project, I thought we’d make a book sleeve. It’s a great teacher appreciation, Mother’s Day, or Graduation gift. I am currently extra obsessed (I’m always obsessed) with vintage sheets so I am using some childhood favorites to upcycle for the front pocket on mine, however, any quilter's cotton will do. It is a great project to highlight a larger print or you could go crazy and piece the pocket, too. Let’s get started.
WxH
**Main Fabric (2) 9.5”x11.5”
**HeatnBond VersaFoam Foam Stabilizer (2) 9.5”x11.5”
**Pocket Fabric 9.5”x8.5”
**HeatnBond Fusible Fleece 9.5”x8.5”
Lining Fabric (2) 9.5”x11.5” & 9.5”x8.5”
HeatnBond Lightweight Interfacing (2) 9.5”x11.5” & 9.5”x8.5”
**If quilting your main fabric and outer pocket cut all “**” lines 2" larger (W&H), fuse coordinating stabilizer to the wrong side of fabric and quilt before trimming down to size specified above. The pieces will shrink when quilting.
Fuse the fabrics to the coordinating sizes stabilizer below it in the cut guide: main fabric to foam stabilizer; pocket fabric to fleece; lining fabric to lightweight interfacing.
All seam allowances are 1/4” unless otherwise stated.
Here is what you should have at this point. Two main panels (strawberry print), two main linings (green and white stripe, one pocket (Strawberry Shortcake), one pocket lining (green and white stripe) If adding a logo-tag to your pocket as I have, measure in 1" from the outside edge and 1" from the bottom and line the bottom edge of your tag up at that point. Sew around the perimeter to tack in place.
Take your pocket lining and main pocket and line up, right sides together. Sew just along the top. Flip the lining behind. Top stitch along the top and then tack the other three raw edges.
Place the pocket on top of one of the main panel pieces. Pin or clip the pocket, making sure it is right side up with the top stitched edge on top, along the bottom of the main panel rectangle. Tack the pocket along the three raw outside edges onto the main panel.
I prefer to make the front pocket into two pockets. To do so measure in 3.75” in from the right and make a vertical line using a Frixion pen or other water-soluble marking tool. Sew a line from the top of the pocket to the bottom, sewing through the main panel and pocket to create that divide.
On your second main panel find the center of the top (shorter end). Take your 7” trim and make a loop. Tack the trim to the center with the raw edges facing up.
Alright, let’s assemble. Next take your lining panels and place them on top of your main panels, right sides together. Make sure your back panel has the trim facing on top. Sew each just along the top edge only. Press open.
Next take both sides and lay them on top of each other, right sides together. Make sure you have the lining sides matched up and the main panels matched up. Pin or clip all around the perimeter. On one side of the lining leave a large opening for turning. This is marked with the yellow-headed straight pins in my photo. Foam is tricky to turn right side out so make sure the opening is extra wide. Sew around the perimeter. Turn right side out.
Sew the opening closed. Push the lining inside the main panel. Top stitch around the top.
Final step, grab your toggle or button. Pull the trim around the front to help figure out placement. Sew in place.
There we have it, one perfectly fabulous giftable book sleeve. It’s a bigger book sleeve that will fit a larger chapter book, a large journal, or a sketchbook. The front pockets can fit a small notebook and pens, too. Hope you find it as fun of a sew as I do. Thanks for sewing along!
