I’m pretty sure heaven consists of a rainy day, a cozy quilt, and a warm and fuzzy historical fiction novel.  While I can’t control the weather, I can help you achieve a small sliver of heaven on earth with a quilty book sleeve to keep your favorite books looking new.  

My FREE Elsinore Book Sleeve Pattern takes your smallest scraps (2-inch) squares and turns them into something functional and timeless.  It gets its name from the heroine of one of my favorite recent reads, The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.  Due to the devastation of the Dust Bowl, Elsinore is forced to stretch her resources to the limits while still trying to provide her children with as many of the small delights of childhood as possible.  To me, classic scrappy patchwork fits her perfectly.  

The Elisnore Book Sleeve is a quick sew you can make in between projects.  I am really looking forward to using my scraps after I finish a quilt to make a matching book sleeve.  My favorite part of this project is that there is nothing tricky like zippers or closures, so it is great for confident beginners.  

Download The Elsinore Book Sleeve Pattern FREE

Fabrics & Sizes

For my cover book sleeve, the main fabric is Roadside Wildflowers in Vintage by Bonnie Christine for Art Gallery Fabrics.  I fussy cut the state names and flowers as an homage to Elsinore’s long journey across the country in search of a better life.  The accent fabrics are all Art Gallery Fabric scraps from my stash.   

There are 3 size options for this pattern: Small (6″ by 9″), Medium (7.5″ by 10.5″), & Large (9″ by 12″).  The small size is great for small paperbacks or e-readers.  The medium size fits larger paperbacks and small hardcovers, and the large size protects your large hardcover books.

Here are the fabric requirements:

My preferred interfacing for book sleeves of Pellon 931TD Fusible Midweight, which I get off the bolt at Joann Fabrics.  However, my testers used a variety of fusible midweight interfacing products and all had good results.

Closures

I haven’t added a closure to any of my sleeves, and they have worked great for me taking books on the go or just keeping them safe on my nightstand.  However, some people prefer closures, and they are a great option if you’re using your sleeve for an electronic device.  If you would like to add a closure, I recommend sewing a small loop of elastic into the top edge of the back of the book sleeve.  Then, after your book sleeve is assembled, sew a button onto the front near the top edge.   To secure, tuck the elastic under the button.  

Quilting

Small projects like this one are a great way to do some hand quilting without taking too much time to do so.  I like to quilt my Elsinore Book Sleeves with little hand-ties. 

Pattern Testers

I was really lucky to have a great group of testers for this project.  It was my first time writing a bag-type pattern, so I was so thrilled to have all of their thoughtful feedback.  This pattern would certainly not be the same without them! 

First up is Jess Poémape (@jesspoemape).  Jess made a bright and sunny sleeve in the medium size and added delicious hand quilting.  Jess is also a pattern designer – I just love her modern, clean look.  You can shop Jess’ patterns here. 

Next is Liz Tea (@lizteaquilts).  Liz made a small book sleeve with sweet florals and pink solids.  Liz is a hobbyist quilter who enjoys using #amblesideonline (a free book-based curriculum) to homeschool her kids.

Next up is Rebekah (@thequiltyprincipal).  Rebekah made the large size, and I just cannot get over how much I love the denim-look linen she used and her pink quilting.  Rebekah has been an educator for 12 years with the last two being a High School Principal. She began quilting when the world shut down in the summer of 2020. She enjoys the online quilting community, pattern testing, and collecting vintage sewing machines. This is her second sewing project outside of a traditional quilt. She sews and quilts as a hobby in her downtime for stress relief and enjoys the quietude of listening to audiobooks while quilting away. 

And last but certainly not least is Sarai (@sarai_hobbies).  Sarai made the small size with a lovely combination of polka dots and florals.  She has been quilting since 2014 and started with a quilt for each of her girls.  Since then, Sarai has been a sewist for Art Gallery Fabrics, and Riley Blake, a Socialite for Ave & Neve, And a pattern tester for lots of designers.  

I’d love to see your Elsinore Book Sleeves, too!  Be sure to tag me on social media at @TheWannabeGrandma and use the hashtags #elsinorebooksleeve and #thewannabegrandma.

As a reminder, 10% of my proceeds from my shop go towards organizations that help children and youth who live in foster care.  Thank you so much for supporting my small business!