Cloth covers

When I was a little girl, I loved books.

I liked to read, but to possess a book? To touch it and hold it and feel the pages turn? That was love.

And nothing fed that love more than our weekly trips to the public library. I would wind my way through the stacks, touching every book along the way, seeing how the paperbacks felt versus the hardbacks, the difference in density between the chapter books and the picture books, and the tactile sense of all tactile senses: glossy versus matte pages.

Although I usually checked out only "Strega Nona," my mom let me spend those countless minutes, sometimes hours, experiencing it all.

That sensory memory has carried with me throughout my life. I still find solace in touching a shelf full of books or breathing in a library.

This respect for books has also turned me into a collector over the years. I buy them mostly for content now, but also for size, touch and smell.

So my heart skipped when I found these wonderful book covers while traveling in Japan.

They have an abundant respect for books there as well, paired closely with their absolute desire for cleanliness.

That combination equals the most beautiful cloth book covers I believe I've ever seen.

And now that I'm back in the United States, it's time to make covers for my carry-around favorites as well as my new reads.

It's really a simple process, which makes these all the more fun.

The first step is to measure the length and width of your book. Follow that with a measurement of the book's height. (For a standard paperback, the length is 4.5 inches for each cover and the width is 1 inch. The height is 7 inches, plus 1 inch for hem.)

Multiply your length by two, and add your width. Then add on 2 inches for a back flap and 3 inches for a front flap. This total combined with your height (15 by 8 inches for a standard paperback) is the measurement for the square of fabric you want to work with.

Fold all the edges over half an inch and iron in place. This will give you a hem and keep the cover looking nice. Then it's time to embellish. If you'd like a length of ribbon or a design, you can add that. I've even included bookmarks and pockets on the inside.

When you've got all those sewn in place, sew a hem at each short end of the cover. Then fold one short end in 2 inches and pin into place. This will make a pocket to slide the back cover of your book into.

To secure your front cover in place, cut a length of fabric the height of your book cover plus 1 inch for turn under. Pin this about 5 inches from the left side of your fabric piece. Now sew along all the outside edges making sure to secure the back flap and front strap in place.

That's it. Now all you have to do is find the perfect book to hide mysteriously inside.

Vanessa Cook is a former copy editor for the Southeast Missourian who dabbles in decorating.