crochet love letter book sleeve pattern (the cutest way to gift a book!)
Hi everyone! Here's a Pinterest-inspired love letter book sleeve that's made to measure.
A note on this pattern: I've included step-by-step instructions with pictures for how I made the book sleeve part and heart charm, but if you're a complete beginner, you might not be able to make this. This pattern is similar to my "it ends with us" inspired book sleeve, but uses single crochet instead of half double. Additionally, with this pattern, I'm taking credit for the way in which I crocheted the book sleeve and heart to look like a letter, NOT the idea behind it since I came across the concept on Pinterest. That being said, I can't wait to see what you come up with! Please tag me in your creations (or send me a picture!) and feel free to DM me on Instagram (@mahumcrochets) if you have any questions.
Materials & Terminology:
I used a 4.5 mm hook, off-white and red yarn appropriate for that hook size, and a titch button to secure the sleeve when closed. Abbreviations (US terms): SC - single crochet, SS - slip stitch, CH - chain, DC - double crochet, TC - triple crochet, SC2TOG - single crochet 2 stitches together, this is basically a sc decrease, to do this: insert hook into a stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on your hook), insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops of your hook), yarn over and pull through all the 3 loops on the hook.
Part 1: The body of the sleeve
Start by making a slipknot and chain the length of your book's spine, sc into the 2nd ch from your hook, sc 1 in each ch till the end of the row, when you reach the last ch - sc 3 into that same ch.
Now you'll be working on the other side of your chains not on top of the sc row that you just made. Insert 1 sc into every bottom ch till the end of the row, when you reach the space where you inserted your very first sc in the beginning - insert 2 more sc into the same ch space (total 3 sc in that space), now you'll be working in rounds without any increases or chains in between - keep inserting 1 sc into every stitch till the sleeve is as big as you want.
Part 2: The envelope flap
Once the body of your sleeve is as big as you want, stop crocheting in rounds and instead do 2-3 rows of sc. To do this: sc halfway around your sleeve (like the arrow in the picture), turn your work and sc into the same stitch that you just made, sc 1 in every stitch till the end of the row, continue doing 2-3 rows (start a new row by turning your work and sc into the last stitch you made at the end of the previous row). These rows will cover your book when you close the "love letter", if you don't do them then the corners of your book will show when you close the flap.
To make the triangle part, start your new row with a sc2tog (see the "materials & terminology" part for how to do this), sc 1 in every stitch across the row till you have 2 stitches left, sc2tog to end the row.
Start the next row by turning your work, then sc2tog, sc 1 in every stitch across the row till you have 2 stitches left, sc2tog to end the row. Repeat doing rows till you have 1 stitch left at the top, ch 1 or 2 to fasten off and cut.
To make the flap neater, we're going to do a border of ss down both sides of the triangle. Attach your yarn with a knot at one end of the triangle (any bottom side), ss around the sides of the triangle (there's no definite place to insert your hook so just insert it as closest to the edge as you can), ch 1 or 2 to fasten off and cut.
Part 3: The Heart <3
Start by making a magic ring and ch 2. Insert all of the next stitches into the magic ring: 3 tc, 3 dc, ch 1, 1 tc, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 tc, ch 2, ss into the magic ring, ch 1 or 2 then cut and fasten off by tightening the ends.I added a titch button to my book sleeve to keep the flap secure when I close it. Then, I sewed the heart onto the flap.
And you're done!
I used a 4.5 mm hook, off-white and red yarn appropriate for that hook size, and a titch button to secure the sleeve when closed. Abbreviations (US terms): SC - single crochet, SS - slip stitch, CH - chain, DC - double crochet, TC - triple crochet, SC2TOG - single crochet 2 stitches together, this is basically a sc decrease, to do this: insert hook into a stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on your hook), insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops of your hook), yarn over and pull through all the 3 loops on the hook.
Start by making a slipknot and chain the length of your book's spine, sc into the 2nd ch from your hook, sc 1 in each ch till the end of the row, when you reach the last ch - sc 3 into that same ch.
Now you'll be working on the other side of your chains not on top of the sc row that you just made. Insert 1 sc into every bottom ch till the end of the row, when you reach the space where you inserted your very first sc in the beginning - insert 2 more sc into the same ch space (total 3 sc in that space), now you'll be working in rounds without any increases or chains in between - keep inserting 1 sc into every stitch till the sleeve is as big as you want.
Once the body of your sleeve is as big as you want, stop crocheting in rounds and instead do 2-3 rows of sc. To do this: sc halfway around your sleeve (like the arrow in the picture), turn your work and sc into the same stitch that you just made, sc 1 in every stitch till the end of the row, continue doing 2-3 rows (start a new row by turning your work and sc into the last stitch you made at the end of the previous row). These rows will cover your book when you close the "love letter", if you don't do them then the corners of your book will show when you close the flap.
Start the next row by turning your work, then sc2tog, sc 1 in every stitch across the row till you have 2 stitches left, sc2tog to end the row. Repeat doing rows till you have 1 stitch left at the top, ch 1 or 2 to fasten off and cut.
To make the flap neater, we're going to do a border of ss down both sides of the triangle. Attach your yarn with a knot at one end of the triangle (any bottom side), ss around the sides of the triangle (there's no definite place to insert your hook so just insert it as closest to the edge as you can), ch 1 or 2 to fasten off and cut.
Start by making a magic ring and ch 2.
Insert all of the next stitches into the magic ring:
3 tc, 3 dc, ch 1, 1 tc, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 tc, ch 2, ss into the magic ring, ch 1 or 2 then cut and fasten off by tightening the ends.
I added a titch button to my book sleeve to keep the flap secure when I close it. Then, I sewed the heart onto the flap.
And you're done!
I may have done something wrong with the flap. It's quite a bit shorter than yours and it is very curved. Ideas of what I may have done wrong?
ReplyDeletemaybe try wathing her yt video and to make it longer maybe do three rows you also could be just missing stiches
Deletethis was the cutest thing ever! i loved the instructions and i enjoyed making it so much
ReplyDeletecan you tell me what yarn do u use?
ReplyDeleteMilk cotton yarn, I think
ReplyDeleteWhat changes do I need to make if my book is thicker? (about 4cm)
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