Today I made some book cloth to use on junk journal covers. It’s very easy to create colorful covers with do-it-yourself book cloth. I had been planning to make for a few months and finally decides to do it.

Anyone can make their own book cloth using fabric, tissue paper and a fabric bonding agent. What I used was a fat quarter bundle from Joann Fabric and Crafts, a product called Heat ‘n’ Bond, also from Joann’s, and white tissue paper from the No-longer Dollar Store.

For those who don’t sew, a fat quarter is the equivalent of a quarter yard of fabric. However, it is very different from a regular quarter yard. A quarter yard of fabric will be a nine-inch wide strip cut across the width of the fabric. A fat quarter is a yard of fabric cut lengthwise and crosswise to form four rectangles around 18 by 22 inches or slightly more depending on whether the fabric is 32 inches wide or 44/45 inches wide. Individual fat quarters can be bought or they may be bundled with coordinating colors or patterns.

Heat ‘n’Bond can be bought by the yard off the bolt or prepackaged. The light hold works well since you will only be bonding the fabric to the tissue paper. The book cloth will either be glued to the cover or sewn around the edges. The tissue paper keeps the glue from seeping through the fabric.

You will also need an iron and ironing board, scissors, and a ruler. You don’t have to prewash the fabric. Set the iron according to the recommended setting for the type of Heat ‘n’ Bond you have. Cut the Heat ‘n’ Bond to the size of the fabric piece. Press any wrinkles out of the fabric before placing the bonding sheet down on the wrong side of the fabric. I usually iron in a circular motion, ironing out from the center of the piece. Check the edges to make sure the adhesive is on the fabric and not stuck on the backing paper.

Once you’re certain the adhesive is in place on the fabric, remove the backing sheet by lifting a corner and gently pull up across the sheet. If the iron missed spots, press the area and check again. The fabric should still be warm when you pull up the backing sheet. Lay a sheet of tissue paper on top and iron until the tissue paper is adhered to the fabric. Trim the edges even with the bonded area. Et, voila! Book cloth.