Leather notebook cover
2025-Sep-03, Wednesday 12:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chebeA friend had a synthetic notebook cover that was falling apart. It was a simple flat cover, that held the notebook with an elastic, threaded through holes in the spine. We got the idea to replace it with a leather one. I took measurements in the pub, we went shopping for supplies, and I got to making.
First I made a rough template out of some pineapple pleather I've had laying around for ages. (It's too pliable for this usage.) Checked the fit, trimmed the ends. Then I used it to cut out some pre-dyed veg tan leather (1.8-2.0mm). Rather than punching holes for the elastic I figured I'd stitch a channel as the spine. I cut that narrow strip out too, and then burnished all the edges (with water).
I marked the stitching channels on the narrow strip, then punched the stitching holes. I marked the spine placement on the cover, and lightly creased the area with a blade and bone folder. I held the spine piece in place, and transferred the stitch hole placements, before punching them as well. I saddle stitched with matching waxed thread down one side. Put the elastic in place, then saddle stitched the other side.
I applied two thin coats of matching Edge Kote around the edges of the cover. Then dampened the creased areas either side of the inside spine, folded the cover around the spine piece, placed a book in the middle, put a weight on top, and left to dry overnight, to form the spine shape. Once dry I put a blank notebook through the elastic, and was all done. My friend is now happily testing it's functionality.
First I made a rough template out of some pineapple pleather I've had laying around for ages. (It's too pliable for this usage.) Checked the fit, trimmed the ends. Then I used it to cut out some pre-dyed veg tan leather (1.8-2.0mm). Rather than punching holes for the elastic I figured I'd stitch a channel as the spine. I cut that narrow strip out too, and then burnished all the edges (with water).
I marked the stitching channels on the narrow strip, then punched the stitching holes. I marked the spine placement on the cover, and lightly creased the area with a blade and bone folder. I held the spine piece in place, and transferred the stitch hole placements, before punching them as well. I saddle stitched with matching waxed thread down one side. Put the elastic in place, then saddle stitched the other side.
Inside of the cover, with spine stitched in place
Photo by chebe
Outside of the cover, with spine stitched in place
Photo by chebe
I applied two thin coats of matching Edge Kote around the edges of the cover. Then dampened the creased areas either side of the inside spine, folded the cover around the spine piece, placed a book in the middle, put a weight on top, and left to dry overnight, to form the spine shape. Once dry I put a blank notebook through the elastic, and was all done. My friend is now happily testing it's functionality.
Finished notebook cover, spine view
Photo by chebe
Finished notebook cover, with notebook
Photo by chebe
