Quilted Bible Carrier

Use these fabric bible cover patterns from Amy Ellis to tote your bible in style and protect it from scratches and other damage. These free sewing patterns will help you make your own quilted bible carrier.

Hear Amy talk about this Quilted Bible Carrier on FaveCrafts Radio. Read our blog post to learn more about the March 2, 2011 FaveCrafts Radio show.

Materials:

• Two fat quarters
• A bit of white fabric for the lining (you could use a third fat quarter) Batting and interfacing
• Pins
• Cutting mat
• Ruler
• Rotary cutter
• Iron/ironing board
• Fresh needle in the sewing machine.

Instructions:

Get everything cut in the beginning then it goes together pretty quickly.
From your exterior fabric cut - 12 x 18″ 2 – 4 x 14″ 1 – 1.5 x 18″
Interior fabric cut – 2 – 11.25 x 10″ 2 – 6.5 x 3.5″
Lining fabric cut – 11.25 x 17″
Batting cut - 12 x 18″
Interfacing cut – 11 x 16.5″ 2 – 4 x 14″

Math Interlude:
My Bible measures 14 3/4″ (full width of cover) by 9 5/8″. This is a common size, but not the only size Bible – please take a few minutes to measure your closed Bible before getting started. If your Bible is a different size pull out the calculator

For example –
12.5 x 8″
multiply 12.5 by 1.2 = 15
multiply 8 by 1.2 = 9.6 I would probably go with 9.5

I came up with the 1.2 after crunching numbers to add seam allowance and room for bulk, I wanted to know that my crunching was similar for the width and height. If you are altering the measurements please note that I cut the exterior piece larger than needed and trimmed it down after quilting.

Back to the fun stuff! Time to quilt your exterior piece, however you desire! This one has been diagonally quilted in one inch intervals

1. I used my ruler with a 45 degree line to mark my piece.
   
   
   
   
    
2. After quilting trim the exterior piece to 11.25 x 17″
   
   
    
3. Handles and ties– Add interfacing to your handles, 4 x 14″ pieces, then fold it in half and iron a crease.
   
   
    
4. Open the fold and iron both sides into the center,
   
   
    
5. keep your center crease sharp while pressing the sides in.
   
   
    
6. Use the same method to make the tie.
   
   
    
7. Back to the machine to topstitch -
   
   
   
   The completed handles -
   
   
   
   And ties -
   
   
    
8. I treated the ties as one until now, cut them in half for two, and on one end of each finish the raw edge. I zig-zagged over the edge, like so.
   
   
   
   The pen pocket –
   
   
    
9. Sew around three of the four sides, leaving the bottom open to turn it right side out, stitch 1/4″ seam.
   
   
    
10. Clip your corners
    
    
     
11. Turn it right side out, and press.
    
    
     
    I like to use a knitting needle to help press the seams out.
     
12. To add it to the cover, prep your interior pockets.
    
    
    
    Be sure to keep your height at 11.25″ and press a nice crease.
     
13. Pin your pocket an inch away from the fold
    
    
     
14. Topstitch it in place
    
    
    
     
15. Pulling it all together – Add the interfacing to your lining piece. Time to start building! Set your lining, right side up on a flat surface,
    
     
     
16. Add the interior pockets.
    
    
     
17. Add the ties at the center, and pin.
    
    
     
18. Add the handles, 5″ apart is a good number for this size cover. Pin the handles in place, carefully keeping them straight.
    
    
     
19. Now lay your quilted exterior piece, right side down, and pin in place.
    
    
     
20. Mark an opening, about 6″ in between the pockets. Sew with 1/2″ seam, reinforcing at beginning and end. Go slowly over the handles.
    
    
     
21. Clip your corners, and any extra bulk if possible.
    
    
     
22. Begin to turn it right side out – you need to take your time as it unfolds.
    
    
    
    Use a handle to get it started.
    
    
     
23. Once right side out, begin to press the seams into place. (I actually tried it on here real quick first!) Also use a few pins from the outside to keep the layers in place while topstitching.
    
    
     
24. Topstitch all the way around the cover, this will close the opening you left to turn it right side out earlier.