Pattern needed: zippered Bible cover

[Dwight]

3 hours ago, Frodo said:

I assume you have what you need

no replys

if not, give me dimensions of Bible And I will send you a complete  paper pattern 

Thanks, Frodo . . . but the other day I found a video . . .  he shows how he does zippers on notebooks . . . all I gotta do is scale it up for the Bible.  

He also shows me where I went wrong on my first try . . . and how to beat it.  

It's actually a very informative video . . . 

Again . . . thanks, may God bless,

Dwight

 

[Frodo]

7 hours ago, Dwight said:

Thanks, Frodo . . . but the other day I found a video . . .  he shows how he does zippers on notebooks . . . all I gotta do is scale it up for the Bible.  

He also shows me where I went wrong on my first try . . . and how to beat it.  

It's actually a very informative video . . . 

Again . . . thanks, may God bless,

Dwight

 

Interesting video

My take on it is I 100% disagree with his method of installing the ribbon on card pockets

I did learn from his zipper portion of the video

Thank you for sharing

[Dwight]

6 minutes ago, Frodo said:

Interesting video

My take on it is I 100% disagree with his method of installing the ribbon on card pockets

I did learn from his zipper portion of the video

Thank you for sharing

I was up ahead of the idea in that I made a solid wood block the size of Dave's Bible . . . 

I tried hand sewing it though . . . with seriously bad results . . . and then I found his idea . . . will use it next . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

[Frodo]

3 hours ago, Dwight said:

I was up ahead of the idea in that I made a solid wood block the size of Dave's Bible . . . 

I tried hand sewing it though . . . with seriously bad results . . . and then I found his idea . . . will use it next . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

I do not not use. Wood block I just use a tape measure. Next one I make I am going to try a block

[jrdunn]

@Dwight,  Thanks for posting Aaron's video.  I watched it and learned a lot.  How are you planning on implementing his method of zipper installation into your Bible cover?  I assume that it has a wrap around zipper in a gusset.  I only ask because I would like a less nerve racking and less dreaded method of zippered gusset installation.  I have completed reasonably good looking covers with Al Stohlman's method but cannot say that I'm proficient or even comfortable with it.  If I could get at least semi-comfortable with that, I think I would enjoy making covers.  I included a pic of my first zippered cover.

 

 

Edited January 7, 2024 by jrdunn
Duplicate picture

[Dwight]

JR . . .  from making holsters . . .  I learned early on that a pattern of what you want to put in leather . . .  makes making the leather a whole BIG bunch easier.

I have a wooden "model" of David's Bible . . . with the added amount it will take to allow the Bible to rest in there without the edges becoming cramped or bent.

A lady ruined my personal Bible when she made one for me and it was too small.  Ignorantly at the time . . . I tried to use it anyway . . . ruined the spline.

Long story short . . . I'm not familiar with Stohlmans book cover stuff . . . other things yes . . . that . . . no.

But this fellow here on Leather Makers Supply . . . makes it so it is almost impossible to screw it up.  Once you have the zipper on the interior (pulled around your pattern and "taped" together . . . you can open and close the zipper . . . telling you how hard or easy you will have it later.

You then just add the outside cover . . .  unzip it . . . turn it so the outside is facing up . . . start on one end of the open end of the zipper . . . sew up around it . . . come back on the other side of the zipper . . . do some lock stitches . . . cut the thread . . . you are done.

I'm also going to add a couple card pockets . . . and a small triangular pocket like the fellow did on his sample he showed us.

Looks like with the covid doing it's thing against me . . . probably be at least a few days . . . but I'll pop up pictures as I go . . . unless I forget.

May God bless,

Dwight

[JLSleather]

for a cheap, oily "notebook" which appears designed to sell "templates", that method might work.

FOr a Bible, which is likely 1 1/4" or MORE thickness, you're going to want a leather ZIPPER GUSSET.  Somebody probably does make zipper tape wide enough, but I wouldnt' expect any longevity out of it.

AND, though it may seem obvious, always use a brass zipper - not that nylon stuff.

These done as Stohlman shows in that book. Looks like a lot of words and drawings, but once ya lay it out in front of ya it aint that difficult   Sew or lace as desired (triple loop lace used on the bottom two).

[KYCat]

11 hours ago, JLSleather said:

for a cheap, oily "notebook" which appears designed to sell "templates", that method might work.

FOr a Bible, which is likely 1 1/4" or MORE thickness, you're going to want a leather ZIPPER GUSSET.  Somebody probably does make zipper tape wide enough, but I wouldnt' expect any longevity out of it.

AND, though it may seem obvious, always use a brass zipper - not that nylon stuff.

These done as Stohlman shows in that book. Looks like a lot of words and drawings, but once ya lay it out in front of ya it aint that difficult   Sew or lace as desired (triple loop lace used on the bottom two).

Love your work! Top notch!!

Where do you source your zippers? And what size do you most commonly use for a Bible?

Thanks!

[JLSleather]

10 hours ago, KYCat said:

Where do you source your zippers? And what size do you most commonly use for a Bible?

You can get zipper tape lotsa places.  I have bot it at S-T Leather (out of st louis), tandy, hobby lobby, ... you get the idea.  Most places will carry it in black and brown material.  You'll need zipper pulls and stops as well - the pulls you might find individually, the stops are likely a pack of 5 or 10.

I like the #5 brass ... is there another kind

Two binders shown were for 3" ring binders - making them about 3.5" thick. 

 

 

 

 

 

The other was more of a "portfolio" type thing, requested by a gal for her father who was retired from teh Coast Guard.  Just pockets for papers and a spot for business cards - his in the pocket and others he receives behind the pocket.
Obviously, this type is more suited to a Bible cover.
MY Bible, which is as yet uncovered (think cobler's kid no shoes) is like

9 1/4" x  6 3/" x 1 5/8" 

if I squish it together... maybe close to 1 1/2" thick.  I keep saying "one day" I'll get round to making a cover I like

 OH YEAH -- the lining "innards" of both of these were done with kidskin from S-T Leather.  Used to be product #L3777, not sure if it still is. You can get this in nearly the same look at a couple other places, but you'll pay considerably more. Same stuff I use to make wallet 'innards", as it's thin but still strong and looks very nice.

 

[Dwight]

23 hours ago, JLSleather said:

for a cheap, oily "notebook" which appears designed to sell "templates", that method might work.

FOr a Bible, which is likely 1 1/4" or MORE thickness, you're going to want a leather ZIPPER GUSSET.  Somebody probably does make zipper tape wide enough, but I wouldnt' expect any longevity out of it.

AND, though it may seem obvious, always use a brass zipper - not that nylon stuff.

These done as Stohlman shows in that book. Looks like a lot of words and drawings, but once ya lay it out in front of ya it aint that difficult   Sew or lace as desired (triple loop lace used on the bottom two).

Those are absolutely beautiful . . . and far beyond my capabilities . . . 

I'm using strips of the same leather used inside for the panels . . . using that as strips for my zipper.  

Yeah . . . brass zippers for sure . . . I plan on David's Bible cover most likely outliving his Bible.  We do dumb things to books as people . . . and finally wind up wrecking them.

But the other thing in that picture . . . the laced one !!!  Never . . . and I mean never.  I did a wallet one time . . . laced it around . . . decided then and there that if I ever . . . EVER . . . got that thing done . . . I would never . . . ever . . . do any more.

I've kept that promise too.  Got several pieces of that stuff hanging in the shop . . . I look at it and laugh at it from time to time.

May God bless,

Dwight