The latest product that I have started selling and has quickly risen to be my top product of the year is the book sleeve. Not only do these cuties sell, but I love making them! Finding fun patterns to use for them and matching the bias tape binding at the top is a thrill I have not gotten sick of either. With book sleeves rising to the top of my product line, I wanted to devote a Substack article to tell you all about them!
First, how did the book sleeve come to be? I forget the entire origin story of this product, but over the summer I was looking on Pinterest and saw a pattern for a book sleeve and had to try it out. I am a huge reader and usually have at least my Kindle on hand, so why not make a sleeve to protect my Kindle and books? My daughters were also interested and I figured I would try making a book sleeve for both of them and myself to see what we thought.
We headed to Joann Fabrics, bought some fabric and batting, and headed home to make the sleeves. The first batch came out great, but I could tell there was something more that I wanted from these book sleeves. For starters, the pattern I used left the interior seams exposed so you could see the rough edge of the fabric and the batting on the inside. I also had to tuck in the top of the sleeve and clip it, then top stitch to make the top not look rough. Though the end results were not as polished as I would have liked, I still made a few book sleeves and they were super cute.
As I played more with the book sleeve design, I was able to change the design so that instead of the inside having a rough edge, the inside of the book sleeve now had a nice hidden seam. Eventually, I also discovered that instead of tucking the top in on itself, I could use bias tape to finish the top in a lot less time and a nicer finish.
I started selling the book sleeves in September at markets and they have been a huge hit ever since!
If you are trying to decide if getting a book sleeve is right for you, let me give you some more details so that you can make that decision. The book sleeves that I create come in three different sizes and loads of patterns. Here are the sizing details:
Small: The small book sleeve perfectly fits an e-reader, like a Kindle. It is roughly six inches wide and nine and a half inches tall. It will also fit a small book but is more suited for an e-reader.
Books from my library that will fit inside this size include The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo, Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown, and Essentialism by Greg McKeown.
Standard/Medium: This is the most popular size that I sell by far because it holds most standard-sized books. From a 300-page paperback to a 500+ page hardcover, you can fit a variety of books in this book sleeve. I have been able to fit a 700-page paperback and my Kindle inside of this size, so it has range. If you aren’t sure which size to get, this is probably the one! It is roughly eight inches wide by ten and a half inches tall and has the most variety in patterns because it is such a popular size.
Books from my library that will fit inside this size include Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, any book from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, and The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.
Large: The large book sleeve is great if you love super large books or enjoy bringing multiple books with you at a time. If you frequently travel and still want to bring a physical book or two, this book sleeve will fit three books that are slightly over 300 pages inside. It is roughly nine and a half inches wide by twelve and a half inches tall.
Books from my library that will fit inside this size include The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, and Crescent City - House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas.
These book sleeves have done a great job of keeping my books from getting tattered edges in my purse or overnight bag when I travel. The batting inside gives them the cushion they need to stay protected and not get damaged in transit. As a mom, I love them because they also keep my books safe when I am out and about with my kids, stuffing things into my purse alongside my book or Kindle. I know that with the sleeves on, my book and Kindle are well protected from getting jostled.
Book sleeves also make a great gift for anyone you know who loves books. If you know of a book on their to-be-read list that you want to get, slip it inside a book sleeve as an extra special gift. If you aren’t sure what book to get someone, you can always get them a book sleeve and a gift card to their favorite local bookstore.
Since there are so many patterns in the shop for the standard size, you can mix and match your book sleeve depending on the genre you are reading. A pattern like Classic reminds me of a gorgeous historical fiction novel that takes me to an old home with a large garden while Reading Room Rug has a tinge of modern fiction or self-help to it. I have a new pattern coming soon called Rose Garden that is a perfect sleeve for a romantasy or fantasy novel.
Another new addition coming to the shop will be book sleeves made from vintage fabric that I am so excited to share! I recently found a shop called Yarn + Fiber in Derry NH and they have a basement with bins of vintage fabric by the yard, so I obviously got my hands all over that stuff and am making a bunch of napkins as well as book sleeves with it. These book sleeves will of course be very limited since I will only be able to get 2-3 book sleeves out of a yard of fabric, so when you see one you like, grab it!
If you have already purchased a book sleeve from me, thank you so much for supporting my shop! Your support means so much and keeps this little dream business here, and please comment with which book sleeve you got. If you are thinking about getting a book sleeve, I hope this article helped steer you toward the best size and pattern for you.
xoxo
Elise