This granny square book sleeve is made with just 4 granny squares, combining basic stitches for a cozy, stylish look for your book.

The Hearthside Book Sleeve

I love to read, especially right before I tuck in for the night. But I also enjoy taking my book out and about when I get a chance.

Every month my public library hosts a Silent Book Club at a local restaurant. My daughter and I pack up our latest reads and head over to enjoy a bite to eat while we silently read for an hour. 

Reading is already a silent activity. What makes the Silent Book Club experience so special is that the restaurant goes magically silent at the stroke of 6. It’s like somebody flipped a switch. That switch gets flipped back on exactly 1 hour later. 

Time flies and I leave wishing I had more time to enjoy the environment.

Because I love to read so much, I couldn’t resist creating a beautiful granny square book sleeve to protect the cover of my book.

Crocheting a book sleeve for your hardcover provides stylish protection against bent covers, scuffed spines, and damage from being tossed into bags. It acts as a cozy “sweater” for your books, keeping them safe from liquid spills, while allowing for personal customization in colors, stitches, and sizes.

You’ll love creating your very own granny square book sleeve!

Design + Construction

Like so many of my designs, this one begins with a granny square because I simply love the endless possibilities of that little granny square.

The Hearthside Book Sleeve is built around a modern variation of the traditional granny square, letting that classic motif take center stage while everything else falls into place around it. 

The result is a stylish, customizable accessory that feels both timeless and fresh, proof that the granny square never really goes out of style.

Now for the specifics: 

• The book sleeve construction begins with 4 granny squares which are a fun variation of a traditional granny square. 
• Besides the typical granny stitch, the squares include a spiked granny stitch which employs a front post double crochet within the granny stitch, creating the illusion of a spike. 
• The granny squares also include one of my favorite crochet techniques – the half double crochet worked in the 3rd loop. This beautiful stitch creates subtle surface texture without the effort of surface stitching. 
• Sew it all together with a flat slip stitch seam that adds even more subtle surface texture. 
• Add a beautiful linen stitch top border and ties to secure your book in place.

You’ll be the envy of all your book-loving buddies with this granny square book sleeve!

The Yarn

This granny square book sleeve can be made with any worsted weight yarn you choose. In fact, it’s the perfect stash busting project. Create something that truly reflects your personality with bits and bobs from yarn you’ve already chosen.

I chose Lion Brand’s “Color Theory” for my granny square book sleeve. I haven’t used this yarn much but I absolutely fell in love with it when I used it for A Very Cottage Christmas CAL. 

Not only is the yarn soft to work with, the color offerings are stunning. The 5 colors used in the sample complete the vintage look I was hoping for, the perfectly elegant choice for my very own book sleeve.

Yarn Substitution

You may not like Color Theory or it may not be available where you live. To find the best alternatives and get the kind of finished object you’re looking for, check YarnSub for guidance.

Want to find out if what you have in your stash will work? Use my Yarn Substitution Worksheet (a free PDF download) to work through steps to see if your yarn is a good fit.

Here’s what to love about this pattern

• Hearthside is a gorgeous way to protect your favorite hardcover from dents, scratches and bent pages.
• You’ll be the envy of your book lover friends when you walk in with yours under your arm.
• Customize the colors for a unique, stylish look that’s all you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a traditional granny square?

No, but it’s a fun variation that takes its inspiration and basic construction from the traditional granny square. If you know how to make a basic granny square, the stitch variations I’ve included shouldn’t be a problem.

Is there a video tutorial for this granny square book sleeve?

Yes there is! You can find it on YouTube. If you’re a visual learner, this video will be a helpful aid in conjunction with the written instructions.

How easy would it be to customize the book sleeve?

The width of the book sleeve can be altered depending upon how many rounds of the top border you work. The length is set because of the size of the granny squares.

What IS easily customized are the colors. That’s where you can make this book sleeve uniquely yours. Remember, you don’t have to use 5 colors. Experiment with combinations or go all one color. The choice is yours!

The Hearthside Book Sleeve free pattern

General Information

Yarn

Lion Brand “Color Theory” 100% acrylic worsted weight (3.5oz/246yd; 100g/225m)

• Color A – Beaujolais
• Color B – Tourmaline
• Color C – Peacock
• Color D – Himalayan Salt
• Main color (MC) – Ivory

Any worsted weight yarn will work – Approx. 230 yds total for 5 colors

Hooks

• US size H-8 (5mm)
• US size 7 (4.5mm) for the Top Border

Tools

• Removable stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

Finished Size

Approx. 7.75″ tall x 12″ wide – to fit a standard size hardcover

Gauge

Rnds 1-3 of the granny square = Approx. 3.75″ across

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate

Abbreviations – US crochet terminology

• beg – beginning
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• sp – space
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• MR – magic ring
• RS – right side
• YO – yarn over

Repeats

• (…) – Work everything within the parentheses in the same st or sp.
• […] – Repeat everything within the brackets the indicated number of times.

Special Stitches

Chain-1 space (ch-1 sp) – The number denotes the number of chains made

Chain-3 corner space (ch-3 corner sp) – The number denotes the number of chains made in a corner space.

Granny stitch (GS) – 3 dc in the same st or sp

Half double crochet in the 3^rd  loop (hdc 3lp) – when working on the front side of the stitches from the rnd before – YO, insert hook through the 3^rd loop that sits just under and behind the top loop of the stitch, YO, pull through the 3^rd loop, YO, pull through all 3 loops on the hook to complete the hdc.

Single crochet in the 3^rd loop (sc 3lp) – Insert hook through the 3^rd loop that sits just under and behind the top loop of the stitch, YO, pull through the 3^rd loop, YO, pull through the 2 loops on the hook to complete the sc.

Invisible join: At the end of the rnd, remove the working loop from the hook, insert hook from back to front through the top of the 1^st st of the rnd, add the working loop back onto the hook and pull through to the wrong side, continue as instructed.

Spiked granny stitch (spiked GS) – The granny spike stitch is worked the same as a traditional granny stitch with the exception of the center dc. [Dc in the indicated st, FPdc around the same dc, dc in the same st as the 1^st dc which sits behind the FPdc]

Standing double crochet (Standing dc) – Make a slip knot, hold the slip knot firmly against the hook with the forefinger of the same hand, YO, insert hook in the indicated st, YO, pull up a loop, [YO, pull through 2 loops] twice to complete the dc.

Stacked single crochet (STsc) – (This stitch is used at the beginning of a round to replace the traditional turning ch-3. It has the appearance of a dc.) – Insert hook in the same st as the loop, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (bottom sc made), insert hook through the left vertical bar of the bottom sc, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (top sc made).

A note about the hidden stitch: What is the hidden stitch in crochet? It’s the 1^st st that follows each corner when working in the round. Oftentimes, because of the stitches worked in the corner space, that 1^st stitch can be hidden and tucked underneath those stitches. In this pattern, the hidden stitch is included in the stitch count.

Video tutorial

Coming shortly