I've been working... thinking about this tutorial for just less than a year and I am finally done with it! These instructions and the following pattern fit scriptures measuring 7 3/8” x 5 3/8” x 2 3/8” (13.4cm X 18.4cm x 5.9cm small quad for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

CLICK HERE for the pattern for the small quad case.

If you need a different size for your Bible or other scriptures, use my online Scripture Case Calculator: Scripture Case Calculator (Imperial – inches) or Scripture Case Calculator (Metric – centimeters)

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SCRIPTURE CASE

These instructions and pattern fit scriptures measuring 7 3/8” x 5 3/8” x 2 3/8” (small quad for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

SUPPLIES

1/3 yd 44” wide Fabric
22” Zipper
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Pins
Thread
Marking materials

PATTERN

SIDE (Cut 2)
POCKET (Cut 1 or 2)
ZIPPER ENCLOSURE (Cut 2 on fold)
TOP (under handle - Cut 1)
HANDLE (Cut 2)

STITCHES

BASTE: Generally the longest stitch on your machine, about 6 stitches per inch.

EDGESTITCH: Straight stitch close to the finished edge, usually 1/8” or 1/16”.

STITCH: A straight stitch, generally 10-12 stitches per inch.

TOPSTITCH: Straight stitch ¼” from the previous line of stitching.

TRIPLE STRAIGHT STITCH: Machines stitch this automatically using two stitches forward, one stitch back. This can be done manually by sewing over the line of stitching three times.

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare Pattern

Cut out pattern.

Pin all pattern pieces to fabric and cut, OR
using a ruler and rotary cutter, cut out pieces.

Picture 1 - Cut using a rotary cutter and ruler

Mark pattern.

Picture 2 - Make ¼” clips into fabric at black triangles on all pieces, these will be referenced as SINGLE CLIP or DOUBLE CLIP in the instructions.

Picture 3 - Tracing Paper used to mark stitching lines

Make a ¼” clip into the fold of the seam allowance for the ZIPPER ENCLOSURE, Picture 4.

Picture 4 – Clip (see Picture 2) the fold in ZIPPER ENCLOSURE

Optional POCKET steps 4-6.

On POCKET fold ½” on top edge to wrong side and press.

Picture 5 – Using a Hot Hemmer to fold and press 1/2” seam

TIP: No Hot Hemmer? Run a basting stitch along the fold line (Picture 6), and then turn the fabric along the line of stitching and press (Picture 7).

Picture 6 – Basting stitch along fold line

Picture 7 – Folding and pressing fabric along stitch line

Turn POCKET to right side and EDGESTITCH along fold (Picture 7).

Picture 8 – Edgestitching

Then TOPSTITCH (Picture 7) along fold. Press.

Picture 9 - Topstitching

Place the wrong side of POCKET to the right side of SIDE, align the SINGLE CLIP (see caption Picture 2), and BASTE together using a ½” seam (Picture 8). OPTIONAL: REPEAT Steps 4-6 for other POCKET.

Picture 10 – POCKET basted to SIDE

Optional pen pockets

STITCH along optional stitching lines on POCKET (Picture 9).

Picture 11 – Pen pocket stitching done using a Triple Straight Stitch

Starting at TOPSTITCHING along fold, add a narrow and dense zigzag (Picture 10) for reinforcement. OPTIONAL: REPEAT for other POCKET.

Picture 12 – Narrow, dense zigzag used for reinforcement

Zipper and Enclosure

Attach zipper

OPTION 1 – With right sides together, align the unclipped edge of the ZIPPER ENCLOSURE to the zipper (Picture 11), the end seam should be set ¼” above the top stop of the zipper (Picture 12). STITCH close to zipper teeth.

Picture 13 – OPTION 1 Sew right sides of ZIPPER ENCLOSURE and zipper together.

Picture 14 – Top of zipper enclose is placed ¼” above top zipper stop.

Turn ZIPPER ENCLOSURE to right side and EDGESTITCH along fold close to the zipper teeth (Picture 13)

Picture 15 – Stitch close to zipper teeth

OPTION 2 – Fold and press the 3/8” seam on the ZIPPER ENCLOSURE. Align the folded edge to zipper teeth and EDGESTITCH as before (Picture 13). Press.

TIP: To move past the zipper slider, stop your work with your needle in the fabric, lift your presser foot, move the slider to the other side of your presser foot, put the presser foot down and resume stitching.

TIP: I use a zigzag stitch to keep the zipper tape closed when the zipper slider is down (Picture 12).

Picture 16 – Pressing seam

TIP: Pressing seams is important to make your project neat and seams easier to handle. Press your seams in place right after you sew them. If required, press your seam allowances either open or in the direction indicated. Last, press again on the right side of fabric.

Handle and Top

With right sides together, STITCH the HANDLE pieces along long edge with a ¼” seam, then turn right side out.

Picture 17 – Turning the handle right side out

EDGESTITCH along each seam edge, then TOPSTITCH.

Picture 18 - HANDLE after edgestitch and topstitch

Align the bottom side of HANDLE to the SINGLE CLIPS on the right side of the TOP and BASTE together at ¼”. REPEAT for other side of TOP.

Picture 19 – Basting HANDLE to TOP

Picture 20 – Basting HANDLE to TOP on other side

With right sides together, STITCH together the ZIPPER ENCLOSURE to the TOP/HANDLE using a ½” seam.

Picture 21 – TOP/HANDLE stitched to ZIPPER ENCLOSURE.

Press seam allowances toward the middle of the TOP (Picture 20).

Picture 22 – Press seam allowance to middle of TOP

On right side of TOP, EDGESTITCH the seam taking care to sew under the HANDLE. Then TOPSTITCH (Picture 21). REPEAT for other side.

Picture 23 – Edgestitching and topstitching on TOP

Finishing

With right sides together, align the SINGLE CLIP of ZIPPER ENCLOSURE and SIDE and pin. Do the same at the DOUBLE CLIP of the TOP and SIDE pieces. Begin pinning the seams together starting at the SINGLE CLIP. When you get 3/8” from the corner, make a 3/8” clip in the seam allowance of the ZIPPER ENCLOSURE. Pin the edge of the clip you just made to the seam allowance, then turn the ZIPPER ENCLOSURE and line up the seam with the next perpendicular seam allowance of the SIDE (Picture 22). Take care not to stretch or pull the fabric so that it lines up all the way around. REPEAT for all corners.

Picture 24 – The red marks indicate the 3/8” from the corner and the 3/8” depth into the seam allowance.

STITCH together at ½” seam allowance. REPEAT for other side.

TIP: For better corners, use shorter stitches 1” on each side of corner. And instead of a sharp pivot at the corner, take one or two stitches diagonally across the corner.

Clean up your project snipping loose threads and removing basting stitches that may show on the right side (Picture 23).

Picture 25 – Remove basting stitching that might show

OPTIONAL – Seam finishing

Finishing your seams.

Sewing machine. Use whatever overlock or edge finish stitch you are comfortable with on your machine. A zigzag is ok, but the stitched zigzag is very quick and effective (Picture 24).

Picture 26 – Stitched zigzag

Serger. A serger is used to finish the seams.

Picture 27 - Serged seam allowance

TIP: Seam finishing is not only for looks but to preserve your project from unraveling from use or washing. You can “finish” all of the seams in this project before you begin if you prefer to have all of your seams finished. After you finish sewing it is only possible to finish the ZIPPER ENCLOSURE/SIDE seams that you sewed in Step 12.

You are finished!

Here is how this one turned out. My daughter has already asked if she can have it. But she can’t because this is the first scripture case I have ever had in my life.