Bible Cover, Part 1
My Bible is larger than the typical size which made it a pain
to find a cover for, especially since I’m picky anyway. Many
Bible covers have a strap coming out of the spine end which
means that the Bible is resting on its pages when being
carried by the strap. For stiff Bibles or those w/ hard
covers this probably doesn’t make a difference, but since
mine’s soft and I want to keep the pages in good shape, I
want the Bible to be resting on its spine while being carried
by the straps instead. So I’ve designed it according to that
requirement. I also placed a generous sized hidden pocket in
it to accommodate my pencil case for
underlining, as well as a couple
outer pockets b/c it’s nice to have a place to stash a few
papers.
Here are a few finished pics to help you decide if this cover
is for you...
After two previous attempts that were decent but not quite
ideal, here is my final Bible Cover project! Instructions are
written so you can make the pattern for you particular size
Bible. And this is one of the projects that is a lot nicer to
do if you have a serger... but you CAN do it without, you’ll
just have to adjust the instructions accordingly, hemming
fabric under instead of serging. I'll also mention that a
serger requires extra seam allowances in order to make a
thick seam and to cut off fabric as it serges. So if you're
sewing this case rather than serging it, you'll want to take
my measurements in a bit to compensate for that.
Supplies:
Fabric (dimensions given below)
1-2 zippers
Padding (I used fleece)
Directions:
Take the following
measurements on your Bible...
A- from the end of the top over around to the end of the back
cover (mine’s 16 3/4”)
B- front side Bible width
(mine’s 7 1/2”)
C- front side Bible height
(mine’s 9 1/2”)
D- spine only (mine’s 1
3/4”)
Using these
measurements, determine fabric sizes & which fabrics
you’d like to use for each piece:
This case piece will need to
be cut twice out of your fabric, one piece will face the
exterior of the cover and one will be the inside lining of
the cover. It will also need to be cut out once from your
padding material, like fleece.
And each of these pieces
will be cut as shown (one zipper portion piece, two strap
pieces, two inside cover flaps, one outer pocket and two
outer pocket trim pieces).
Determine
your zipper lengths: the length of your
zipper to go around three sides of your Bible is B + B +
C + 6” (round up). If you’re making a hidden pocket,
that zipper’s length is C + 2” (round up).
Obtain your fabrics,
padding, and zippers, then cut them to size accordingly.
Fold each of the strap
pieces in half, lengthwise,
right sides out, and serge.
Cut zipper fabric piece
in half, lengthwise, giving you two pieces around 2”
wide each. Then, sew your long zipper to the zipper
fabric pieces. When done, set it aside for later. (I
serged the fabric to the zipper so there wouldn’t be raw
edges, then sewed it b/c I can get in closer w/ my
sewing machine than I can w/ my serger. Then I ironed it
flat and top stitched to keep the flappy parts from
flapping. You can attach your zipper quicker if you just
sew it then trim it real close w/ zig zag shears.) Here
are a couple views so you see what it should look like
so far:
To make your outer
pocket, fold your outer pocket trim pieces in half and
iron. Then serge them to the two corresponding edges of
your outer pocket piece.
Now Iron it to lay
flat. Set it aside.
If you’re doing a
hidden pocket, sew the centers together of one case
piece and the padding. This is what will serve as the
base of the hidden pocket once the case is assembled.
(This picture is zoomed in, but you're sewing a line
over what WILL be located the spine of the cover- so if
you're looking at the case piece as a rectangle with
it's length from side to side then this line goes up and
down the center of it) Set aside.
Serge one long edge of
both cover flap pieces.
***Click HERE to go to PART 2
of this Bible Cover Tutorial!!!***
