I've been a member of a choir for the last three years but still haven't managed to get a decent folder for my sheet music. Usually I would just cover it up with black paper which isn't really professional and also, I kind of got annoyed by having to buy new paper for every piece of music...
I finally made myself a book cover for my music which is just plain black and makes it perfect for concerts. The pattern is super easy.
--- This tutorial is free but for your convenience I decided to offer the complete tutorial as a PDF for download for only $2, if you prefer to have everything in one structured document ---
I finally made myself a book cover for my music which is just plain black and makes it perfect for concerts. The pattern is super easy.
--- This tutorial is free but for your convenience I decided to offer the complete tutorial as a PDF for download for only $2, if you prefer to have everything in one structured document ---
First measure the length and width of your music. They come in different sizes but I used the biggest one I have, which measures 10.5 x 15" (26,5 x 38 cm) and has a depth of 1.75" (4,5 cm)…and now imagine holding this thing for 1.5 hours! Pretty exhausting :) Add a lot of seam allowance on all four sides and then cut your rectangular piece of fabric according to these measurements. With a seam allowance of 0.5" on each side, mine ended up being 11.5 x 16". Cut two of these.
measure the length and width of your book or your music and add a lot of seam allowance on ALL four sides.
Now you will need sleeves to put your book in.
Therefore open the cover of the book and measure in from the edge for a little bit more than half the width of the page, in my case it is about 4.5". Again add two lots of seam allowance and for the length use the same measurements as for the main body parts (including seam allowance). This would make it 11.5 x 5.5". Cut four of them.
Therefore open the cover of the book and measure in from the edge for a little bit more than half the width of the page, in my case it is about 4.5". Again add two lots of seam allowance and for the length use the same measurements as for the main body parts (including seam allowance). This would make it 11.5 x 5.5". Cut four of them.
This is what you come up with: four pieces of fabric for the sleeves and two pieces of fabric for the main body.
Interface the four sleeve parts with fusible interfacing.
Put two of them right sides together and sew along on of the long edges. Turn right side out, press and topstitch along this edge. Repeat with the remaining two sleeve parts:
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Take one of the main body parts and put it right side up. This will be the interior body part. Take one of the sleeve parts and put it onto the left hand side of the body part, with the finished edge facing to the inside of the body part. The raw edges of sleeve part and main body part should be aligned. Pin in place and baste all along the raw edges to secure them in place.
Repeat with the other sleeve part on the right hand side of the main body part:
Repeat with the other sleeve part on the right hand side of the main body part:
 Make sure the raw edges of both fabric pieces are aligned. |  Both sleeves are basted onto the interior main body part. |
Take the other main body part (which will be the exterior body part) and interface it with heavy stabilizer to add more strength. The heavy stabilizer should not lie on the seam allowances, so before ironing it down cut off 0.5" (1,25 cm) on either side.
Place the interfaced main body part right side up and put the interior body part with the sleeves on top of it, right sides together. Make sure all the edges are aligned. Pin in place and stitch all aroung the edges, but leave an opening of about 4" (10 cm) at the bottom center.
Trim down the seam allowance to reduce bulk and clip the corners.
Topstitch/close the opening at the bottom. Turn the book cover right side out through the opening. Make sure to poke out the corners and then iron is to make it nice and flat.
At the opening fold the seam allowances down to the inside and topstitch it close.
Put your sheet music into the cover and you're ready for your next concert!
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