Fabric Covered Altered Book
Today I’m sharing a fabric-covered altered book I created late last year. Here’s how I made it:
- I started with a children’s book (a Golden one, I believe), opened it up flat, and measured the height and width of the covers and spine.
- I cut one piece of muslin that was 1/2″ larger all the way around than the entire book.
- Onto this muslin base, I machine stitched strips of vintage linens and lace, found fabrics in cotton, silk, and velvet, and hand dyed fabrics.
- Onto these strips, I added hand embroidery, buttons, and beads.
- I attached a piece of thin copier paper to the back with heat-activated fusible webbing (I used Steam-A-Seam).
- Using bookbinding PVA, I attached the paper-backed fabric to the book cover, allowing the fabric to hang over the edges a little.
Here’s the fabric altered book front cover:
And here’s the fabric altered book back cover. 
I’ll share the inner pages in another blog post soon. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below.
February 6, 2019 @ 2:23 pm
Ali, I think fabric cover is lovely. I’ve never thought of using a Golden book . I’mlooking forward to see what you do with inside pages. As I have been patchworking for a number of years I have plenty of scraps I’ve been unable to part with. Thank you.
February 12, 2019 @ 8:07 am
Hi Merilyn, isn’t hard to part with those scraps?
February 6, 2019 @ 5:06 pm
Very pretty Ali! Thank you for all you share to the group. I have been praying for your friend, her children, and you!
February 12, 2019 @ 8:06 am
Than you so much Anne!
February 8, 2019 @ 6:09 am
So sad about your friend – my thoughts & prayers are with you & her family.
Your altered book cover is fab. Unfortunately I don’t know what a Golden book is?
Also , do you post papers to the UK?
Love what you do.
February 12, 2019 @ 8:06 am
Hi Andrea, a Golden book is a brand of kids’ hard cover book. The UK alternative might be a Ladybird book (slightly different size) but same concept.
February 8, 2019 @ 10:13 am
So sad to hear about your friend Ali. How wonderful that you were able to be with her. My thoughts and prayers for you and her family. I LOVE this cover. How fun with all the lace and embroidery. I’ve put this idea down as a must do one day. Thank you
February 12, 2019 @ 8:05 am
Thank you Olga!
February 25, 2019 @ 9:27 pm
Stunning. But you know I love your work.