Make a Custom Composition Book Cover with Rob Appell of Man Sewing (Video Tutorial)

[@JoDidntHearYou]

Super cool! I should make this for my Bible and include a pocket for my pens and highlighters! Thanks for sharing this, Rob!

[@kylierigby1953]

Agree! My kids see a Bible cover first year at high school. So love this design! Can work for any note book or any book of importance.

[@nanab573]

Definitely a great project for a Bible cover and study journal.

[@TheJudeJane]

Very nifty! I think I will make a cover or two for my sketch books. Thanks! Great video and nothing is sexier than a man behind a sewing machine or a serger‼️💖

[@sarahcontento9516]

I really like the patchwork book cover. I use composition books for everything from writing down recipes to making my budget every month. They're great and inexpensive.

[@cynthiamarble1232]

Loved it, I think I will make a patchwork on with my scraps and just peace it together to be the right size.

[@christypoos9728]

Sew fun for Bible covers, or photo Albums. I have made them for years. Beautiful to do for wedding albums also as a gift.

[@charlidarector6350]

I like it! I make a cover for my grandson notebook with his favorite pokemon on the front and got the sleeve to put his cards in.

[@pajama_weather]

This is neat! The patchwork construction even makes it easy to add little pockets. I might make some of these for my little cousin for her birthday next month.

[@bbrown8353]

Love this! Just received your shark cutter from msq - can't wait to use it. Maybe I'll do some applique on the cover - add pockets to the inside cover, maybe some thin elastic strips in the middle to create sections or some ribbon bookmarks - my brain is racing, you never fail to inspire me! Thank you for all your great instructions. Wishing you and yours a very Happy, Healthy New Year!

[@amyparrott2840]

I’m a lefty, and spiral bound notebooks hurt my hand to write in them. But I’m also a professional who can’t show up with the “K-2 Primary Composition Book” (my current preferred notebook) marked all over the front. This comp book is amazing since it has a top portion for drawing and the bottom portion is lined for notes, but it’s super juvenile looking. I’m excited about masking it with your tutorial and showing off my personality instead. Thank you for the great tutorial!

[@lauravanhook1987]

I'm just finding you. Love you and your tutorials from how to oil your machine to this! Thanks so much for being informative and fun!

[@dawnmason9558]

Brilliant idea for my Granddaughters schoolbooks. She can make her own, with some help from Nanny. Merry Christmas to you & your lovely family & a prosperous 2019.

[@denisemcintosh7568]

Ty so much for a great tutorial. This is the perfect project to work on with my 6 year old granddaughter. Rob love your tutorials! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[@karenmarshall8354]

I like it! Think I'll make one for my Bible. Measurements will be different, but your design will work beautifully! Thank you 👍🌞

[@beckyezra1]

happy holidays!!!! to you and your loved ones!!!

[@c.mcmahon494]

Beautiful book covers! I cannot wait to make some.

[@talenagebbie9790]

I think this is pretty brilliant. I love how u can customize it. All 3 of my girls would definitely want one! Thank you. Hope to try it soon

[@kylierigby1953]

Thanks Rob again for a great inspiration!

[@lynngallegos2727]

Love it. Patchwork is always good. It can be made to fit any size book. Thanks Rob, love your videos. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[@catkoe9321]

Wow, couldn’t follow but love watching you!

[@samanthacheney9909]

I didn't know it was Big Brother Rob Appell. I had been looking for a pattern for this just a week ago. Your timing is excellent!! Were you looking at my browsing history? 🤣

[@chuck4399]

Happy Holidays to you and your family. Really like your videos.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Thank you for sharing your design. Great way to use small pieces of fabrics, whether coordinated 10x10 or our own mix & match fabrics whether pre-cuts or leftovers. Have seen these often done with various thickness of batting. Like, too, that you used interfacing which yields a more streamlined appearance. Especially if done in camo fabric for a sportsman's notebook. Merry Christmas. Edit: PS: Thanks for the pattern and printed directions. Always nice when I don't have to work out dimensions of the pieces, myself.

[@janwebster3749]

Love the way you made this cover I love making journal covers.

[@tinageorge8759]

Another great tutorial, thanks so much Rob and I'm wishing you and your family a very blessed Christmas!!!

[@emiliegoethals3769]

this is super, I wanted to make one. but I had no idea how to start. So I will dive into my stash and get stitching. Thank you so much.

[@carolgiallombardo6264]

Thanks for the great tutorial Rob. I just finished my own version and LOVE it! I ordered a new planner for 2019 and was inspired by you to make a cover that suited my personality. I wish we could add pics to our comments here, but I posted it on Instagram and hash-tagged you, so hopefully you'll see it.

[@lynnstratton2890]

What a great project! Makes me want to buy some journals just so I can play with the patchwork possibilities!! Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

[@loretta4618]

MERRY CHRISTMAS to You Rob and Your Family.

[@angelastyles701]

Love your videos, happy holidays and keep up the awesome work

[@janetcozens4623]

Amazing Rob as always many thanks (smiles)

[@charlievalintyne7160]

New quarantine crush...🥰😊🧵

[@marymote8951]

another great project thank you.Wishing you and your family a happy and blessed New Year

[@lindagillian8157]

That was great!!

[@carolegroom5161]

Love it. Brilliant

[@pmed002]

Totally love the project. It would be fabulous to take this and redo for a legal pad type where the paper is held at the top. You could teach us how to rethink and modify an existing pattern to fix the need.

[@kayecollins5050]

Great idea. I'm trying to use up scraps and this is perfect. Already made two. :)

[@bonniestalhiem8025]

What an awesome video! 👍🏻👵🏻

[@arlenemurphy804]

Great idea. Thank you. MERRY christmas.

[@stephm281]

Sew cute . Great idea for recipe books etc. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You and Your Family !! 🎄⛄️🎄

[@wonderfullytaylor-made2759]

Loved this. I am going to do this one soon.

[@gaylelucas5909]

This is great! Thanks, Rob. I'd love to see you do a cover for my Kindle. Just a suggestion. ;-)

[@anne-mariehill2199]

Loved this, it would make a great scrap buster in conjunction with 10" squares. Shame we don't have composition note books in the UK! I will resize and cover metric notebooks ... this would be a great teacher gift.

[@elizabethguzman6024]

Love it!!!!

[@loridavison6672]

Thank you so much, looks like fun.. Merry Christmas to you!

[@DallyKones1234]

love it!

[@dawntenneson6360]

Love this pattern-thank you so much and Merry Christmas 🎄

[@ladytashmurray6075]

Great inspiration for my 2019 diary cover, thank you.

[@catkoe9321]

Love you!!!

[@bnyzhny]

GENIUS! 👏. Luuove it🥰. Thank you.

[@Gammy2seven]

Love this!!

[@donnasamuel3399]

Hi Rob, been watching yr tutorials for sometime now and real enjoy yr explanations and encouragement to just have a go. What I would say about this project is that perhaps a different fabric would be more appealing as to me it looks like someone cut the length to short and sewed a piece to make it up. This is because I have done this many times getting my maths wrong, doh. So having contrasting fabrics would make it look appealing to me. Beautiful choice of fabric by the way. Take care

[@pamelaarbour3368]

I really like that, but it is no longer available on the link.

[@keressabeverage2622]

What’s that cool little attachment for 1/4” seam!? I like!

[@oldtimerlee8820]

It's a seam guide. Available as an accessory for many models of sewing machines. Several different styles. Before ordering, make sure your choice fits your particular model of machine. The screw size can vary. The one for my Singer doesn't fit my Brother sewing machine. Hope this helps.

[@spookymu1der]

they have magnetic ones as well. i’ve seen them at JoAnns!

[@michellewohlgemuth8847]

Awesome. Thank you for sharing!

[@pamketron]

Would be great to add pockets to the inside. Can be customized to whatever book you want to fit. Using clips or pins does make the sewing easier!!! Lol. Great tutorial.

[@lisahernandez3462]

Great tutorial. TfS

[@bledsoelaura5203]

Wow like this idea! I need a new bible cover, can this be converted to fit it?

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Sure... You can use newspaper or wrapping paper, as if you were going to cover a school book, to get the correct finished size. (Wrap around book and cut to fit height and width of closed book.) Then, add seam allowance + 1/4" or so for ease. FWIW, I was thinking of doing the same thing, as I watched the video. Merry Christmas.

[@merrilynhurd850]

Keeping it real ❤

[@kathleenwatts6145]

Does this work with a hard cover spiral notebook?

[@carolyncarter-nash6757]

Hi, I know that Rob has left Man Sewing so why can I not get this pattern? Thank you for your help.

[@katrinahough290]

I just finished making one for my first Secret Santa Project for 2019.

[@lindadeeter9718]

I printed the supply list, but is there a "step by step" instruction that I can print? Love the idea of making these scrappy!

[@rebeccametzger5957]

good tutorial. thanks.

[@scrappingaudess]

Brilliant!!

[@lauramiddleton2709]

I can't get the printable to load? Any tips to do this

[@lorihamrick9349]

Would also like to make a bible cover but free motion quilt the outside first.

[@brendablankenship8338]

pretty

[@trishlovesdogs3188]

Hi Rob, I really liked the tutorial. Would this work well with fat quarters?

[@valerievigil1460]

is the PDF still available? It tells me there is an error :(

[@TheLynd7255]

The link provided for the measurements does not work. Could you please send a working link?

[@tomherd4179]

I have an old Sew Gem #215 and have been looking for some instructions for it. It gets used very seldom by me and I have some trouble figuring out how to do the simplest things, like thread the bobbin and run the thread from the spool. May sound simple, but it isn't for me.

[@angeliajohnsonrelationship2179]

Can we still get printable? I have tried several times but it won't load. Thanks in advance

[@earljmaui_boy2546]

* * * Appears to me that it could easily be modified to fit a three-ring binder by altering the width of that third piece of fabric fitting over the spine... Well, in addition to the height and width of the sides as well... LOL I like it. . . very much... I think I'll give it a shot... * * * Once I do, where can I share photos of the finished project...? I don't have to create my own YT channel do I...? (grin) * * * Until that time. . .

[@sallyschilling1559]

Hi Rob! Silly question... What size is the composition book that you used? It seems that all composition books are not made equally... TIA

[@jaysonwanderer8739]

pretty cool.

[@talenagebbie9790]

I feel terrible asking this but hopefully ull understand. I got my 12yr old a 2pc pool cue for xmas. Couple days later, I realized how careful he was trying to be. So I asked him if he'd like me to make him a padded case. Response was a very excited Yes! So there goes my brain in "caffinated mode." Problem is this, I can fabricate but I'm not always sure how to execute. Next day, I'm like to bad I couldn't just ask Rob huh? He's like do it, ask him. So here I am. Rob would u be interested in designing a padded 2pc pool cue carrying case? Oh and yes my 12 and 15 yr old boys both know u and will watch ur videos with me. They like ur intricate pieces. Thanks for all u make and share with us to help make us better at our craft. Talena

[@GrrannyH1]

This is what I would do. Measure the length of the longest piece and add 1/4" for the bottom seam and 1-1/2" for a top drawstring closure. Measure the circumference of both pieces together at the widest point and add 1"; this is the width you will need plus both 1/2" seam allowances. Sew the bottom seam. Turn down the top 1/4", then fold the remaining 1-1/4" in half . Sew a seam so that you now have a carrier for your draw string. Then sew the side seam to within 1" of the top. Turn the tube right side out. Insert a draw string and voila, pool cue carrier. If you want a carrying strap, you could sew that into the bottom seam and into the side seam again near the top or just have a handle sewn into the side seam.

[@talenagebbie9790]

@@GrrannyH1 thank you very much for ur help. When I get the fabric I may give this a try.

[@Biteytheshark]

The printable won't load for me, is it still availiable?

[@adelaidebear5141]

I also can’t find the printable?

[@davinskimac8351]

The link for the pdf oesnt work.

[@paulalabonte7346]

the free printable is no longer available

[@JulesMadeThis24]

What’s a composition book???

[@AyeshaKhan-uy2io]

So wanted to learn a book cover but this is sooo confusing...wish u had started from measuring a random book and thn moved on...kindly do one on that..thnks.

[@gbquilter]

Ayesha Khan there is a pattern download. You might find that more helpful.

[@juliebute905]

I like your videos but I think this one would be easier to understand if you didn’t use 10” squares but larger yardage. Great idea tho.

[@stephaniesalva9036]

Wondering why you use all "girlie" fabric. Can this not be for a boy as well? or do boys not like them?

[@annharcourt7177]

No pattern? You said there was a pattern ……… where did you put it?

[@warialdasue]

I don’t get why you cut fabric from the bottom, then sew fabric on the top ! I’m going to make some of these but I’ll cut fabric from bigger pieces of fabric , or I’ll make in Patchwork

[@maryannbishop5568]

Why do you sew on a piece rather than just leaving it solid.

[@marilyntrent6833]

Just too many little cuts instead of using material large enough to get size. Just confusing to me.

[@c.p.1738]

How about pinning it all together? ;)

[@SGsidekick]

Evidently you decided to stop offering the free pattern. Sigh.

[@suzisaintjames]

Why use interfacing? Why not use a thin batting for a little lift and cushion for your hands? I love the idea of making book covers, but where was your usual creativity? With Christmas 🎄 love 💜 from sunny 🌞 Arizona 🌵

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Either one will work. May need to add a 1/4" or so to the measurements to accommodate the thickness of the batting. FWIW, I like the idea of using interfacing to reduce the bulk of the cover. A more slimline version. Merry Christmas PS: It's always easy to choose seasonal fabrics for limited use notebooks. Personally I prefer non-seasonal, for items like this, for longer term use. Just 2-cents......

[@susantomlinson3704]

cool idea, very confusing

[@suzisaintjames]

Truth is I didn't think this one was genius. I get that you wanted to use your 10x10 precuts. But why not choose a different fabric for the top and bottom halves? Or maybe a piece of cork on the bottom half? Or why not make the covers out of orphan quilt blocks? This really looks like a patch job not something thought out. Sorry. 🎄💜🌞🌵

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Suzi, IMO, it is well thought out --- for using 10x10 precuts. Can be done with any size pre-cuts (as in piecing to get final needed dimensions) or plain yardage straight from the bolt, too. It takes both time and effort to work out how to get from x size precuts to the size piece needed to make each section with coordinating seam utilization. Personally, I appreciate the thought that went into this more subtle design using 10x10. Merry Christmas.

[@suzisaintjames]

@@oldtimerlee8820, are you kidding me? He used directional fabric with the top going one way and the bottom going another way. You couldn't pay me enough money to buy or make one that was spliced in such a haphazard way. I liked that he used a coordinating fabric for the binding, but the piecing of the cover needed a bit more creativity, the engineering was ok, the hole for turning could have been on the inside, but it worked out well enough. Put it this way, they would've never sold on Etsy or Pinterest. Not his best work.🎄💜🌞🌵

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Suzi, No I'm not kidding. Nor do I come to You-Tube to be a critic of someone's work, as I'm not perfect 100% of the time, either. I came to this video to see the technique, the approach, and how I might incorporate it into my work. Personally, I could care less about the directional nature of the fabric, he used. His choice, as I'm sure he knows far more about directional prints than what I'll ever learn. If you'll take the time to look at the pdf pattern, you'll see that it is far from being "haphazard". It is well though out. Has a very "tailored" appearance, that can be utilized in multiple ways. IMO, where we are different is that I have no desire to sell on Etsy, Ebay, or being "pinned" on social media. When someone is teaching me technique, it's fine if they use fabric from a well worn bed sheet, or reuse pallet wood. (I also have a woodworking shop.) It simply doesn't matter. I don't expect expensive rosewood when a Lowes Home Improvement dowel serves to illustrate the construction detail. To each his/her own. Merry Christmas. Peace on earth, good will to men.

[@suzisaintjames]

@@oldtimerlee8820, I'm a long time viewer of ManSewing and have become accustomed to his beautiful designs, beyond technique, like his beautiful appliqued seascape, quilted wall hangings. And even his beautifully simple cork wallet and other man bags. At the end of this video he asked for critiques, so I gave one. I'm not sorry that I've come to expect more from Rob than a set of plans, but I know he can do better than he did on this one. 🎄💜🌞🌵

[@bethlewis9981]

@@suzisaintjames I agree that this project is not the best for 10" squares. Otherwise fun to see how he does it!