Bible Book Bag Tutorial

Hello! Here is a useful little book bag I created for my Bible. It's probably the first thing I actually made for myself (that was not clothing). I only seem to make things as gifts. I did make a few of these. I gave one to my mom for her birthday and one for my mother-in-law for Christmas. The tote has an interior pocket for tissues, mints etc.. and a pen pocket to hold highlighters and pen for note taking. I also included small notebooks and a prayer journal. This tote is the perfect size to keep everything together for your devotional time with Jesus and for taking to church. 

The finished size of the bag measures 3" deep x 10" wide x 8" tall

Material needed: 

             1/3 yard of Main Fabric 

             1/3 yard interior lining fabric

             1/8 yard of accent fabric

             1/3 yard fusible fleece and fusible interfacing

             2 Handles

             plastic canvas

            1/4" steam a seam

Cutting instructions:

             Cut two 10" x 15" from main print and two from interior lining print for body of bag. Total 4 pieces

             Cut two 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" from main print and two from interior lining print for pockets. Total 4 pieces

             Cut two 2 1/2" x 15 from accent fabric for accent trim on top edge of bag. Total 2 pieces

             Cut two pieces of fusible fleece 12"x15"

             Cut two lightweight interfacing 10"x15" for lining and two 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" for pockets. Total 4 pieces

Sewing instructions for bag: 1/2" seam allowance

1. Stitch accent pieces to main print pieces. You will have two 12"x15" pieces press seam towards main fabric. 

2. Fuse the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the outer bag pieces. 

3. Fuse the lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of the lining pieces and pocket pieces.

4. Quilt the outer bag pieces as desired

5. Trim all four pieces to 10" x 14". Cut a 1 1/2" square off the bottom two corners of each piece.

6. Sew on the "Handmade" tags to either the front of the bag or to the lining. or to the pocket.

7. Sew on handles. 

Sewing the pockets:

1. Fuse lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of the outer pocket piece.

2. Layer the main pocket piece and pocket lining pieces with right sides together (RST), stitch around all four sides leaving an 3" opening at the bottom edge. Trim the corners and turn the pocket right side out. Use a point turner to push out the points of the corners. Press and turn in the seam allowance of the opening. Use steam a seam to seal the opening closed.

3. Place the pocket on the lining piece 3" from the bottom and centered from side to side. Be sure the bottom opening of the pocket is facing down on the lining. Top stitch around the 3 sides. Be sure to reinforce the top corners of the pocket.  

4. To make the pen pocket. Repeat step #2. Then mark a line every 1 1/4" to create 6 pen slots. Continue with step #3 and stitch over lines. Reinforce top of each row.

Bag assembly:

1. With RST, match the top of the lining to the top of the outer bag piece. Stitch just along the top. Make sure the handles are out of the way as you stitch. Repeat for both the front bag piece and the back pieces. When you are done with this step you should have two pieces.

2. With RST, layer the two remaining pieces together. Match the lining pieces edges together and the outer pieces together. Be sure the seams line up.

3. Stitch along the two long sides and across the bottom edges. Leave a 6" opening along the bottom edge of the lining.  

4. For the corners: bring the two seams together by pinching the notch. Line up the top and bottom of the notch together and stitch across. Repeat for all four corners.

5. Trim the seam allowances. Turn the bag right side out.

6. Cut a piece of plastic canvas 3" x 10" and place inside the bottom of the bag.

7. Press seam allowance of 6" opening under and use steam a seam to seal closed. Stuff the lining into the bag.

8. Press the top edge of the bag and top stitch all the way around 1/4" from the top edge.

Congratulations! You are done!

I sure hope that this project inspires you to make a special Bible Tote Bag for yourself or for a loved one, so that all your devotional items are ready to go for those special times spent with the Lord.    

 Sincerely, 

 Tonia

The book bag pictured above was made with 

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