The leather notebook cover is an exciting intermediate project: more ambitious than a card holder, it involves a wide range of techniques — cutting, edge beveling, dyeing and burnishing the edges, setting snap buttons, gluing and hand stitching. The result is well worth the effort: a durable and personalized cover that will protect your A5 notebook and develop a beautiful patina over the years. At Cuir Naturel, we have detailed every step, following the same order as our video, with a free downloadable template available in Step 1. Follow the steps below alongside the video so you don't miss anything.
Materials needed
For this project, you will need a firm leather, between 1.6 and 2.2 mm thick: sturdy enough to properly protect the notebook and hold its shape. You will also need the free downloadable template (available in Step 1), snap buttons, thread, as well as the tools detailed at each step. If you are a beginner, you can find everything you need in our leather tools section.
Step 1: Download, print and cut out the template
Start by downloading the template here
Print the free template, then carefully cut it out. For a clean outline, use a precision knife guided by a ruler. The template is the foundation of a successful notebook cover: every piece that follows depends on it.
Step 2: Assemble the template
The notebook cover template consists of several pieces. Assemble them by carefully aligning the black reference points: they ensure perfect alignment between the different parts of the template.
Step 3: Transfer the template onto the leather
Place the assembled template on the flesh side of the leather (the reverse) and trace its outline using a silver pencil. Its clean, easy-to-erase mark makes it ideal for transferring patterns, including onto dark leathers. Use a firm leather between 1.6 and 2.2 mm thick, and make sure to position your pieces carefully to minimize waste and avoid areas with defects.
Step 4: Punch the holes for the snap buttons
Punch the holes for the snap buttons while the template is still in place: this is easier and more precise. Use a round punch of the correct diameter, struck with a mallet, working on a cutting and punching board to protect your work surface and tools.
Step 5: Cut the leather
Cut the leather along your markings using your precision knife and your ruler. Keep the blade perpendicular to the leather and make several passes along the same groove rather than forcing the blade, especially with leather of this thickness.
Step 6: Bevel the edges opposite the rounded corners
Using an edge beveler, round the edges opposite the rounded corners. The edge beveler removes a thin strip of material from the edge, creating a smooth, pleasant-to-touch finish. Treat these edges now because they will be difficult to access after assembly.
Step 7: Dye the edges
Move on to dyeing the beveled edges. Here, we simply used leather dye (rather than edge paint, which is a layer of paint that remains on the surface), applied with a refillable marker for precise application without overspill.
Good to know: Do not confuse leather dye, which penetrates the material and colors it, with edge paint, which remains on the surface like paint. Both can produce beautiful results, but the effect is different.
Step 8: Burnish the dyed edges
Once the dye is dry, apply a small amount of gum tragacanth or Tokonole to the edge, then rub vigorously with a wooden burnisher. The heat generated by friction compacts the fibers and gives the edge a shine.
Tip: Always sand in the same direction and wipe off the product immediately if it gets onto the grain side of the leather. Several thin coats are better than one thick coat.
Step 9: Punch the stitching holes for the pocket
Place the pocket in its final position on the inner flap, then punch the stitching holes using a diamond-point pricking iron, which creates clean, evenly spaced holes.
Step 10: Roughen the surfaces to be glued
Lightly roughen the surfaces that will be joined using a file. This step creates a better key and ensures much stronger glue adhesion: glue adheres less effectively to smooth leather.
Step 11: Glue the pocket to the inner flap
Apply a thin layer of water-based glue with an applicator to the roughened areas of the pocket and flap. Position the pocket and press firmly to achieve a clean, well-aligned bond.
Step 12: Stitch the center of the pocket
Stitch the center of the pocket to the flap using a needle, thread and a little beeswax to strengthen and smooth the thread. This central seam divides the pocket into two compartments and holds it securely in place.
Step 13: Stitch the inside of the flap with the pocket
Mark the stitching line using a wing divider, keeping an even distance from the edge to serve as a guide. Punch the holes with your pricking iron, then stitch the inside of the flap using the saddle stitch with your needle and thread. The saddle stitch does not unravel, even if a thread breaks. This is the part that will not be stitched to the main body of the notebook cover.
Step 14: Round the corners around the closure
Round the corners using a round corner punch, which creates a clean, identical curve on every corner and is much more consistent than cutting freehand.
Step 15: Install the snap buttons
Install the snap buttons in the holes punched in Step 4, using their setting tool and an anvil. Make sure each snap is securely fastened and works properly.
Step 16: Glue the two flaps to the main body
Glue the two inner flaps — the one with the pocket and the plain flap — to the main body of the notebook cover using water-based glue and the applicator. Remember to roughen the contact areas beforehand for better adhesion.
Step 17: Sand the edges and round the outer corners
Once the whole piece is assembled, sand the outer edges to even them out, then round the outer corners using the punch, so that all layers meet neatly.
Step 18: Bevel all the outer edges
Run the edge beveler along all the outer edges. This step softens the edges and prepares the leather for the final edge finishing.
Step 19: Stitch the flaps and main body together
Now stitch the flaps and the main body of the notebook cover together, again using the saddle stitch, for a strong and durable assembly. This is the stitching that gives the cover its final structure.
Step 20: Dye and burnish the outer edges
Finish the outer edges: dye them with leather dye, then burnish them with gum tragacanth or Tokonole and a burnisher, exactly as you did for the inner edges.
Step 21: Use a slicker to perfect the finish
Finally, run a slicker along the inside of the flaps and pocket to separate the edges properly and perfect the finish. All that remains is to slide your A5 notebook inside: your notebook cover is complete.
The result
Congratulations, your A5 leather notebook cover is finished! You have created a complete and demanding piece while mastering a wide range of leathercraft techniques. With experience, you can adapt this project to other types of leather and other sizes, or modify it for a planner, travel notebook or sketchbook.
Have you made your own notebook cover? Share it on Instagram and tag us @cuirnaturel — we love discovering your creations.
Frequently asked questions about making a leather notebook cover
Which leather should you choose for an A5 notebook cover?
Choose a firm leather between 1.6 and 2.2 mm thick. This firmness provides good protection for the notebook and ensures the cover holds its shape. Leather that is too thin would result in a floppy cover that would not protect the notebook properly.
What is the difference between leather dye and edge paint?
Leather dye penetrates the material and colors it deeply, whereas edge paint is actually a layer of paint that remains on the surface of the edge. In this tutorial, we used leather dye applied with a refillable marker. Both options produce beautiful results; the choice depends on the desired effect.
Why bevel the edges with an edge beveler?
An edge beveler removes a thin strip from the sharp edge, making it smooth to the touch and more attractive. It is also an essential preparation step before dyeing and burnishing the edges: a beveled edge takes finishing products much better than a sharp, angular edge. It is one of the details that distinguishes an amateur piece from a carefully finished one.
Why roughen the surfaces before gluing them?
Lightly roughening the contact areas creates a better key and significantly improves glue adhesion. Glue adheres less effectively to smooth leather; roughening the surface ensures a stronger and more durable bond. It is a quick step that makes a real difference to the longevity of the assembly.
Can you make a notebook cover without knowing how to sew leather?
This project involves hand stitching using the saddle stitch, but it is a technique that is perfectly accessible to motivated beginners. Making the notebook cover mainly requires patience and method. If you have never sewn leather before, we recommend starting with a simpler project, such as a card holder, before taking on this one.
Where can I find the A5 notebook cover template?
The template is free and can be downloaded directly from this article. Print it, cut it out, assemble the pieces by aligning the reference points, and follow the tutorial steps. It is the ideal starting point for getting into this beautiful leathercraft project.