Journaling Bible Sweater free crochet pattern for book cover

About a month ago, my daughter demanded that I open the little packs of yarn I had been hoarding in my stash for years. I like sets and collections of things kept in tidy order. She likes to throw things around the house. 

Needless to say, I gave in and she loved holding and throwing and retrieving the tiny balls of yarn. After I collected them all back and stored them away safely, I began to think of projects I could make with them. Maybe a set of Christmas ornaments? Colorful crocheted flowers for a spring wreath? A neat scarf? 

On one of her retrievals, she brought back 4 or 5 colors that went beautifully together and I knew I had to make something with stripes in those colors. That night I began to make a little cozy sweater for my journaling Bible. I had made one years ago for my study Bible out of Lion Brand's discontinued Microspun yarn, but it didn't fit my ESV journaling Bible.

It took me a few days to finish it and when I did I posted it to the Illustrated Faith Bible Journaling Community on Facebook (click HERE to join) and it kinda became a hit! I think the pictures have over 1,100 likes and so many wonderful comments. Wow!

I would absolutely love to make these and sell them, however, I just haven't worked out a time-sensitive way to do that. There are sooooo many journaling Bibles on the market now and they are all different sizes, so each cover or sweater would have to be a custom order and as a full-time mom, I just can't work that into my schedule right now. Perhaps in the future.

Until then, I thought I would share the super simple pattern if you were inclined to make one for yourself.

So here we go... 

This post contains affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if you purchase anything through the links I share. This is at no additional cost to you. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details. 

Notes:

• These instructions are in U.S. terms. 
• This is my first time blogging a crochet pattern. Be kind as I'm sure I've probably made some mistakes. I've tried to be as clear as possible.
• I did find my original version was a little too loose and stretchy. After some of my initial pictures, I removed a row and made the "pockets" deeper. These changes are reflected in the pattern below.
• This pattern assumes you know the basics of crochet. If you don't, it is a super easy hobby and there are lots of great beginner tutorials on YouTube. For this pattern, you will need to know how to make a chain stitch and a half double crochet, as well as a single crochet for the joining at the end.
• The pattern is written to fit the ESV double column journaling Bible by Crossway. Instructions in purple and in parentheses are to customize it to fit your Bible.

Supplies:

• 1 pack of Lion Brand Bon Bons (Note: there are 8 balls in each pack. I used 7 balls, BUT I chose 5 colors from the Nature pack and 2 plus a little more purple from the Beach pack. You can pick as few or as many colors/packs as you would like. The packs I used are 100% cotton while the others are acrylic and will produce a different feel and may stretch a little more.)
• Size F/3.75mm crochet hook like Clover Soft touch HERE or Lion Brand HERE
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Scissors
• Your Bible

Pattern:
Chain 86 (or length = width of front cover + width of spine + width of back cover + 7" for the 2 "pockets").
Row 1: half double crochet (HDC) in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across to end. Chain 1. Turn.
Row 2. HDC in each stitch across.
Repeat row 2 for a total of 27 rows (or for how many rows to = the height of your Bible when fabric slightly stretched). My stripe color sequence is below.

Finishing:
Weave in all ends! Yuck!
To make "pockets" or sleeves in which to insert the cover:
This is a difficult explanation to type, but it is super easy to do! Sorry the pics are dark... dreary rain today!

With wrong side facing you, count and mark 16 stitches from each end (or approximately 3.5") and fold in both ends. 

With right side facing you and on the top edge of your rectangle, insert hook in the back loop of the 17th stitch and the 16th stitch (or where you marked 3.5") and pull up a loop of edging color (I used pink). Chain 1. Single crochet (SC) in the back loops of stitches across. Don't forget to SC the last 16 stitches together (pic below). 

Rotate work and repeat on bottom edge. 

Weave in ends and try your new sweater on!!!

** You can also simply whip stitch the tops and bottom of pockets in coordinating color if you don't want to SC across.

Color sequence:
Foundation chain and first 3 rows: purple
1 row = light purple
2 rows = pink
1 row = beige
3 rows = blue
1 row = brown
3 rows = green
1 row = purple
3 rows = light purple
1 row = pink
2 rows = beige
1 row = blue
2 rows = brown
1 row = green
2 rows = purple

leftover yarn

finished #biblesweater

For years, I have had a stretchy fabric book cover on my Bible just to protect it and make it cute (before painting the covers became a thing). I found that keeping that cover on under my new sweater allows it to sit smoothly if that makes sense. It doesn't stretch weird or slide around. And the pink cover gives me an extra pocket to store photos or whatever.

before

with pink stretchy cover

with new sweater

inside front cover

I hope you enjoyed this. Let me know if you have any questions. And if you make one and share it on social media, tag me or use the hashtag #BibleSweater 

Keep creating,
Ann :) 

Bible Journaling Psalm 119 flower tutorial

Psalm 119: 49-50

Remember Your word to your servant,

in which You have made me hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction,

that Your promise gives me life.

The other night, I just needed some time to play with my watercolors. After making a few mistakes on my little hot air balloon and having green run into the background (see below), I decided to dabble on some "sunset" colors on the facing page.

It was fun and allowed time for the hot air balloon to dry enough for me to add another layer of blue to the sky. And it turned out good enough! Now the "sunset" page was drying and I had no idea what to do with it so I let it sit overnight. 

Yesterday, I had more time to play and thought I'd try a floral piece inspired by the super-talented Megan Wells. Please check our her website HERE... full of inspiration, video tutorials, classes, and amazing books. And give her a follow on Instagram... so colorful and fun!!!

I went about things a little differently (because I have a hard time painting "loosely" and because of the supplies I typically use) so hopefully she won't mind if I share a brief tutorial on how I created this page! :) xoxo

Steps (with affiliate links to products I used below):

1. Paint the background with watercolor paint. Allow to dry.

2. Sketch flowers or whatever you want (maybe your word of the year!) in pencil. 

3. Trace over sketch with waterproof pen. Gently erase pencil lines.

4. Paint entire background with white acrylic craft paint. Allow to dry.

5. If you're like me and got a lot of white on the black pen, then re-trace over pen lines. See below picture for the before and after of this step!!!

6. Add fine details/touch up with smaller black pen and white pen.

7. Done!

Possibly my favorite page so far!

Supplies:

favorite supplies

The below links are affiliate links. this means I receive a small percentage if you make a purchase using these links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Bible - ESV double column journaling Bible
(mine has a black cover, but look how cute this one is!)

Watercolors - Prima Marketing tropical palette

Paint - Folk Art acrylic craft paint in Wicker White 
(best prices can be found at Wal-mart, Hobby Lobby, or Michael's Craft stores)

Black Pens - Faber-Castell PITT pen (sizes 1,5 and S)

White Pen - Signo Uni Ball UM-153

And check out Megan's latest book on painting animals! Too cute! And her Bible Journaling book and online classes will be released later this year!

Keep doodling,
Ann :) 

Tutorial how to fix a Bible journaling page you HATE

Two years ago, I painted a page that I loved... until I added lettering at the bottom! 

The block letters looked terrible so I thought I'd doodle on them with my new shiny Glaze pens... even worse!!! The colors turned out muddy over the watercolor and the doodles were just too busy on the page.

And so it sat for two years. Then last week I was flipping through my Bible and saw that page and I got an idea on how to fix it. So here is what I did and how you can transform pages that you aren't happy with too!

** I will add affiliate supply links at the bottom of this post if you are interested in purchasing any of the products I use.

The original page was painted with watercolor and watercolor pencils. The pen details on the lettering were glossy so I assumed my craft acrylic paint might just slide right off and I'd end up with an even bigger mess. Fortunately I have a few bottles of gesso. Gesso is a page primer that adds a bit of "tooth" to smooth pages so that different mediums can stick to it better. It also provides a barrier from one layer to another (but note that it will re-activate water-soluable mediums). Anyhow...

Step1
I grabbed a bottle of Liquitex Clear Gesso and with a flat paint brush, applied it over the entire green grass area. I opted to use clear gesso instead of white because I didn't want to botch things up again and splatter white all over my page. Since I painted it on fairly thick over the letters, I let the gesso dry overnight.

Step 2
Now to repaint the grass. I didn't think watercolor would adhere and dry over the gesso so I looked through my acrylic paints for greens that would blend in. I had one a bit darker and one a bit lighter so I decided to just repaint the entire grass section. 

I started with the darkest and painted an even coat on the entire section. Then I mixed a little white with the dark and added actual "blades" of grass. Then I added more blades with the lighter color as well as the lighter color and darker color swirled together. I allowed this to dry overnight as well.

The colors I used were: Folk Art 2552 Citrus Green, Martha Stewart 32007 Granny Smith, and Martha Stewart 32076 Wedding Cake.

The next day there was a tiny area that had a bit of shadow from the black pen of the lettering so I just added a few more blades of grass. 

At this point, I was very happy with how it turned out and didn't want to ruin it again with lettering. The surface of the acrylic paint (because of the brush strokes of the grass) is not smooth, so lettering would be difficult. But if using this method, you could easily add acrylic paint flowers or other details or paint the base layers with smooth strokes to then add pen on top. 

The great thing about the gesso is that it also forms a barrier to prevent whatever is on top from bleeding through to the back. I haven't tried to watercolor on the back of the gessoed page though. I assume the watercolor would float on top of the page and have a hard time absorbing and cause excessive wrinkling (like pages that I've done that have washi tape on one side and then I tried to watercolor on the back side).

back of page

love each other!

I hope this brief tutorial was helpful if you have any pages that need rescuing!

so much better!

Supply List:
The following items are affiliate links, which means I receive a small percentage if you make a purchase using these links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. (Also, these are items that I use and love and therefore recommend.)

Bible - I use the double column version, but here is the ESV single column version.



Watercolor Pencils - either of these sets are fantastic



Pens - for black I use Pitt pens, for white I love the Signo Uni-ball UM-153



Gesso - Liquitex clear - currently the Amazon price is over $20 USD. I would recommend using a 40% off coupon at a local craft store like Michaels, Joanns, or Hobby Lobby. I believe I got mine at Michaels.

Paint - I use cheap craft acrylic paint. The best deals are probably at your local craft store or even Walmart.

I hope you enjoyed this!

Keep painting,
:) Ann 

Bible Journaling watercolor and acrylic paint flowers tutorial

Job 41:1

"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?"

This will be a fun and easy tutorial, I promise! But first a little backstory...

Over the last 8 weeks, our small family has been going through the valley. That's putting it mildly, but I know millions of people all over the world have it a million times worse that we do. 

8 weeks ago, we had to say goodbye to my favorite cat ever on the entire planet, Stomper. I'm still in shock. We had been doing all we could to treat him for fluid on his heart and kidney disease, but eventually his kidneys couldn't handle the medicine to keep the fluid off his heart and we had to help him walk Home. I'm still in shock. He was 17 and my baby boy and the best kitty ever. He was a maine coon that I adopted from a shelter when he was a kitten and we loved watching him grow up and his antics of behaving like a golden retriever dog. I am glad he is healed now, but I miss him dearly.

The day before he passed, we found out that another one of our cats, Abby, had Asthma and a heart murmur. Again we did everything we could for weeks, but tests revealed she had heart issues as well and her kidney levels were high. The vets couldn't pin point what was going on with her heart, but we got her on an inhaler and lasix. She spent a Friday at the vet for tests and observation and that Sunday night, she had a massive heart attack and died in front of me. 30 days after Stomper passed away! She was a snoeshoe (a reverse siamese cat like Grumpy Cat) that I fell in love with and adopted from a Humane Society nearly 10 years ago. I am glad she didn't have a long, drawn out, painful end, but it was a very traumatic event.

The kicker is that during this time, my daughter and I got sick and then my husband ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. A few weeks later we were better, but then my daughter got another cold and I got bronchitis. After a few weeks of that, we got sick for a third time! Fortunately that was somewhat mild and lasted only a few days. All of this despite vitamins, essential oils, home remedies, medications, and over-the-counter elixirs. 

Anyhow, the last 8 weeks have been pure survival mode. And leaning on God for strength and guidance.

I didn't do any Bible Journaling for probably a month and a half mainly because of the shock and just not feeling well enough to do anything. But a few weeks ago, I just opened up my Bible and tried to find a blank spread in Psalms, but there weren't many so I ended up in Job.

I got out my watercolors and just painted blobs of color down on the page. 

It felt good. To be honest, I wasn't reading or praying or reflecting or anything "spiritual" during that time. I just needed to do something creative to get unstuck. And blobs of watercolor helped a lot. 

While I painted, the passage my eyes kept falling on was Job 41:1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?" This is God asking Job this question and my understanding is that a Leviathan is a big, scary sea creature. 

But I just kept reading that question. And MY answer was, "no, I can't, but YOU can." All of this mess, this heartache, the sicknesses, the ridiculous pile of vet and hospital bills... all of it is still in God's control. Like the big, scary Leviathan.

So, on to the fun tutorial part...

(There is a supply list with Amazon affiliate links at the bottom of this post too!)

First, like I mentioned, I painted "blobs" of watercolor. To do this, I got out my trusty Prima Marketing watercolors in the Tropical palette. With a fat #5 round paintbrush, I dabbed plain water around the border of the page. Then I dipped the brush in color #23 "wild berry" and dabbed that on top of the water on the page. I made sure to leave some spots saturated with paint and others more watered down. I repeated this process with color #21 "sunset" in the center of the page. The page on the left was done with #20 "north isle" on the borders and #22 "lush" in the middle. 

Because the page was so wet and it was late, I left the page to dry for a day; however, I think it was 2 days before I got back to finishing it. 

Again, I didn't have a plan or image in my mind to create, so I got my thick Tombow pen out (a medium Faber Castell Pitt pen would work great too) and drew some of my standard flower shapes... a daisy, a sunflower, a coneflower, and a rose. 

Now the real fun part... acrylic paint. Because the background was too dark to continue with watercolors for the flowers, I thought it would be fun to layer watered-down acrylic paint over the blue background.

I selected my favorite Martha Stewart Crafts paint colors (the ones I have are the "multi-surface Satin acrylic craft paint"). Names listed below...

• white - wedding cake
• yellow - chamomile
• pink - poodle skirt and 
• blue - surf
• purple - periwinkle
• orange - wild salmon
• green - granny smith

I put a small blob of each color paint on my little palette and because I'm kinda lazy when it comes to cleaning my brushes, the brushes from 2 days prior were still sitting in a glass of water. Fortunately this worked out because the wet brushes watered down the acrylic paint a little. I took each color one at a time and painted all of the corresponding areas. White for daisy petals, orange for coneflower petals, yellow for sunflower petals, etc.

And I absolutely love how it turned out! I thought my pen lines were a little to drastic and the watered down acrylic paint (that was applied rather sloppily) "softened" up the look of the black lines. 

Maybe it was a combo of me needing time to just create without a plan and choosing my favorite colors and flowers, but this layering of acrylics on watercolor has turned out to be one of my favorite Bible Journaling pages yet.

I hope you enjoyed the process and are inspired to try something new and out of your comfort zone today. And if you are going through a valley season, remember God is in control of the Leviathans.

Below is a supply list with affiliate links to Amazon products. This means I receive a small percentage if you make a purchase using these links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. 

• Bible - (I have the double-column version, but HERE is their single-column version)
• Watercolor paint - Tropicals by Prima
• Brushes - Artist's Loft round brushes size 5, 3, and 3/0 (I prefer plastic handle to wood because I tend to leave them in water and wood splits)
• Pen - Tombow Fudenosuke
• Acrylic paint - (see colors I used above, but HERE is a fun set of 10 other colors from Martha) 

* Note: I am a big believer in using what you have on hand to craft (especially with a mountain of vet/hospital bills), but if you're interested in some new, upgraded supplies, please consider purchasing through the affiliate links above. It will help with the mountain of bills! :) 

Grace and love to you,
Ann :)

... dedicated to Stomper and Abby...