Recycled Denim Book Protector

In this instructable, I will show you how I made a book protector, sized for trade paperbacks, out of recycled denim. When I was in high school, I disliked carrying paperback books in my backpack because they would always move around and often bend as a result. The pages and covers would also get creased, and so I wondered whether or not I could easily make something that could protect my books. This idea returned me during my engineering graphics class in college, where I chose to design a book protector made from recycled materials for a course project. I then constructed the book protector based on my design, leading to the finished product I am presenting here.

• Denim (I used an old pair of jeans)
• Snap-on buttons (mine were magnetic, but any should do)
• Thread
• Sewing needle
• Pins
• Scissors
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Carboard and/or thick paper
• CAD design (optional, made using Inventor Pro 2022)

You will need the denim, the cardboard/paper, the measuring tape/ruler, and scissors to start the construction process.

1. Cut the cardboard/paper into a 12.5" by 8.5" rectangle.
2. Place the rectangle on the denim and cut around it. Since I used jeans, I first had to cut one of the pant legs open to fit the rectangle on top of it.
3. Fold the excess denim by folding it over the rectangle to see if there is enough to close it. If there is too much excess, cut off what is unneeded.

Once the denim is cut, it must be sewed to create a double layer for proper thickness. Here is where the sewing needle, pins, and thread is first needed.

1. Place pins around the rectangle to create the appropriate shape for the base of the book protector.
2. Remove the rectangle and sew the edges of the base together.
3. Do not sew the bottom of the base as it will need to be open for later. You may leave the pins there to keep the shape together.

With the base complete, the strap used to close the protector can now be made.

1. Cut an 8" long section from the denim that can be folded to be about 1" wide.
2. Sew three sides of the interior of the denim together, leaving one side (either top or bottom) open.
3. With the other sides sewed together, fold the strap inside out exterior of the denim on the outside, and sew the open side together.

With both the base and strap completed, they can now be assembled to form the bare book protector.

1. Pin the back end of the strap about 2" from the left end of the base.
2. Place a book in between the ends and use it to determine the maximum closing length the strap can reach.
3. Place at least three pins in the locations where the buttons will be placed based on the closing length. Place another pin on the front end of the strap where the connecter will be placed.
4. Sew the back end of the strap onto the base.

Once the base and the strap are connected, the buttons can now be placed to complete the outside of the book protector.

1. Sew the buttons in the area where the three pins were previously placed.
2. Sew the connecter in the area where the single pin was placed on the strap.

After the buttons are sewed on, the bottom of the base can finally be closed. However, before the gap is sewed shut, you will need to insert the thick paper to make the ends of the book protector straighter, thus mitigating bending and slipping.

1. Cut the paper into two 5" by 8" rectangles.
2. Place the rectangles inside the book protector through the bottom gap. Make sure that they each touch their respective ends of the base.
3. Sew the bottom gap shut.

Once this last step is complete, you have finished creating your denim book protector. Now you can take your books with you without having to worry about them becoming damaged. If there are any concerns about the design or tips for improvement, feel free to let me know!