If you love sewing, this DIY quilted book sleeve with optional ruffles is the perfect project for you! In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a stylish and protective book pouch using my PDF sewing pattern, which gives you the option to add quilting and/or ruffles for a decorative finish. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced sewist, this project is fun, practical and makes an amazing gift for book lovers!
You may use this sewing pattern to create products to sell for your small business, I would appreciate if you could give Groovy Ooze a tag in your pics!
Click the link below for my PDF pattern:
I also have a YouTube tutorial for this project!
Materials Needed:
- Fabric: Cotton, linen or quilting cotton
- Wadding
- Sewing machine
- All purpose thread
- Fabric scissors
- Fabric pen
- Clips or pins
- Point turner
- Ruler
- Hera marker (optional)
- Quilting guide bar (optional)
Below I have added a link to my recommended sewing supplies on my Amazon Storefront:
Studio Favourites - Amazon Storefront
Please note - this is an affiliate link which may earn me a small commission on any products purchased using this link. This is at no extra cost to you. I can’t thank you enough for your support!!
Let’s get making!!
1.Print & Prepare The Pattern
- Make sure your printer is set to ‘100% SCALE’ or ‘ACTUAL SIZE’
- Use glue or tape to assemble the pattern, then cut it out.
2.Prepping Your Fabric
- Cut out all of your pattern pieces and give them a good iron.
- 2x Outer Panels
- 2x Lining Panels
- 2x Wadding
- 2x Ties
- 1x Ruffle (optional)
3.Quilting The Outer Panels (optional)
NOTE: If you do not wish to quilt your fabric, you can just sew a basting stitch around the outside of your outer panel and wadding to hold them together.
- Place the outer fabric (right side facing up) on top of the wadding.
- Mark the quilting lines using a ruler and either a Hera marker or a fabric pen.
- Clip or pin the fabric to hold it in place.
- Sew along the marked lines. No need to backstitch any of these lines as they will become locked in once the main panels are sewn together.
- Repeat with the second outer panel.
TIP: To get a diamond quilted effect, I mark my fabric from corner to corner with my Hera marker to create an X and then I use my quilt guide bar to create the rest of my lines. If you don’t have a quilt guide bar, you can just mark all of your lines with a fabric marker. Make sure it is an air or water erasable marker as these markings will be seen on the finished product.
4.Creating The Ruffles (optional)
- Fold the ruffle fabric in half lengthways, right sides together.
- With a 1/4” seam allowance, sew down the short edge of each side.
- Trim the seam allowance and turn the fabric right side out.
- Give the whole strip of fabric a really good iron.
- Set your sewing machine to the longest stitch length and the highest tension setting. Using these settings will cause the fabric to gather (which is exactly what we want!)
- Sew a straight line from one end to the other 1/8” from the raw edge. Do NOT backstitch.
TIP: If your fabric needs a little extra ruffle, carefully pull on the bobbin thread and gather the fabric until it matches the width of the book sleeve.
5.Attaching The Ruffles (optional)
- Mark the top and bottom of the outer fabric 3/4” in from one of the long edges. This will be the start and stop point for the ruffles.
- Clip or pin the ruffled strip around three edges of the book sleeve (both short edges and one long edge)
6.Sewing And Attaching The Ties
- Fold each of the ties in half lengthways - right sides together, and iron.
- Clip or pin to hold in place.
- With a 1/4” seam allowance, sew down the raw edge of the tie, all the way to the point. Backstitch at the beginning and the end. The short straight edge should remain unsewn.
- Trim the excess fabric at the point to reduce bulk. Do not cut through the stitches.
- Turn the fabric right side out and iron.
- Mark the centre point on each of the outer panels and clip or pin the ties in place.
- With a 1/8” seam allowance, sew the ties in place. Backstitching at the beginning and the end.
7.Assemble The Sleeve
- Place the outer panels right sides together, sandwiching the ruffle in between.
- Clip or pin around the three edges to be sewn.
- With a 1/4” seam allowance sew around the three edges. Backstitch at the beginning and the end.
- Trim the seam allowance and cut straight across each of the corners - this will remove excess bulk.
- Repeat these steps with the lining panels, but leave a gap of around 4” inches the long edge for turning.
TIP: When sewing and you reach the corners, make sure your needle is in the fabric, lift up the presser foot, swivel the fabric around, pop the presser foot back down and continue to sew.
8.Turn And Finish
- Turn the outer panels right sides out.
- Insert the outer panels into the lining so the right sides of the lining and the outer panels are facing.
- Align the raw edges - make sure the seams of the outer panels and lining meet.
- Clip or pin to hold in place.
- With a 1/4” seam allowance sew around the entire edge.
- Pull the sleeve through the opening of the lining.
- Fold in the opening seam in the lining, clip or pin to hold in place.
- Sewing as close as you can to the edge, sew the opening of the lining closed.
- Push the lining into the sleeve and give it a good iron.
- Clip or pin the outer edge, then take it over to the sewing machine.
- Top stitch each of the outer edges (back and front) Backstitch at the beginning and the end.
- Snip away any loose threads and your quilted book sleeve is complete!
Don’t forget to tag me in your groovy creations! @GroovyOoze on instagram!
Below is a link to all of my sewing patterns. Thank you so much for your support!
All Groovy Ooze Sewing Patterns
