DIY Network

Book Wall Pocket There’s something new inside these books. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-203

These storage pockets give new meaning to a book’s "table of contents."

Thanks to Michele Beschen, there’s no limit to what you can find in books. The B. Original host shows how to turn unwanted hardbound books into handy wall pockets that can store any small items—craft materials, office supplies, even other books!

Michelel Beschen shows how to create a pattern and sew a lining to turn your unwanted hardbacks into easy storage. Look for hardbound books at thrift stores, yard sales and the "give away" in at larger used bookstores—you’ll want to make a bunch of these pockets.

advertisement

	Figure A
	Figure B

Book Wall Pocket

• Using a sharp craft knife, carefully remove the books’ pages from the cover (figure A).

• Lay the book’s cover flat on a piece of felt or other fabric and cut the fabric to the same size as the open cover. This will be the pocket’s lining.

• Lay out the cardboard to mark the dimensions for the pocket’s sides, which will be a trapezoid shape.

• Measure the width of the book at the spine and the distance from the spine to the opposite edge of the cover. Draw lines to these dimensions on the cardboard; you should have an L shape where the shorter line is the spine width and the longer line is the distance from the spine to the edge of the cover.

• Decide how wide you want the pocket to open and mark this measurement on the cardboard (figure B).

• Connect the sides to complete the trapezoid shape and cut out the pattern (figure C).
  

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

  Figure E

• Cut out two pieces of fabric using the cardboard pattern. Stitch these sides to the lining you already cut to create the full pocket lining (figure D).

• Glue the completed lining to the inside of the book with fabric glue. Try to make the fabric lay as smooth as possible (figure E); clamp the lining to the cover while the glue dries.

• Hang the completed pocket on the wall with brad nails or small screws.