How to Sew a Sunglasses Case (Phone Holder)


This sewing project is one of my favorite - useful and versatile projects that I make often.  I find this glasses holder easy to sew and always have the necessary materials on hand which means I don't have to make a trip to the store for supplies to make it. 

Here is what you will need:

Outer fabric (shows) - 8" W X 9" H
Inner fabric (lining) - 8" W X 9" H
Pellon Peltex 71F (Single sided Fusible Ultra Firm Stabilizer - 7" X 8"
Scrap fabric from either fabric - for tab - 2" W X 4"


To Begin:
Choose one piece of fabric to be the inner lining. 
Turn that fabric so that the right side is down, wrong side is facing up.
Place the bumpy (glue) side of the interface (Peltex 71F OR infusible fleece OR foam) to the wrong side of the lining, in the center, as shown in the left picture below. Be sure to leave an even space around the lining fabric. Use a piece of cotton fabric, using the outer fabric layer for this is fine, place it on top of the interface to protect the interface, as shown in the right photo. 


 Next, iron the interface to the wrong side of the lining.




Remove the top cotton layer off of the interface. Check to be sure the interface is attached to the inner lining.  If not, iron it again.
Next, place the right side of the fabrics together. 


If you need to flip the fabrics over, do so so that the inner lining piece with the interface ironed to it, is face up.  You will use this interface as a guide.  Sew around the perimeter of the fabric, not on the interface, leaving a 3 inch opening at the bottom of the material.


Then cut off the ends of the fabric, for all 4 corners, like shown in the picture below.  This will help reduce bulk in the seams of the material. 


After cutting corners, locate the 3" opening at the bottom of the case.  Turn it right side out.  Use a chopstick to poke out the corners.  Be sure not to poke too hard to case holes in your fabric.  Fold the raw edges of the material under to ensure clean edges. Iron down flat.  You do not need to sew this close at this time.


Rotate the project to the top side. With the outer, right side, of the fabric facing up, sew a line across the top of the material using 1/8" seam allowance, as shown below.  Be sure to back stitch when starting and ending. 


 Set this aside.  Grab the scrap piece of fabric to work with.  You will need to create a tab like the photos below.  To do that, you will need to fold the fabric in half, the long way.  Fold one side of the 4" fabric to face the other wrong side.  Finger press this OR iron it to create a crease.  Next, open the fabric.  Fold one edge of the scrap fabric inward to meet the fold.  Fold the other raw edge in to meet the middle fold.  Close both edges of the material inward, like below. Iron it.



Sew down both side of the material, close to the edges, like below.



Next, grab the panel.  Place it with the lining down.  The right side of the fabric should be facing up, as shown below.  Fold the completed tab and place it approximately one inch from the top of the finished panel. 


Fold the left side of the rectangle over on to the right side of the rectangle so that the outer fabrics meet each other, as shown below.  The tab should be inside of the two layers with the raw edges of the tab sticking out.  The more of the tab you leave inside of the rectangles, the longer the loop will be when sewn. 




Pin the tab in place.  Also pin the inner material,as shown, to the piece underneath - to hold them together, as shown. Sew down the edge of the case using a 1/4" seam allowance.  You will be sewing along side the interface, not on it.  Be sure to back stitch at the top.  Sew down along the length of the case, pivot, then sew across the bottom of the case. Be sure to back stitch in the bottom corner.


Cut the bottom corners of the case to reduce the bulk of the materials.  Be sure not to clip the corner stitch lines. If you do, it will create a whole in your fabric.   You don't want that... but IF you accidentally cut a hole, no problem. : ) .... just sew another stitch line 1/8" to the left of the original sewn line - from corner to corner.
You are almost done!!



To finish this sewing project, iron the lining portion of the project.  Ironing the case will make it easier to turn the case right side out. 
Immediately after ironing, push the bottom of the case's lining up into the lining.  It should create a hole. Continue to push until you see the "right" side of the fabric pushing up.  Pull it out!
Use the flat end of a chopstick, or a pencil with an eraser, to slowly poke the corners out.

 

Finally, iron the fabric on both sides. You want to do both sides because you will be able to see the wrinkles in the fabric more, due to the interface being attached to the fabric.  That's it!  You are all done! 



Place your phone, glasses OR sunglasses into the case.  If desired, add an O ring onto the tab in order to attach it to a pocketbook, or inner area of another bag.  

 


The best thing about this particular project, is that you can use it for 2 things.  When you are using one thing, the other item can be placed in it.  The case works really well to keep sunglasses from burning your face if you leave sunglasses in the car!  I love that idea because 11 months of sunny, hot weather where I am requires sunglasses and it is always, more than not, hot in vehicles.

*Wish this had a closure?  You could add a piece of stick-on Hook and Loop (Velcro) to the inside lining of each side.  Snaps or magnetic clasps wouldn't be a good thing because you will scratch your lenses if you used this case for glasses of any type.

Have fun making some of these. I'll see you back here for the next sewing project.

Get to sewing!

Nikki