How To Sew an Easy, DIY Bible Cover

I know I’m not the only one who has been using their same beloved Bible for many years past the point of minor wear and tear. There’s something about a worn-in Bible, with all your notes and underlinings from a several-years time span that is just not easy to replace! If your Bible’s faux leather cover is in as rough of shape as mine is, I’m here with a very easy to sew Bible cover tutorial for you today! This is not your mama’s Bible cover — you know, the giant zippered thing with pockets and bulk everywhere. Nor is it your grandma’s 80’s-chic Bible cover, the one with the giant cotton eyelet ruffles trimming the quilted floral fabric. Haha! Memories.

Nope, this Bible cover is simple, easy, lightweight and can be adapted to fit any size Bible. It has an optional snap tab and optional handles. I’ll teach you how to measure for a Bible cover and then give you step by step sewing instructions. You can either watch the video tutorial if you like that sort of thing, or scroll right past it and read the written instructions with photos.

OR, for a more convenient way to read and store these instructions, you can purchase a printable PDF version of this tutorial for a few dollars right here in my pattern shop. I so appreciate your support!

Holler at me if you enjoy this tutorial and if you made a Bible or book cover, I’d love to see! Just tag me on Instagram @pincutsew or shoot me an email.

Let’s get started!

First, here is the video, if that’s the kind of sewing tutorial you prefer. If you’d rather read the written instructions and follow along with the photos at your own pace, scroll past the video and follow that tutorial instead.

This post my contain affiliate links, which means that while I am not paid to promote certain items, I will earn a small commission should you purchase items through these links.  For more info, see my disclosure policy.

How to Sew an Easy DIY Bible Cover

Supplies:

You’ll need some pieces of fabric, of course. One for the outside and one for the lining. I prefer some thicker fabrics and I love it if they have texture. Avoid stretch fabrics. In the video above, we chose a duck cloth from Hobby Lobby, which is sort of a softer, looser weave canvas. For my new cover in the written tutorial, I’m actually using a quilted dress from Anthropologie that I thrifted recently in order to cut up. You can of course quilt some fabric yourself to use. Try my quilted pillow cover tutorial to get an idea of what that would look like if you’ve never done anything like that before. You can also get creative and raid your giveaway bag for fabrics like denim or corduroy, or anything heavier weight. Embroidery on linen would sure be special! So many choices. You might have to make a few, haha. Choose a regular ol’ cotton for the lining, though.

Other than fabric, here are a few more tools you’ll find useful:

Here is the exact Bible we are covering.

Here are the magnetic snaps. I keep these on hand in my sewing room, they’ve been useful for many things. A square of Velcro will also work, but probably won’t hold up for as long as you need it to.

A rotary cutter and mat. This is just make your sewing life easier, but of course you can just make a pattern and use scissors for this project. Here’s my video tutorial on how to use them.

And here are those Wonder Clips I used in the video.

How to Measure Your Bible and Cut your Pieces

Open your Bible and lay it flat. Measure the width of the open Bible and add 1.5”. Then measure the height and add 1.25”. My Bible is 12” across when open and 8.75” high, so I’m going to cut my cover 13.5” x 10”. Cut a lining piece the same size.

For the inside flaps that the front and back covers slide into, cut two pieces the same measurement as your height above (mine was 10”), and 8” wide. These will be folded in half. If you’re sewing a cover for a very large Bible, add a couple inches in width (the shorter measurement). You can use either the outside fabric, or the lining fabric for the flaps. I prefer the outside fabric, but in this case, I used the lining fabric since my quilted fabric is a bit bulky.

For the magnetic snap tab, if you’re making it, cut a piece of fabric 3.25” x 7”. If your bible is thick, though add and 2” to the longer measurement.

I’m not sewing handles on this version, but if you do want them, cut two strips 4” x 11” and refer to the video for how to sew and attach them if you aren’t sure.

Ok, time to sew!

Bible Cover Sewing Instructions

We’ll start with the tab piece. In my photo you can see I cut a shorter tab that I instructed you to do and then one from the lining. That’s because I’m using such a bulky fabric. For yours, fold your tab piece hamburger style, right sides together, and sew the long edges using a 1/4” seam, leaving the short end open. Trim the corners and turn it right side out. Gently poke the corners out and press it flat.

Before you go on, attach the male side of the magnetic snap to the tab. Find where you want it to go and make two marks where the prongs are. Using sharp scissors, cut tiny slashes through one layer of the fabric only! insert the prongs and reach inside the tab to put the washer piece over them and fold the tabs in on themselves. The ugly back of the snap should be hidden inside the tab.

Next, find the exact center of your main piece and baste the raw edge of the tab on to one side, using a long machine stitch.

I’m not sewing handles on mine, but if you are, here’s a quick run-down (refer to the video if you need a visual): First, press your handle piece in half length wise. Open it back up and press the long sides in to where the first crease is. Then refold it on the first crease. This will make a nice, sturdy handle. Top stitch down both long sides. Baste the handles onto the cover’s short sides, matching raw edges and evenly spacing them, making sure they match on both sides.

Next, take your flap pieces and fold them in half hot dog style. Then, using a long machine stitch, baste them onto either short side of your lining piece. If you sew the basting stitch just inside of your 1/4” seam allowance, it won’t show later when you’re done.

Time to sew it all together! Pin your outside piece and your lining piece right sides together. The snap flap, the lining flaps and the handles will be sandwiched inside. Sew this seam all the way around, using a 1/4” seam and leaving an opening along the bottom for turning, about 3-4 inches, between where the lining flaps are.

Trim the corners and turn your Bible cover out through the opening you left. Press it flat, pressing the opening closed as if you had sewn it. Then you can try the cover on your Bible. If you find it’s a little bit too big, you can turn it wrong side out again and take it in another 1/4” on the short ends, then try it on again. While the measurements are pretty universal, some fabrics have more or less give and bulk, so some trial and error might be necessary.

Only a couple finishing steps left. Attach the other side of the magnetic snap to the front, slashing through the cover and lining, but NOT through the inside flap pieces. Then, hand stitch the opening closed. Do this with the lining facing you so you can make sure the lining won’t show from the outside of your cover.

You’re done!

But wait, surprise, there’s more. I use a slim Moleskine journal with my Bible and I used to keep it inside one of the flaps, but it was ruining my Bible’s binding, so this time I wanted to make a pocket on the back of my Bible cover to hold it. I wasn’t sure if I should include this part in the tutorial or not because every pocket would be different depending on your Bible, but I’m going to at least show you so you can figure it out if you want! My quilted dress that I cut up for this project was finished with linen bias tape at the bottom, so I used that as the edge and it turned out really cool! This little pocket detail personalized this even more for me and I’m so glad I have a way to keep track of my Moleskine (best journals ever, btw.)

There you have it! Of course, you can use this tutorial to make any size book cover. It would make a very nice gift. I think a hardback journal with a cover would be nice, but rather than the flap with a magnetic snap, I think I’d do a button and ribbon or rick rack closure instead. I’ll have to keep that in mind at Christmastime!

Don’t forget, if you’d like a version of this tutorial to print out and keep, hop over to my pattern shop :)

Happy Sewing :)

Nikki