How to Make a Book Purse

Co-authored by Lois Wade

Last Updated: December 24, 2021

Here's a novel purse that is perfect for the bibliophile in your life!

Make this purse out of an old (preferably cheap and unloved) book. It's sure to be a conversation starter wherever you take it and you'll get to recycle a discarded book in the process.

Steps

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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- Look around for textbooks, mismatched/outdated encyclopedias, Reader's Digest Condensed Books or anything that you think will be worth more for its cover than its contents.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
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.
- 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.
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3

Trace the book cover onto some firm pressed cardboard. Heavy mailing envelopes work fine.
4

Cut your tracing out. Cut slightly INSIDE your tracing lines so that you get a cardboard rectangle that is just slightly smaller than your book cover(s).
5

Cut the spine section away.
6

Check to see that the cardboard cutouts fit the covers of the book, and that their edges fit slightly INSIDE the edges of the book covers.
7

Cut a piece of pressed cardboard slightly smaller than the size of the book spine. This will support and reinforce the bottom of your new purse.
8

Launder your fabric.
9

Iron the fabric smooth. You may starch the fabric to make it stiffer and easier to use if you like.
10

Use your cardboard rectangles as a template to cut your cloth. Lay the cardboard on the cloth and cut around it, leaving an inch or so in every direction.
11

Repeat for the spine cardboard piece.
12
Cut the ends of your purse.
- 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.
- 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.
13

Trim the top of the fabric to one quarter inch (or so) longer than the width of the cover. (see photo for pointers)
14

Sew the long sides of each pair of triangles. Right sides together.
15

Turn and press the seam.
16

Top stitch.
17

Fold the bottom, narrow edge of your triangle in half to form a dart at the bottom.
18

By hand or by machine, begin your stitch slightly less than halfway from fold to edge. Stitch up the fold at least an inch. This will help your purse to close cleanly without the fabric bunching outward.
19

Cover the two large cardboard rectangles with fabric, gluing the edges to the back side. You may glue the fabric to the front side if you wish as well.
20

Place the narrow, darted edge of the triangle(s) onto the inside, spine ends of the book cover. Be certain that the dart lies to the inside of the cover. Glue into place.
21

Lay one of the thin strips of cardboard on the back side of its fabric.
22

Wrap the short ends of the fabric over the short ends of the spine cover. Glue into place.
23

Glue the long, raw edges of the triangles to the top and bottom edges of the book cover to form the sides of your purse.
24

Make two loops of bias tape, one to hold the button/bead closure and one for the button to slide through.
25

Place the bias tape loops in the center of the openings and glue them carefully to the edges.
26

String beads on the bias tape or similar for your handle.
27

Measure carefully and glue them into place.
28

Glue your covered rectangles to the inside of each book cover, covering all raw edges.
29

Press bottom corners to the inside of purse and glue them into place.
30

Your new purse is ready to dazzle and amaze!

Community Q&A

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Question

Do I have to use fabric?

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Community Answer

No, but it might be better to use fabric.

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Question

Can I give this to a friend as a homemade gift?

Community Answer

That is an excellent idea!

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Tips

Make sure that the hot glue gun is "completely" warm before applying. If not, it will result in untidy lumps throughout fabric.

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Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
It works well to Make a Hollow Book and attach the handle.

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Hot glue works well because of its minimal drying time. You can use craft glue, but you will need to clamp each section into place and allow it to dry before proceeding to the next step.

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Warnings

It is possible that the bibliophile in your life would be offended at a notion of re-purposing a book rather than reading it. At the least, choose an old volume with no particular value.

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Take care when handling scissors, craft knives and hot glue guns.

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Things You'll Need

A large, old book that no one wants
Craft knife or utility knife
Scissors
Iron
Sewing machine
Hot glue or similar (and hot glue gun)
Fabric to match the book.
Pen or pencil
Straightedge (optional)

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