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.