Thursday 11 February 2010

Book covers.






















After yesterday's instructions on how to make a mask I have had several e mails asking me what pelmet vilene is. I think another name for it is Pellon. Pelmet vilene is stiffened vilene originally made to put inside window pelmets - it is readily available at haberdashers.
I also said that using the mask technique you could easily make a book cover. I have had an e mail asking me how to do that. So here are the instructions.
I wish I was good enough to sketch and get the sketches on to the computer - but I am having to resort to words! However, the photographs above might also be of help.

Book Cover. Get your book and measure it carefully. Then cut a piece of vilene the same size as the complete book cover plus 1cm all round. Measure this from the right hand edge of the front of the book, round over the spine and through to the farthest edge of the back cover.
(e.g. if the front cover of the book you wish to cover is 13cms x 18cms you would need a piece of vilene approx 30cms x 18cms plus an extra centimetre all round) - the approx. measurement would of course depend upon the thickness of the spine of your book.
Using the technique I described yesterday for the mask, cover your vilene completely on one side - at this stage you can add motifs, buttons - anything you like. When you have the vilene exactly how you want it to look, back it with a piece of felt. You can, if you like, bondaweb, or glue, the two together - but I prefer to fasten them together round the edge using zig zag stitch on the machine and gold metallic thread. You end up with a piece of highly decorative vilene nicely backed with felt. Now you need to cut two 'flaps' (see photographs above) - measure the vilene exactly the same depth as your cover and as wide as you want them to be (remember you have to slot the book in when you have finished). There is no need to back this with felt as the reverse side will not be seen. Decorate the two flaps to match the cover you have already done.
When you are satisfied with the result zig zag down the edge of the flap on one side (the side which will be loose), then zig zag round and round the whole cover, keeping the flaps in place so that they become an integral part of the cover.
I hope this is clear - it reads a bit garbled, but I think the photos will help - this particular book cover was made of material but the technique is the same. Hope those of you who asked for the pattern can understand my instructions. Good luck. I expect to see a few book covers on a few blogs shortly!
It is twenty years today since Nelson Mandela was released. Do you remember what you were doing on that day? Like the assassination of John Kennedy and the death of Princess Diana - most of us remember what we were doing on these Red Letter Days.
Wouldn't it be good news on this anniversary if we were to hear that Aung San Suu Kyi had also been released from house arrest in Myanmar.

17 comments:

Dave King said...

A fascinating post, but the most of it completely overshadowed by that tremendous hope at the end. Yes, let's all pray or bring our psychic powers to bear or rub our lucky stones or whatever it is we do for this to come about! Well said, indeed!

Golden West said...

What a wonderful way to turn an ordinary composition book into something special - thanks!

Maggi said...

Gorgeous book cover. We can but hope for the quick release of Aung San Suu Kyi but I don't see it being soon.

Acornmoon said...

That would be good news indeed!

Clever idea for a book cover too.

Titus said...

Lovely post Weaver, if a little beyond me in parts, but as Dave says, the final sentence does take one's thoughts elsewhere. Let's hope.

Ammara said...

hey
i buy alot of books frm footpaths that r without covers lol..so this is a useful post...bt i dnt hav a cam so cnt take pics! will take em soon nd send u...when i hav a cam!

Crafty Green Poet said...

wonderful vibrant book covers. I am always hoping that Aung San Suu will be released but so often it seems so very unlikely...

Jinksy said...

I'd have to frame that cover to decorate my wall, never mind a book!

Heather said...

I love the way the colours have blended on your book cover - it is gorgeous Pat. As Dave King says - if we all pool our psychic powers via the Internet, maybe we can bring about Aung San Suu Kyi's release.

Poetic Artist said...

Thanks for sharing of the book cover. Also for the entire post.

Anonymous said...

Hello Weaver, Love the colour of the cover with that little bit of bling. On a more serious note, your final wish is one that transcends time, location, race and custom.
Have a wonderful day and an even better weekend. BTW The rains came down with ferocity yesterday afternoon, here in Melbourne. Our tanks are full again and Melbourne's streets were like rivers.

Cloudia said...

Well Done!

Aloha, Friend


Comfort Spiral

steven said...

hello weaver - i love the textures and colours of the book cover. i love journals but rarely write in the truly beautiful ones. i love to look at them and hold them. writing in them just seems like defacing them!!! have a lovely evening in the dale. steven

The Weaver of Grass said...

I hope to see one or two lovely book covers posted on blogland in the next few weeks. Thank you for the comments.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Seems we are all agreed about Aung
San Suu Kyi -
life can be so cruel can't it.

We can't do anything about it other than keep her in our thoughts.

BT said...

Oh it all sounds so complicated to me!! But you're an artist extraordinaire, so nothing you produce surprises me.

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Hello Weaver,
I have only just learnt how to use vilene,on a course with the Embroiderers Guild.
We were shown how to use many layers with bonda webb to stitch free hand on the sewing machine.
Lovely book cover and I also like your stitched mask below.x