Quick, low skill project - glass cases
I use readers and have been struggling with finding a good way to carry them in my purse. I want my glasses to be protected, but the hard cases are also too bulky to fit in many of my purses. I was not about to discard all my smaller purses just because I now need to carry glasses. So I made glass cases that easily fit in my purses while providing a reasonable amount of protection for my glasses. Mainly prevent them from getting scratched and protect against a reasonable amount of mishandling.
The idea is not really mine, but I can't remember where I first saw the pattern. I am sure there is more than one. Here is mine.
At minimum:
scrap fabric
some felt
wide ribbon
ruler
scissors
needle and thread
To make the work easier and/or improve the finishing:
bias tape instead of ribbon
rotary cutter and mat instead of scissors
sewing machine
Ready? Super easy.
1. Pick out two pieces of scrap fabric in matching colors and complimentary patterns. One will be for the inside lining of the case and one for the outside.
2. Cut out rectangles that are a little taller than what is needed to go the length of your glasses and that are twice as wide as the intended width (you should be able to wrap your rectangle around your glasses with some room to spare. There is no seam allowance required for this project.
3. Cut a rectangle out of a piece of felt. The felt is sandwiched between the two fabric rectangles so it will not be visible in the final project. However, if you are using fabric that is a little see-through, test it out with the felt underneath and choose a color that achieves the effect you want. In the example cases above, I used a light colored felt for the case on the right and black felt for the case in the middle.
4. Form your sandwich. Right sides should be showing for the top and bottom fabric. This is exactly like a cheese-sandwich. You have the cheese (felt) in the middle and you want the butter (right side) to be on the outside. Trim anything that sticks out, straighten any edges to get good right angles.
5. Using a long stitch (this stitching will not show in the end), fasten the pieces of fabric together close to the edge. Your line of stitching should disappear under the ribbon edging when we add that at the end.
6. Cut 4 strips from the ribbon or bias tape, 2 to match the short sides and 2 to match the long sides. This time, leave an extra 2 cm (1 inch) or so on each end. This can be trimmed later, but if it's too short you have to redo it with new ribbon.
7. Fold the ribbon strips in half length wise and iron to mark the crease.
8. Wrap the ribbon strip on the sides of your rectangle and stitch them in place one by one. This is where you must do your best stitching, this one shows. Fold the ribbons under at the corners to achieves neat corners. This does take some skills. Wide ribbon is easier to use than bias tape, but bias tape, if you can pull that off, gives a better finish.
9. The last step is easier. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and sew the bottom and the side together. For the long side, do not go all the way to the top. You want to leave the last 4-5m (2 inches) opened. You can sew all the way to the top, but leaving a slit makes it easier to slide the glasses in and out of the case. Done.
The idea is not really mine, but I can't remember where I first saw the pattern. I am sure there is more than one. Here is mine.
Supplies
At minimum:
scrap fabric
some felt
wide ribbon
ruler
scissors
needle and thread
To make the work easier and/or improve the finishing:
bias tape instead of ribbon
rotary cutter and mat instead of scissors
sewing machine
Ready? Super easy.
1. Pick out two pieces of scrap fabric in matching colors and complimentary patterns. One will be for the inside lining of the case and one for the outside.
2. Cut out rectangles that are a little taller than what is needed to go the length of your glasses and that are twice as wide as the intended width (you should be able to wrap your rectangle around your glasses with some room to spare. There is no seam allowance required for this project.
3. Cut a rectangle out of a piece of felt. The felt is sandwiched between the two fabric rectangles so it will not be visible in the final project. However, if you are using fabric that is a little see-through, test it out with the felt underneath and choose a color that achieves the effect you want. In the example cases above, I used a light colored felt for the case on the right and black felt for the case in the middle.
4. Form your sandwich. Right sides should be showing for the top and bottom fabric. This is exactly like a cheese-sandwich. You have the cheese (felt) in the middle and you want the butter (right side) to be on the outside. Trim anything that sticks out, straighten any edges to get good right angles.
5. Using a long stitch (this stitching will not show in the end), fasten the pieces of fabric together close to the edge. Your line of stitching should disappear under the ribbon edging when we add that at the end.
7. Fold the ribbon strips in half length wise and iron to mark the crease.
8. Wrap the ribbon strip on the sides of your rectangle and stitch them in place one by one. This is where you must do your best stitching, this one shows. Fold the ribbons under at the corners to achieves neat corners. This does take some skills. Wide ribbon is easier to use than bias tape, but bias tape, if you can pull that off, gives a better finish.
9. The last step is easier. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and sew the bottom and the side together. For the long side, do not go all the way to the top. You want to leave the last 4-5m (2 inches) opened. You can sew all the way to the top, but leaving a slit makes it easier to slide the glasses in and out of the case. Done.
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