How to Make a Torah Scroll Cover
The Torah represents sacred Jewish tradition. The scroll is covered with a decorated cloth when not being used. While you can purchase various types of Torah covers, you can also make your own. You can make one for your synagogue or your own Torah.
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Torah
- Ruler
- Chalk pencil
- Material
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Thread
- Sewing machine
- Needle
- Ribbing and/or fringe
Instructions
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1
Measure the top of the scroll across the widest part, the center or length of the oval, with the measuring tape. Write down the length and measure through the center in the other direction, the height of the oval. Write down your results.
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2
Measure the height of the scroll with the measuring tape. Include the handles of the scroll when you measure. This will cover the entire scroll and the base the bottom handles of the scroll sits on. Write down your results. Wrap the measuring tape around the center of the scroll, making an oval with the measuring tape. Write down your results.
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3
Lay your material out on a flat surface. Measure the height of the oval on the left side of the material adding 1-inch. Mark the distance with the chalk pencil.
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4
Measure the width of the oval on the topside of the material adding 1-inch. Mark the distance with the chalk pencil.
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5
Draw a straight line from left to right along the mark of the height using a ruler and the chalk pencil. Draw a straight line from the mark of the width to the other line you have just drawn.
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6
Cut the marked rectangle off the rest of the material. Fold the rectangle in half making the center line the height or shorter side of the rectangle.
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7
Cut the ends into a rounded shape. When you unfold the piece of material, it will make an oval.
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8
Measure the height of the Torah from a clean side of the material and mark the end plus 1-inch with the chalk pencil.
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9
Mark the width of the Torah with the length you wrote down from measuring around the Torah, plus 1-inch.
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10
Draw straight lines from both marks forming a rectangle. Cut the rectangle along the lines.
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11
Fold the rectangle in half along the shorter edge. Be sure the right side of the material faces itself on the inside. The right side is the darker or printed side of the material. Sew the open ends together 1/4-inch from the edge with the sewing machine.
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12
Pin the oval to the newly sewn together rectangle. The wrong side of the oval should be facing you as you pin it. Only put the pins through the top piece of the material.
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13
Flip the newly attached material over to the other side. Fold the oval down and pin it on this side as well. All the material on the outside should be the wrong side and the inside should be the right side of the material.
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14
Using a needle and thread, hand-stitch along the pinned oval until you have sewn all the way around the piece and it is fully attached.
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15
Reach into the pouch you have created by sewing the top oval on the material. Grab the oval and pull it out the bottom like you would to right a pillowcase. This creates the cover for the Torah. Check your seams.
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16
Pin the fringe or rope around the bottom of the cover, the open end of the case. Turn it inside-out again and use the sewing machine to attach the fringe along the bottom. If you are using a rope, consider hand-sewing the material to it.
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17
Turn the case back to the right side again and your scroll cover is complete.
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Tips & Warnings
Design a cover that leaves the scroll handles out by measuring just the height of the scroll and cutting holes in the oval. Use embroidered material to add flair to the scroll cover. Do the embroidery in advance.
Thicker material is often better to work with as the cover is removed often and you do not want the material to wear out.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
