Sewing: Eyeglass Case using Scrap Fabric

  I would have liked this project to come out better than it did. I'm not terrible at sewing, but I'm not great at it, either. Combining my lack of skill with my evil sewing machine, the result is never as good as I hope it will be. However, my other half needed a case for his new glasses. I had saved some scraps of vinyl that weren't really big enough to make anything, along with some scraps of a super-soft gauzy cotton material. He asked if I could make him a case, and I figured it was worth a try.



  I wasn't going to post this project due to a mistake I made and the poor quality photos. I changed my mind because I thought the project could still be done, I just had trouble making mine. If you have better sewing skills than me or your sewing machine isn't possessed, chances are yours will come out great. This is a simple project that doesn't require a ton of work.

  Fabric glue is used to avoid extra sewing. If you wish, you can sew the seams where I have used glue. I worried about the durability of the glue at first, but my other half has been dragging this case everywhere for a while. It's been wet, it's been left in a hot vehicle (also in an iced cooler), and he crams it in his shirt pocket all the time. It doesn't look pretty, but that's my fault. The seams are still together, crooked though they are.



  The only thing that didn't come out well was the side seams. The material got caught in the machine, so I had to start over. Somewhere along the way, my pins must have shifted, and the seams became crooked. But the case is completely functional, even with the uneven seams, and he uses it every day.

Materials:
Scrap fabric, a little more than twice the length of your glasses and at least one inch (2.5 cm) greater in width
-one piece of durable fabric such as vinyl or canvas
-one piece of soft cotton fabric or fleece
Tape measure
Pins
Sewing machine or needle, and thread
Fabric or craft glue

Directions:

1. Measure the width of your glasses from bow to bow when folded. Add 1" (2.5 cm) to this measurement, then multiply by two. Mark this measurement on the vinyl. Add another 1" to this number to mark the cotton fabric.

2. Measure the height of the glasses from top to bottom of lens. Add 1 1/2" (3.8 cm) to this, and mark on both pieces of fabric.

3. Cut out both pieces of fabric.


4. Fold down the short sides of the cotton fabric, about 1/2" (1.2 cm) or until they meet the edges of the vinyl piece. Use fabric glue to hold these seams.

  5. Line up and attach the cotton piece to the vinyl with glue.

  6. Once glue is dry, fold over the long sides of both materials together, about 1/2" (1.2 cm). Pin in place. 

7. Sew the seams of the long sides. I used a narrow zigzag stitch. 

8. Fold the short side seams over about 1/2" (1.2 cm). Pin and sew. 

9. Fold this in half, then sew up the sides. 

10. When I cut the material for this project, I had measured incorrectly for my seam allowance. After only sewing 1/2" (1.2 cm) seams, the case was a bit too big. I solved this problem by adding a seam about 1" (2.5 cm) from the side. This created a little slot that's perfect for a pen (see display at top). 

  So, it may not look perfect, but it's taken a lot of abuse so far and still holds together. Not one seam has come loose and no glasses have been harmed in any way. A pen even found a convenient home on accident.

  Good luck to you with your project, and may your sewing machine not jam.

  

Recipe: Apple-Cinnamon Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Spiced Brown Butter Glaze

  This recipe is a moist, fruity alternative to your average coffee cake. Apples and cinnamon replace the traditional nut and spice filling, making this a better option where nut allergies may be a concern. The optional Spiced Brown Butter glaze compliments the fruit with a creamy, caramel-y flavor.




  A healthier version of this delicious coffee cake can be made by skipping the glaze, replacing butter with margarine, and using low fat sour cream or Greek yogurt. Serve topped with fresh fruit, yogurt, or a combination of both.




For the Filling:
1/2 cup (113 g) packed brown sugar
2 small to medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 tbsp (14 g) ground cinnamon




For the Cake:
3 cups (665 g) all purpose flour
2 tsp (28 g) baking powder
1 1/2 tsp (7.5 mL) baking soda
3/4 tsp (6.5 mL) salt
1 1/2 cups (337.5 g)granulated sugar
3/4 cup (170 g) butter (1 1/2 sticks) or margarine, softened
2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups (337.5 g) sour cream




For the Spiced Brown Butter Glaze:
1/4 cup (56.7 g) butter (1/2 stick)
2 cups (454 g) powdered sugar
1 tsp (5 mL) ground cinnamon
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla*
1 1/2 - 2 tbsp (28 g) milk**

If you're not good at following recipe directions, or you're new to baking, click here for a step by step tutorial!




Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F (176.6 C).

1. Combine the ingredients for the filling in a small mixing bowl. Toss to coat the apples, then set the mixture aside.

2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl. In a large mixing bowl, cream 3/4 cup (170 g) and 1 1/2 cups (337.5 g) sugar together. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix in about 1/4 of the sifted dry ingredients, then 1/4 of the sour cream. Continue alternating the dry ingredients and sour cream until completely blended. Scrape the bowl as you work to completely incorporate ingredients.

3. In a greased 12 cup (2.8 L) Bundt or angel food cake pan, spread about 1/3 of the batter. Top with about 1/3 of the filling mixture. Continue alternating batter and filling, using about 1/3 of the mixture in each layer. Place the cake pan on a cookie sheet for easy handling and clean up in case of spills.

4. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. A knife or toothpick inserted will come out clean when done. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then invert on a plate. Prepare glaze while cake is baking.

Spiced Brown Butter Glaze:

1. Melt 1/4 cup (56.7 g) butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until golden brown in color, swirling pan or stirring constantly.


2. Remove from heat, whisk in powdered sugar and extract*.


3. Whisk in milk, 1 tsp (5 mL) at a time**. Drizzle hot glaze over cooled cake. Glaze will harden as it cools.

*For a variation, try using lemon, coconut, or any other choice of extract, or use apple juice to replace extract and milk.

**Depending on humidity levels, the amount of milk you use may be more or less than this measurement. Add until the glaze is runny enough to drizzle over cake.