Estimated reading time: 14 min

Sewing a folder cover: Jeans upcycling meets quilt-as-you-go

05.09.2022 by Sabine Schmidt

Ordnerhülle nähen: Jeans-Upcycling meets Quilt-as-you-go

What do I need for that?

Materials & Details

Disappearing marker^*

Fabric scissors^*

Sewing scissors^*

Iron^*

Canvas^*

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H200

further information

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Yarn:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Canvas is a very sturdy, densely woven fabric that feels really stable. It's usually made of cotton or a cotton blend and is made to withstand quite a lot.

The surface is rather firm and sometimes slightly rough, but can be a little smoother depending on the finish. Canvas has hardly any stretch, but keeps its shape nicely.

Sewing it can take some effort because it's thick and stable – but in return you get a very long-lasting result. Fraying is easy to keep under control with the right technique.

Canvas is perfect for bags, backpacks, seat cushions, decor or even sturdy jackets.

In short: strong, long-lasting and ideal for anything that needs to be really stable.

Cotton poplin^*

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H250

further information

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Yarn:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Poplin is a fine, densely woven cotton with a smooth, slightly cool surface. The fabric feels pleasantly soft, yet it is nicely stable and has no stretch.

Typical of poplin: it is fairly lightweight but still drapes neatly, so it looks clean and a little smarter than regular cotton.

Poplin is super easy to sew – it cuts well, hardly shifts and is great for beginners too.

It is perfect for blouses, shirts, dresses, skirts, bags, cushions or summer trousers.

In short: smooth, light and an easy fabric for lots of lovely everyday pieces.

Woven cotton

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H630

further information

Needle:: Universal needle^*

Woven cotton is a classic, non-stretch cotton fabric. It's comfortable to wear, relatively lightweight and at the same time nicely stable.

The surface is usually smooth or slightly matte and feels natural and soft. Depending on the quality, it can be thinner for light clothing or a little firmer for sturdier projects.

Woven cotton is really easy to sew: it hardly slips, is easy to cut and is great for beginners too.

It's perfect for blouses, shirts, dresses, skirts or for decor such as cushions, pouches and patchwork.

In short: simple, versatile and a true all-rounder for lots of sewing ideas

coated cotton^*

Machine:: Backstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H640

further information

Needle:: Universal needle^*

Coated cotton is a cotton fabric with a smooth, water-repellent surface. It feels a bit like oilcloth but is often softer and more flexible.

The fabric is pretty sturdy and wipes clean easily – perfect for when something gets spilled. On the inside you have the pleasant cotton, on the outside the coating protects against moisture and dirt.

Sewing it sometimes takes a little patience because the surface can stick slightly. With the right tricks, though, it works well.

Coated cotton is ideal for bags, backpacks, tablecloths or anything that has to withstand everyday use.

In short: practical, easy care and perfect for projects that can take a beating.

Linen^*

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch

further information

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Yarn:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Linen is a natural fabric with a slightly firm, textured feel. At first it often feels a bit rough, but it gets softer with every wash and becomes really lovely on the skin.

Typical of linen: it is super airy and breathable – perfect for warm days. The fabric looks rather loose and relaxed, often has a slightly irregular appearance, and that is exactly what gives it its charm.

Linen creases pretty quickly, but that is simply part of it and even looks intentional. It is ideal for airy clothing such as dresses, blouses, trousers or shirts.

In short: natural, cooling and wonderfully easy-going with a casual look.

Jeans fabrics/denim^*

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline G770

further information

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Yarn:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Denim is basically the classic jeans fabric – sturdy, tightly woven and really hard-wearing. Its slightly diagonal texture is typical, often with the blue-dyed look that everyone instantly associates with jeans.

The fabric is rather firm and a bit stiff at first, but softens over time and moulds itself better and better. That is exactly what makes denim so durable and popular.

It needs a bit more power when sewing – a strong needle and a sturdy machine help here. In return, the result can really take a lot.

Denim is perfect for jeans, jackets, bags or anything that has to stand up to everyday life.

In short: strong, timeless and a true everyday hero on the fabric shelf.

Corduroy fabrics^*

Machine:: Zigzag stitchOverlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H200

further information

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Yarn:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Corduroy is a sturdy fabric with a very typical ribbed texture. These fine or wider stripes give it its unmistakable, slightly retro look.

The fabric feels soft and textured at the same time. It is warm, comfortable to wear and really durable.

Depending on the type, corduroy comes fine (needlecord) or coarse with wide ribs – both have their own charm.

Corduroy is usually easy to sew; just keep an eye on the nap direction of the ribs.

It is perfect for trousers, skirts, jackets, dresses or bags.

In short: cosy, sturdy and a true classic with vintage flair.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Sewing a binder cover is a perfect idea for personalized binders. Check out how you can turn it into a denim upcycling project or a cover with a patchwork look.

The most important things at a glance

Upcycling is a great way to be kind to the environment and your wallet
In this post, my colleague Birgit Kühr (you can check out her website Quiltreise here) shows you how you can create a binder cover as an upcycling project
a binder cover protects your binders and guards the edges and corners
it also offers space for pens and other useful little things
it is sewn from discarded jeans or shirt fabrics, which are upcycled this way
colorful stripes in patchwork technique and embroidery stitches provide the decorative element
In this post, you will also learn how the Quilt as you go method works
Bonus project: Sew a pen case from old jeans
Sewing time: 1.5-2 hours
Sewing level: easy

Why should I sew a binder cover?

If you find black binders totally monotonous, then I can highly recommend this project. You can put the cover together according to your ideas and let your creativity run wild.

That simply makes it especially fun.

It is also very practical, as it protects the corners and edges of your binder. This way, you will surely be able to use it for a very long time. That is sustainable, isn't it?

In this post, Birgit presents three especially beautiful and easy projects for denim upcycling. These sewing ideas will accompany you to the office, the evening course, or to school. By the way: you can, of course, also recreate the instructions with other discarded pieces of sturdy woven fabric.

If you have already used up your old jeans for the projects Sew a fanny pack from old jeans or Sew something new from old jeans, grab some new favorite fabrics and get started. You can, of course, also wonderfully use your fabric scraps for the binder covers and the pen case.

YouTube Video Sewing a Binder Cover

What do I need to know to sew a binder cover?

Are you familiar with the straight stitch on your sewing machine? Have you already successfully sewn smaller projects? Then you will also manage the binder cover just fine.

It is important that you use good working materials. So: you should definitely have a well-cutting, sturdy pair of scissors, a rotary cutter with a sharp (preferably even new) blade, and a fresh sewing machine needle at the ready. Then nothing stands in the way of sewing fun.

Is a binder cover a good beginner project?

A binder cover is a great beginner project, as you only need the straight stitch. With my instructions, I will guide you through the project step by step, and you will see how your new binder cover is created in no time.

If you feel like testing the embroidery stitches on your sewing machine, then this is a great opportunity. Play with different threads.

Try out your different stitches, change the stitch length and the width. You will be amazed at what potential even very simple stitches have. They can give your binder cover a whole new look.

What does my sewing machine need to be able to do to sew a binder?

Are you worried about whether your sewing machine is up to the requirements of this project? Let's look at what machine settings you need and how your sewing machine needs to be equipped so that you can create the coolest binder cover ever, okay?

Which presser feet are suitable for sewing a binder cover?

Do you also know the problem of having too many presser feet? You feel like you have every variation and don't know what you can use them for. In this section, I will introduce you to a few of the feet and explain what you can use them for in this project.

Zigzag foot

The classic presser foot that every sewing machine comes with. Use: straight stitch, zigzag, decorative stitches

Walking foot

Works wonders when transporting thick fabrics or many layers of fabric, because it ensures good fabric transport together with the feed dog

Edge sewing foot

Great for sewing beautiful straight topstitching; the foot is guided along the fabric edge and ensures even distances

Which sewing machine needles are suitable for sewing jeans and woven fabrics

Universal needles with a strength of at least 90 are suitable for sewing denim fabric.

If you have extra jeans needles^* on hand, you can use them. They are available in strength 90 to 110. They are especially sharp and are particularly good at sewing through multiple layers. Titan needles^* are also very suitable for this project. They easily handle multiple layers of thick denim fabric, and if you want to decorate the binder with embroidery stitches, they will serve you well too.

What stitch length is suitable for this project?

For the inner seams, I used a stitch length of 3 with the straight stitch. For decorative topstitching of the outer seams, I set a stitch length between 3.5 and 4.

Which sewing thread is good for sewing a binder cover?

If you are sewing your binder cover from denim fabric, you can use your all-purpose polyester thread. For topstitching or decorative seams, a thicker denim sewing thread or machine embroidery thread is recommended. This is thicker and stronger than normal sewing thread, so the different stitches stand out better.

Which fabrics are suitable for sewing a binder cover?

I am sewing the binder cover from discarded jeans and fabric scraps. But you can also use other fabrics for sewing. Let's take a closer look at it all, shall we?

Fabric type	Advantages	Disadvantages	Notes & Tips	Source
Canvas	strong, robust fabric, practically indestructible	- makes the cover a bit heavier - seam transitions or multiple fabric layers can be a challenge for the sewing machine (and for beginners)	- does not need to be reinforced - preferably process with heavy, sharp scissors - sew with a jeans needle or 90-100 universal needle	Order canvas^*
Cotton poplin	practical all-rounder fabric, robust, easy to process	- should be reinforced beforehand (Vliesline H200 or H250), otherwise the cover will be too soft	- process with 70-80 universal needle	Order poplin^*
Kokka fabrics	firm and robust, easy to process, especially high-quality and aesthetic	- frays slightly - multiple fabric layers are a challenge for some sewing machines	- sew with jeans needle or 80-90 universal needle - does not need to be reinforced	Order Kokka fabrics here^*
Cotton batiste	fine, but still firm fabric, that does not wrinkle easily	- fabric back should definitely be reinforced beforehand, otherwise the binder cover will be too soft and lose its shape	- process with heavy, sharp scissors - sew with jeans needle or 90-100 universal needle - reinforcement is not necessarily necessary, because the fabric itself is already stable	Order cotton batiste^*
Coated cotton	water-repellent, wipeable, robust		- process with 70-90 universal needle - does not need to be reinforced	Order coated cotton fabrics^*
Linen/linen-blend fabric	elegant, sustainable, natural, with beautiful crinkle look	- fabric edges fray slightly - fabric is not so firm and often woven somewhat irregularly	- Reinforcing with Vlieseline reduces the fraying of the fabric edges - process with 70-90 universal needle	Linen en best ellen^*
Jeans	firm, strong and robust - also great for discarded jeans	- multiple layers of denim are often difficult to sew	- preferably work with heavy, sharp scissors - sew with a denim needle or a 90-100 universal needle - denim thread for topstitching is a good option - does not need to be reinforced	Order denim fabrics^*
Fine corduroy/corduroy	beautiful, velvety surface, durable fabric, ages very nicely	- pay attention to the nap when cutting: the nap must feel rough when you run your hand down it	- work with an 80-90 universal needle	Order corduroy fabric^*

Fabric requirements and dimensions for the binder cover

Binder covers come in various sizes.

The dimensions for the finished binder cover with an 8 cm spine are 100 cm wide and 33 cm long. The flap on the inside is then 16 cm on each side.

The finished cover for a binder with a 5 cm spine is 93 cm wide and also 33 cm long. The flap on the inside is 15 cm on each side.

This table gives you an overview of how much fabric and interfacing you need for each binder size.

Important: All seam allowances are already included in the dimensions.

We have tried various interfacings for our binder covers. Both fusible interfacing and thermal interfacing, soy interfacing, or cotton interfacing work perfectly!

Binder size	Fabric requirements
Binder, DIN A4, 8 cm spine	1 x outer side: 102 cm wide x 35 cm long 1 x inner part: 102 cm wide x 35 cm long 1 piece of interfacing 110 cm x 40 cm
Binder, DIN A4, 5 cm spine	1 x outer side: 95 cm wide x 35 cm long 1 x inner part: 95 cm wide x 35 cm long 1 piece of interfacing 100 cm x 40
Binder, DIN A5, 3.5 cm spine	1 x outer side: 90 cm wide x 30 cm long 1 x inner part: 90 cm wide x 30 cm long, interfacing: 90 x 30 cm

You will also need these materials

matching sewing thread^*
Sewing machine needle^*
Straight pins^*
Fabric clips^*
Ruler^*
Corner & edge folder, if needed^* for shaping the corners
Marking tape^*
Fabric scissors^*
Thread snips^*
Iron^*
Sewing machine

Instructions: Sewing a binder cover from denim fabric

Bonus: Sewing a pen case with loops

If you're wondering what you can do with all the fabric scraps after sewing the binder cover, I have a wonderful idea: a pen case.

To match the binder cover, it will have loops that can be hooked onto the binder rings.

I'll now show you how the loops work.

If you're interested in more detailed instructions for sewing the pen case with additional options, check out my blog post: Sewing a case for your notebook .

YouTube video: Sewing a pen case

What you need for sewing

Outer fabric: Denim 2 cut pieces 22 x 6 cm, 1 cut piece 22 x 12 cm
Lining: Cotton fabric 2 cut pieces 22 x 6 cm, 1 cut piece 22 x 12 cm
Tape for the loops, 2 pieces 5 cm each
1 piece of endless zipper with zipper tape, threaded and 22 cm long

Sew the zipper onto the 2 narrow fabric pieces using the zipper foot.

Sew the 2 narrow lining fabric pieces onto the zipper so that the seams are on the inside.

Sew along the edge of the zipper using your sewing machine's zipper foot. I chose a thicker magenta thread here, but a matching denim thread also looks great. This not only looks good, but also prevents the zipper from getting caught in the lining fabric.

Mark the center of your fabric piece and attach the loops at a distance of 8 centimeters apart, then sew them securely.

Place the denim back with the lining and the front with the lining together right sides together and sew completely around your pen case once. I used the overlocker for the long sides. This is simply faster. You must not do this on the short sides. The metal of the zippers damages the overlocker blades.

It is important to trim the 4 corners so that you can later shape the 4 edges of your pen case nicely. I then finished the short sides and corners with the zigzag stitch on my sewing machine.

Now comes the last and best step: you can turn your pen case inside out. You can use a corner folder to shape the corners.

Isn't it fantastic what useful things you can make from jeans you no longer wear?

Conclusion: Practical and sustainable!

I am absolutely delighted with my two wonderful binder covers. They are quickly sewn and now permanently protect the edges of the binder. And they look really great too.

Have you also felt like sewing some great covers? Then get started, preferably right away.

Happy simple sewing, Sabine and Birgit

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Instructions 1 / 2

Sew a denim binder cover

Collecting old jeans is definitely worth it. With a pile of discarded jeans you always have denim in different colours to hand that you can combine in alternating ways. And that's not only very sustainable, it's also loads of fun.

Step

If you'd like more ideas and upcycling projects using old jeans then read my blog post on this topic.
Step

Putting the different fabrics together is a particularly exciting step. You can alternate light and dark denim.
The little jeans pockets are great for storing all the small bits and pieces you tend to carry around with you.
On this binder cover, there should be one small jeans pocket on the front and one on the inside at the back.
Keep in mind that about 15-16 cm of the long denim strip is folded in at the front and back for the flaps.
Step

Now your piece of interfacing comes into play. It's cut a little larger so that you have some leeway when you trim the denim strip straight later.
The method in which the fabric pieces are sewn on and quilted at the same time is called quilt as you go. Find out more about it in this post on the topic.
Take your interfacing piece and place the first denim piece on it, right side up.
The fabric piece you want to sew on next must be placed right side down, i.e. the right sides face each other.
Step

I placed the 1st denim fabric piece right side up on the interfacing. My next fabric piece is a small jeans pocket, which I also place right side down on the denim.
Step

Now sew this seam a presser foot's width from the edge. The denim is now sewn onto the interfacing.
I smooth out the fabric and press it. I let my fabric strip cool down so that the bond can set.
Step

I place the next fabric piece on top of the denim piece that's already sewn on and sew it along the edge. I repeat this process until my interfacing is completely covered with denim pieces.
Step

I trim the long fabric strip straight to the right size in no time with my long quilting ruler and a rotary cutter.
If you're interested in these great little helpers, here you can find out all about cutting mats and rotary cutters.
Then I topstitch all the seam edges with a straight stitch, stitch length 4.0, and denim thread.
You can let your creativity run wild here and add lots of stitching lines across your denim strip. Just as you like!
Step

My lining is made from old shirt fabric scraps, which I sewed together into a strip that's long enough.
Step

Place the top side and lining right sides together and sew them together with a 1 cm seam allowance. Important: remember the 15 cm turning gap.
Step

To get particularly neat corners on your book cover, I recommend trimming the fabric diagonally at all four corners and shaping them after turning.
Wrap the fabric strip around your binder, not too tightly, and mark with a pin where the flaps start on the inside.
Sew the flaps in place by hand with a ladder stitch.
Step

I especially love this last step. Hand sewing is relaxing and when I can barely see the seam, I'm really happy.
Step

Press the binder cover and it's already finished.
Step

The back of the binder looks really stylish.
Step

The binder cover gets its finishing touch from different decorative stitches in various thread colours (brown, ochre, beige).
And that's also my tip for you: test the decorative stitches on your sewing machine and play around with the stitch length and stitch width.
That way you'll get to know your sewing machine better and I'm sure you'll have one or two lightbulb moments.
Step

This is what the embroidered binder cover looks like.
Step

The stitch pattern becomes even more interesting if you use a contrasting thread as the bobbin thread.
In the picture, you can see the white bobbin thread in the zigzag stitch.
Step

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial for the denim binder cover.
If you love this project, take a look at the next tutorial too.

Instructions 2 / 2

Sew a binder cover with patchwork

Patchwork : you've heard of it and want to know more? Or you already have some experience with it? Then you're sure to like this version of a binder cover.

It was made from grey shirting fabrics and colourful patchwork elements.

With this project you can put small patchwork pieces from previous projects to good use or quickly sew small squares from fabric scraps.

Step

You can find out how in this tutorial, Sew log cabin pot holders.
Step

Have you read my posts sewing with fabric scraps or sewing a bag from fabric scraps yet?
Step

Square by square, they are placed right sides together and sewn until the required length is reached.
Step

Now you can press the patchwork strip.
Step

Now place the patchwork squares straight on the grey fabric piece with the interfacing and pin them in place.
Step

Sew along the edge a presser foot's width in.
Step

Press the seam and fix the patchwork piece in place straight.
Step

Keep adding fabric pieces until you have the fabric strip you need.
Step

For the inner pocket, you need a fabric piece 40 cm wide and 17 cm long. Fold it in half along the long edge and sew one side closed a presser foot's width from the edge.
Cut off the corner.
Step

Turn the fabric right side out and press it. Then place it on the fabric so that 2 sides line up with the edges. It looks like this.
When you later place the lining on top and sew it in place, the other 2 edges will be secured too.
Sew the 3rd side in place.
Step

Once the small pocket is sewn onto the front inner flap, you can experiment with the decorative stitches on your sewing machine or simply jazz up your binder with straight stitching lines.
Use a thicker thread or an embroidery thread for this, which is thicker than sewing thread. This makes the patterns of the decorative stitch or your straight stitch stand out more.
Step

Trim your fabric strip straight to the required size with the rotary cutter. Then place the finished top piece and the lining piece on top of each other. Sew all the way around your book cover with a 1 cm seam allowance.
You do need to leave a gap for turning. It should be 15 cm long so that you can easily pull the fabric through the gap later.
After sewing, trim the corners diagonally. Use the point turner to shape the edges nicely.
Step

Now wrap the binder cover around your binder and pin the inner part so that it doesn't sit too tightly. Now you can close the seam with a ladder stitch.
If you want to know exactly how to get this stitch perfect, take a look at my post Sewing a ladder stitch for all the details.
Step

This is what it looks like now, my great cover for a very special binder.
Step

The back is sewn from various shirt fabrics and decorated with decorative stitches.
Step

With this cover, the binder is now truly one of a kind.

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.