In service to everyone who showed such great response to our Swatch of the Month, we are featuring a series of DIY projects that you can create with your completed swatch(es). This month’s project is a book cover adapted to fit the size of our Studio Books. It requires one swatch and four blank panels of fabric to complete. Make your own Studio Book cover, or adapt the size to fit your favorite book.

We chose to use this month’s appliqué swatch for the main portion of our book cover. The additional four panels were left unembellished in order to highlight the intricate Anna’s Garden design.

SUPPLIES

Supplies for April’s Swatch of the Month (or your favorite swatch of choice)
4 – 10” x 8” organic medium-weight cotton jersey panels (we used solid, unembellished pieces)
Basic sewing supplies: scissors, rotary cutter, cutting mat, ruler, tailor’s chalk, needles, thread, pins.

Complete your Swatch of the Month according to the instructions – or your own personal design choice. Use Alabama Studio Sewing + Design as a resource, if you need additional guidance.

Match up two of the blank panels, right side to wrong side (so the grain side is facing up on both blocks), and pin to secure. Repeat this with the remaining two blank panels. You will now have 2 double-layer 10” x 8” panels.

Pin each of these double-layer panels to the ends of your embellished swatch (along the 10” sides), wrong sides together. Sew together using a straight stitch, ¼” from the edge of the fabric; this will create an outside floating seam. You will now have an embellished swatch with two solid color blocks sewn to each end.

To size the book cover to our Studio Books, fold the end of each blank panel inward 5” and pin to secure. Stitch the top and bottom edges of this folded area using a straight stitch and a ½” seam allowance. This ensures a secure fit for your book. Slide the front and back covers of your Studio Book into these secured flaps.

OUR DESIGN CHOICES

Fabric – 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Top layer – Navy
Backing layer – Navy
Appliqué – Blue Slate
Stencil – Anna’s Garden
Treatment – Appliqué
Button Craft thread – Navy #13 (for construction), Slate #26 (for appliqué)
Seams – Outside floating
Knots – Inside