I had the clearest picture in my head for this one: a book cover so cheerful it makes you grin every single time you grab your journal. Texture? Yes. A little vintage charm? Absolutely. And flowers that actually look like flowers — daisies with the happiest pop of orange. The paisley motif kept waving at me until I gave in, and oh my goodness, I am SO happy with how it turned out. Butter yellow background, crisp white scallops, a whole garden scene — this might be my favorite useful project ever!
About This Crochet Book Cover Pattern
This Sunshine Daisy book cover hugs a standard journal or paperback — about 5.25 x 8 inches (13.5 x 20 cm) and up to 1.25 inches (3 cm) thick. The base is a sturdy single crochet (sc) fabric, which gives the cover enough backbone to protect your book while staying bendy enough to open and close with ease.
The fun part is the layering. You start with a simple rectangle, add inside flaps to tuck around the book boards, edge it with pretty scallops, and then — the best bit — sew on a whole garden of appliques. Paisley, daisies, leaves, and tiny orange blossoms build a dimensional scene that looks way fancier than it really is.
Skill level: Adventurous beginner to intermediate. If your single crochet rows are confident and you are game to try teeny appliques, you can totally do this. The jacket itself is super straightforward; the appliques just ask for patience and tidy finishing — nothing scary.
Time estimate: About 8 to 12 hours all in, appliques and sewing included.
Finished Measurements
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Flat jacket before folding: 13 x 8.5 inches (33 x 21.5 cm)
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Each inside flap: About 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) deep
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Closure tab: About 2.2 x 3.25 inches (5.5 x 8.25 cm)
Materials You Will Need
Yarn:
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DK or light worsted cotton/acrylic blend
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160 yards (146 m) butter yellow (main color)
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70 yards (64 m) white
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25 yards (23 m) leafy green
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12 yards (11 m) marigold orange
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6 yards (5 m) golden yellow
Yarn suggestions: Choose a yarn with body and stitch definition. Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK, YarnArt Jeans, or Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/6 all work beautifully. Cotton blends give the crispest finish for a book cover.
Hook:
- US E-4 / 3.5 mm hook, or size needed to match gauge
Notions:
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Removable stitch markers
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Tapestry needle
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Sharp scissors
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Rustproof pins
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Small sewing needle
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One 0.5 inch (12 mm) sew-on snap for closure
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Optional: small felt circles for backing the daisy centers
Gauge
20 sc x 22 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet, blocked.
The main jacket math uses this gauge: 65 sc = 13 inches (33 cm) wide, and 47 rows = 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) tall.
Do check your gauge, promise? If the fabric feels loose or floppy, drop down a hook size. You want a nice firm fabric that really holds the book.
Stitch Abbreviations and Definitions
Before we dive in, here is every stitch and term you will bump into:
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ch = chain: Yarn over, pull through loop on hook. The foundation of most crochet projects.
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sc = single crochet: Insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops. This is your main stitch for the entire jacket.
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hdc = half double crochet: Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
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dc = double crochet: Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops) twice.
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sl st = slip stitch: Insert hook, yarn over, pull through stitch and loop on hook in one motion.
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st(s) = stitch(es)
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RS/WS = right side/wrong side
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rnd = round
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rep = repeat
UK crocheters note: US sc = UK dc. US dc = UK tr.
Special Techniques
Scallop loop edging: Slip stitch in next border stitch, chain 3, slip stitch in next border stitch. Repeat to make small white loops all around the edge.
Daisy petal: Chain 5, working into the same center stitch: dc, hdc, sl st. This forms one rounded petal.
Surface stem: With green yarn held on top of the fabric, insert hook from front to back and up again a short distance away, yarn over, pull through fabric and loop on hook. Repeat like a chain stitched onto the surface.
Pattern Notes
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US crochet terminology is used throughout.
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Ch-1 turning chains do not count as stitches unless stated.
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Work the main jacket firmly so it holds the book well. If your cover feels loose, go down one hook size.
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Appliques are sewn on after blocking. Pin the book cover around the actual book before final sewing.
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Left-handed makers may follow the same instructions. Applique placement may mirror naturally. Place the closure tab on the edge that feels most comfortable for opening.
Construction Order
Here is your roadmap for the whole adventure:
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Crochet the main yellow jacket rectangle
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Add the white border and scalloped edging
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Work inside flaps directly onto the short edges
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Make the striped closure tab and sew it to the back edge
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Crochet paisley, daisies, leaves, and orange blossoms
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Block all pieces, sew appliques in place, add snap, and weave in ends
Main Book Jacket Instructions
Use butter yellow. Make one.
Base Rectangle
Foundation: Ch 66.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. (65 sc)
Rows 2-47: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn after Rows 2-46 only. (65 sc each row)
Checkpoint: Your piece should measure about 13 inches (33 cm) wide x 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) tall after light blocking.
White Border and Scallops
Border Rnd 1: Join white in any corner. Ch 1. Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the corner, 65 sc across the top, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next corner, 47 sc down the side, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next corner, 65 sc across the foundation edge, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next corner, 47 sc up the side. Join with sl st to first sc. (232 sc + 4 ch-2 corner spaces)
Border Rnd 2: Ch 1. Sc in each sc around, working (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner ch-2 sp. Join. (240 sc + 4 ch-2 corner spaces)
Scallop Rnd 3: Sl st in next sc, ch 3; rep from * around each side. At each corner, sl st in corner ch-2 sp, ch 3, sl st in same sp. Join and fasten off. (120 side loops + 4 corner loops)*
Inside Flaps
Make two flaps, one on each short edge.
Left flap setup: With RS facing, join butter yellow at top of one short edge inside Border Rnd 2. Work 47 sc evenly along the side edge. Ch 1, turn. (47 sc)
Rows 1-10: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn after Rows 1-9 only. (47 sc each row)
Fasten off. Repeat on the opposite short edge for the right flap.
Fold flaps to WS and pin around the book boards before sewing the top and bottom flap edges to the jacket.
Striped Closure Tab
With white, ch 13.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. (12 sc)
Rows 2-3: Sc in each st across with white. Ch 1, turn. (12 sc)
Rows 4-5: Change to butter yellow; sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (12 sc)
Rows 6-17: Continue 2-row stripes, alternating white and butter yellow. Ch 1, turn after Rows 6-16 only. (12 sc each row)
Edge: Work 1 rnd sc evenly around the tab, placing 2 sc in each corner. Fasten off.
Sew one short end to the center back edge. Add a snap under the front end after fitting.
Tab checkpoint: The tab should measure about 2.2 inches (5.5 cm) tall x 3.25 inches (8.25 cm) long before sewing. Two small daisies are sewn onto the visible end.
Garden Appliques
Large Paisley Applique
Make 1 in white.
Ch 12.
Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 8 ch, 3 sc in next ch, working down opposite side sc in next 8 ch, 2 sc in last ch. Join. (22 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 8, 2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next 8, 2 sc in each of last 2 sts. Join. (28 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next 10, hdc in next 3, 2 dc in next 4, hdc in next 3, sc in next 8. Join. (32 sts)
Finish: Surface chain a golden spiral inside the widest end and a curved stem line toward the point. Add a white sl-st outline if desired.
Daisies
Large daisy, make 3.
With golden yellow, make magic ring, ch 1, 8 sc in ring, join. (8 sc)
Petals: Change to white. (Sl st in next st, ch 5, dc in same st, hdc in same st, sl st in same st); rep from * around. (8 petals)*
Small tab daisy, make 2.
Work center as above with 6 sc. Make 6 petals using ch 4, hdc, sl st in same st. (6 petals)
Leaves and Blossoms
Leaf, make 12-16.
With green, ch 7. Sl st in 2nd ch, continue working along the chain, 3 sc in last ch. Work along opposite side. (13 sts around)
Orange blossom, make 5.
With orange, magic ring, work petals into ring, pull ring closed. (5 petals)
Stems: Surface chain green stems directly onto the fabric, or crochet short ch lengths and sew them down.
Placement Map
Arrange the paisley from upper right toward center. Place three large daisies in a loose cluster across the lower center, orange blossoms around them, and green leaves along two rising stems. Keep bulky motifs at least 0.5 inches (1.25 cm) away from the book spine fold and closure snap.
Assembly and Finishing
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Block the main jacket flat to the finished measurements. Let dry completely.
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Wrap the jacket around the book. Fold flaps to the WS and pin them snugly around the covers. Remove the book carefully and sew only the top and bottom flap edges to the jacket.
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Sew the closure tab to the back edge, centered vertically. Add the snap so the tab closes smoothly without pulling.
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Pin the paisley and flowers. Sew through applique edges and centers with matching yarn tails. Secure all tails on the WS.
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Add the two small daisies to the visible end of the tab. Steam lightly from a distance if needed. Do not flatten the petals completely.
Size Customization
To fit another book, measure the full wrap width: front cover width + spine width + back cover width + two inside flaps. Multiply the desired width in inches by your sc gauge per inch, then add 1 chain. For height, multiply book height by your row gauge per inch. Keep the border and flap instructions the same, adjusting flap rows to about 25-30% of the book cover width.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Cover too loose: Try a smaller hook, or sew those inside flaps a little deeper.
Edges ripple: Ease off the stitches along the row-end sides, or block gently back into a rectangle.
Edges pull inward: Add a few extra side-edge stitches, especially near the corners.
Appliques curl: Block the appliques on their own first, and sew around the outer edges — not just the centers.
Tab strains: Nudge the snap closer to the book edge, or make the tab longer with extra stripe rows.
Care Instructions
Spot clean when you can. For a full wash, hand wash gently in cool water, roll it in a towel, reshape to the book-cover size, and dry flat. Take it off the book before washing, and skip high heat and hard wringing.
I’m so glad we stitched up this Sunshine Daisy book cover together! I really hope it sprinkles a little sunshine over your reading time. Happy crocheting, friend!
