Scripture Cases

For their 8th birthday,  we give the kiddie pies their own set of scriptures.  I promised Pumpkin Pie a case to carry them in, and about 2 months after her birthday, I finally made it using this fun scripture case tutorial with great step by step pictures from PolkaDotChair.

I made one for Cherry Pie, too.

I was making cases for a Bible and Triple Combination, soft paper bound, which together are larger than a mini-quad (what Melissa at PolkaDotChair was making a case for).  I like my cases to fit pretty closely so the books aren't wallowing around in there.  Also because my kids have a tendency to hoard bits of trash and I didn't want much room left for bits of paper.  If you want to make your own case for scriptures like ours and don't want to do the math, here are the dimensions I used.  (Also in case I decide to make more and want to remember the math.)

Denim:
1--  9 3/8 x 8 inch for the flap
2-- 6 1/4 x 8 inch for the front & back
1-- 4 3/8 x 20 inch strip for the gusset
2-- 2 1/2 x 16 inch strips for the handle

It took a little bit more than a fat quarter for the lining:

2- 6 1/4 x 8 inch for front & back lining
2- 5 1/4 x 8 inch for front pocket
1- 9 3/8 x 8 inch for the flap lining
1- 4 3/8 x 20 inch strip for the gusset lining

I included a seam allowance of 1/2" everywhere except the handle- do 1/4" seams on the handle.

The first case I made was too tight.  The gusset was 1/4 inch too narrow.  I ended up unpicking all the seams and resewing them smaller so that there would be more room in the case.

**This is one of the secrets I've learned that has made me happier with my sewing.  When it isn't right, I take the time to fix it.  It's totally worth it.  If you hate unpicking, check your seam ripper.  If it is so rusty, it looks like you stabbed someone with it and left the blood to dry, spend $4 on a new one.  Totally worth it.

**Secret #2 top stitch.  It makes everything look more professional.

I adjusted the measurements for the second case and it turned out perfectly.  (The measurements above are the adjusted ones.)

Here are the instructions from the tutorial because I found it confusing to go back and read her instructions with different measurements.  

1. Front Pocket:  Take your front pocket pieces of fabric and sew them right sides together across the 8″ side. Press the seam open and turn right side out. Press and top stitch along the top.

2.  Place your sewn piece over your front piece of denim.  Baste around the edges of the denim piece to hold in place.

3.  About 2″ up from the bottom  and in the center of the fabric pocket, attach a magnetic snap.  Make sure you only go through the fabric piece and not the denim also.

4.  Sew straight lines through one end of the pocket to create some pen/pencil slots. Make sure you backstitch at the top of the pocket.

5. Attatch gusset:  Take your denim gusset piece and pin it to the denim front piece that has the pocket attached.  Sew around 3 sides.

Trim any extra denim (of the 3″ wide piece) off the top.

Pin your denim back piece to your gusset piece. Sew.

6.  Repeat Step 5 with your lining fabric to form the bag lining.

7.  If you are going to add an appliqué to the flap of the bag, appliqué it to the denim flap now. 

8.  Take your denim flap piece and your fabric flap piece, place them right sides together and sew around 3 sides (leaving the top open). Clip corners and turn right side out.  Press.

9.  Top stitch using contrast thread around the flap.

10. Take the other part of your magnetic snap and attach it to the inside of the flap (the piece you just sewed). Place it in the center about 1″ up from the bottom.

11. Place the right side of your flap inside your bag facing the right side of the bag back. Stitch in place.

12. Sew the handle denim pieces, wrong sides together, using a ¼” seam.  Leave one end open for turning.  Turn, Press, and Top Stitch.

13.  Place the handle in the bag and center it in the bag.  Stitch it in place on both sides.  (the handle).

14. Place your bag lining inside your bag (right sides together). Pin. MAKE sure the bag lining and bag pieces line up perfectly, if not adjust the seams on your bag lining piece until they do.

Sew 1/2″ down from the top of the bag beginning at the left front corner and ending at the right front corner (you are leaving the front side open for turning.) 

15. Turn bag right side out and press.  Turn under the open edges of the bag along the front and press under.  Top stitch (to close the opening), starting at the bag flap on one side, around the front to the other side of the bag flap.