How to Make a Book Purse

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Obtain a largish hardcover book.

   Used book stores, library book sales, and thrift stores are good places to find a tome that will suit this purpose.
   
   Look for something with an attractive cover in a color that suits your (or your recipient's) style.
   
   Some old books are bound with leather (or a lookalike) and embossed.
   
   Look around for textbooks, mismatched/outdated encyclopedias, Reader's Digest Condensed Books or anything that you think will be worth more for its cover than its contents.
2. 2

   Step 2: Cut the pages away from the cover.

   You can use scissors or a craft knife.
   
   Open the cover and cut along the gutter (crease) line.
   
   Empty cover, ready to become a purse.
   
   If you like, hang onto the pages or part of them for use in a collage or other paper crafts.
   
   Text, even if it's nothing in particular, can lend character to craft projects, and things like old encyclopedias can be great sources of images and inspiration.
   
   You can also cut out text to glue onto the cover of the book- the name of the person, etc. , Heavy mailing envelopes work fine., Cut slightly INSIDE your tracing lines so that you get a cardboard rectangle that is just slightly smaller than your book cover(s).,,, This will support and reinforce the bottom of your new purse.,, You may starch the fabric to make it stiffer and easier to use if you like., Lay the cardboard on the cloth and cut around it, leaving an inch or so in every direction.,, Fold a quarter yard (23cm) of fabric into quarters (fold once along a vertical centered fold line, then once along a horizontal fold line).
   
   You should end up with a rectangular shape, with folds on two adjacent edges and four layers of material.
   
   Measure and mark the following:
   One spine width from the corner where the two folded edges meet, along the edge with two folds.
   
   This measurement is shown by the red line in the previous diagram.
   
   One book cover width from the corner where the folded edges meet, down either of the longest sides.
   
   This measurement is shown by the blue line in the previous diagram.
   
   A diagonal line from the end of the first measurement to the end of the second measurement.
   
   Blue line is the folded edge.
   
   The red line is a folded edge that should be cut to separate the triangle(s) from each other.
   
   Cut the triangles from the markings you made.
   
   You should now have two triangles that measure as follows:
   A = twice the spine width.
   
   B = the length of the short side (width) of the book cover.
   
   C = the distance that you want your book purse to open up.
   
   Repeat the process to make two more triangles with these dimensions, making for a total of four triangles. , (see photo for pointers), Right sides together.,,,, Stitch up the fold at least an inch.
   
   This will help your purse to close cleanly without the fabric bunching outward., You may glue the fabric to the front side if you wish as well., Be certain that the dart lies to the inside of the cover.
   
   Glue into place.,, Glue into place.,,,,,,,,
3. 3

   Step 3: Trace the book cover onto some firm pressed cardboard.

4. 4

   Step 4: Cut your tracing out.

5. 5

   Step 5: Cut the spine section away.

6. 6

   Step 6: Check to see that the cardboard cutouts fit the covers of the book

7. 7

   Step 7: and that their edges fit slightly INSIDE the edges of the book covers.

8. 8

   Step 8: Cut a piece of pressed cardboard slightly smaller than the size of the book spine.

9. 9

   Step 9: Launder your fabric.

10. 10

    Step 10: Iron the fabric smooth.

11. 11

    Step 11: Use your cardboard rectangles as a template to cut your cloth.

12. 12

    Step 12: Repeat for the spine cardboard piece.

13. 13

    Step 13: Cut the ends of your purse.

14. 14

    Step 14: Trim the top of the fabric to one quarter inch (or so) longer than the width of the cover.

15. 15

    Step 15: Sew the long sides of each pair of triangles.

16. 16

    Step 16: Turn and press the seam.

17. 17

    Step 17: Top stitch.

18. 18

    Step 18: Fold the bottom

19. 19

    Step 19: narrow edge of your triangle in half to form a dart at the bottom.

20. 20

    Step 20: By hand or by machine

21. 21

    Step 21: begin your stitch slightly less than halfway from fold to edge.

22. 22

    Step 22: Cover the two large cardboard rectangles with fabric

23. 23

    Step 23: gluing the edges to the back side.

24. 24

    Step 24: Place the narrow

25. 25

    Step 25: darted edge of the triangle(s) onto the inside

26. 26

    Step 26: spine ends of the book cover.

27. 27

    Step 27: Lay one of the thin strips of cardboard on the back side of its fabric.

28. 28

    Step 28: Wrap the short ends of the fabric over the short ends of the spine cover.

29. 29

    Step 29: Glue the long

30. 30

    Step 30: raw edges of the triangles to the top and bottom edges of the book cover to form the sides of your purse.

31. 31

    Step 31: Make two loops of bias tape

32. 32

    Step 32: one to hold the button/bead closure and one for the button to slide through.

33. 33

    Step 33: Place the bias tape loops in the center of the openings and glue them carefully to the edges.

34. 34

    Step 34: String beads on the bias tape or similar for your handle.

35. 35

    Step 35: Measure carefully and glue them into place.

36. 36

    Step 36: Glue your covered rectangles to the inside of each book cover

37. 37

    Step 37: covering all raw edges.

38. 38

    Step 38: Press bottom corners to the inside of purse and glue them into place.

39. 39

    Step 39: Your new purse is ready to dazzle and amaze!

Detailed Guide

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