How to Make a Fabric Swatch Book
- Tamsin
- Mar 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 30
As a penniless start up I found myself wanting to present my fabric designs in a swatch book, but not being able to afford to have one professionally made, I decided the only thing for it was to make one myself.
I have been so pleased with the way my home made version turned out I am sharing it in the hope that the instructions will be useful to others.
I decided to get my logo and wording for the front printed onto a piece of my linen but you could have it printed onto paper or card if you prefer.
You will need the following:
Printed fabric, paper or card for the front cover piece
A piece of card 5mm larger than the fabric swatches you will be filling the book with (I used stiff corrugated card from a cardboard box)
A slim piece of card the same width as the back piece (for the front strip where the bolts go though - see above photo)
Brown paper (or whatever paper you choose to cover the back piece)
A small piece of fabric (or paper) to cover the front strip.
Pinking shears (to cut your fabric swatches)
Two roofing bolts (available from hardware shop for a few pence)
Pencil
Ruler
Small scissors
Craft knife
Glue stick
You may need a screwdriver and spanner to help you tighten the bolts
Instructions
Measuring carefully cut your back piece of card 5mm larger than the fabric swatches you will be filling the book with. My fabric samples are 26cm x 26cm so I cut my card 26.5cm x 26.5cm.
Cut a strip of card the same width as the back card. This will be the strip that goes across the front of the book that the bolts go through. My strip measured 26.5cm x 3cm.
As seen in the above picture cover the card with paper. On one side use paper approximately 1cm larger than the card on all sides. Cut across the corners at a 45 degree angle so that the edges fold over neatly. Glue in place on both sides. Cut a piece of paper a few millimetres smaller than the back piece and glue in place to hide the folded edges and create a neat finish.
Use the same principle for the front bar.
Measuring carefully, mark where you would like the bolts to sit. Using sharp scissors or similar, poke a hole through the card back piece, front strip and the fabric swatches. You may need to do them in batches and trim little bits of fabric away to allow the bolts to go through.
Push the bolts through all the layers and tighten the backs on so that they lie flush.
Sit back and admire your handiwork.
Top Tip: If you are making a slimmer book than this you could use book binding bolts which you can get in different finishes (available from various specialist shops online).
And if you like my Sunburst design...
Comments