Celebratory Book Cover / Yukinko's Handmade Lifestyle

Hello everyone. How are you? Today, I'd like to share a story about making handmade book covers for my friend's two children.

Celebratory book cover

It was New Year's Day 2026. As I was thinking, "What should I make next?", I suddenly remembered that a friend had mentioned last year that her two children were preparing for high school and university entrance exams. Maybe I should give them a gift to celebrate their success in the spring. Come to think of it, I don't remember ever making a handmade gift for a teenager before... I quickly checked with my friend, and she replied that the daughter of the child who is expected to become a university student if she passes the exams has said she wants a book cover. Okay, I'll make a gift for each of them in advance, before the "cherry blossoms blooming" announcement comes.

Now, to be honest, I don't really know what teenagers like these days, nor what my friends' children like. That said, I thought it would be better to avoid anything too elaborate or flashy. I thought about what kind of design would have a handmade feel without being too complicated, and I arrived at "the essence of books." There is so much wisdom in this world, and reading is about encountering words that become treasures to you from among that countless mountain of knowledge. It might be like picking up your own seashell on a wide sandy beach, or finding your own guiding star in the dark night sky.

To allow the sisters to secretly wear matching outfits, we selected the same fabric in deep ocean blue and night sky blue. Since there are five family members, we added five stars to the night sky and five grains of star-shaped sand to the beach. When you make something by hand with someone in mind, you can pour your feelings into every detail of the materials, colors, and design—that's one of the joys of handmade crafts. We hope that by the time this booklet is completed, cherry blossoms will be in full bloom for your family.

 

Next time we look forward to.

Yukinko

I've been contributing to the magazine "Couturier no Tane" since its inception. As my daughter grows, I've also found more free time. Lately, I've been completely engrossed in sewing.　

Instagram: @yukinko_no_kurashi