By: Theresa Merkling Bible covers First cut an old brown paper bag to lay flat. Open bible to lay flat on top of bag. Trace around bible. Make tic marks where the binding bends are top and bottom. Add 1/4" all the way around for ease (I didn't do this on mine and while it fits, it's pretty snug. A hair looser would work better. Now, I made mine using prequilted floral fabric. It has a print on the reverse side as well. If you chose to use regular fabric, you'd probably want to use 2 layers wrong sides together, perhaps with thin quilt batt between to give it some body. I also had the same fabric in regular yardage (not quilted). I used the plain fabric for the pocket on the lower half of the bible and it goes about 1/2 way up and wraps all the way around the front to the back. You will need to approximate the measurements. Also, with your plain fabric, plan your inside flaps the will go from top to bottom of the outer edges to hold the cover on the bible (kind of a slipcover, hope you know what I'm talking about. I'm sure you've seen similar models at Christian bookstores in your area. They sell for $25 or $30 each. The only other fabric to cut will be the flat for your front and back handles. Think about how fat you want the handles to be. I think mine are about 1" finished and flat. You could think up a stuffed and thinner handle if you'd prefer. So, for the 1" handle, you'd cut 2 strips for fabric about 2 1/2" wide and maybe 8 - 10" long. Now, assembly techniques: Sew your handle strips, right sides together down the long edge with about 1/4" seam allowance (if you have a problem with 1/4" and want your traditional clothes makers 5/8" adjust the fabric width accordingly but you're just wasting fabric that way ). Turn tubes right sides out, press flat with seam in center of one side of tube. This will be the inner aspects of the handle. Set those aside. If you desire a lacey trim now's the time to either add it to all the appropriate edges of the cover and pocket. If you use lace, put it right on the edge and sew in place (a zig zag holds it really well) make sure it's folded down so the right side of trim is on the right side of fabric. For pocket, after you've stitched it in place, flip the lace (only on the upper edge) back to the way it will sit when the cover is assembled and topstitch on the right side of the fabric to hold the lace neatly in place. Place pocket in it's correct place on top of cover. Machine baste in place. Attach the lace all around the outer edge of the quilted cover fabric like you did for the pocket. Boy, I'm running out of descriptive words for this assembly. Okay, time to get it all together. Put handles on their respective sides and tack in place making sure the lace is still folded in toward the center of the cover. Finish one long raw edge on each inner fabric piece. Place cover right side up on table in front of you. Put inner parts on top of cover, right sides together, finished edges toward the center. Stitch securely into place 1/4" seams. Turn right sides out. Fold lace to lay outward. If everything looks pretty good, Topstitch all the way around the outer edge very near stitching. Run two straight lines of stitching down the spine edges (remember, you marked tick marks there during the layout.) This makes your pen holder section. You're essentially finished. The front pocket can be decorated with doilies, lace flowers, silk flowers, thin ribbon streamers, bows, and/or pearl strings. Another decorating idea for a less feminine cover would be, before assembly, make a small scripture in xs and use satin stitch to frame it in a window on the front of your pocket fabric. . . use your imagination.