Hello lovelies!
My kids love going to Jenny’s house. Yes, because they love ‘Jana’ as they call her (my little girl couldn’t quite say Jenny when she was much littler), but also because there is always something yummy to munch on, like this carrot cake and these Nanaimo bars. The latter I wrongly pronounce ‘Nana Imo’. I thought there would be a tale of the recipe being handed down from a great grandmother fondly known as Nana Imo, but Jenny tells me they are named after a place and pronounced Na-nay-mo. Tee hee! Whatever the story, they are lip smackingly gorgeous. The ladies of our local WI thought so too!
Is the sun shining where you are? Well, here in London town, early Summer is shaping up to be a wet one. Apparently, the sunshine is on its way this weekend and July is meant to be a scorcher too! So with the possibility of sunny Summer on its way, here is a handy tutorial for a fun sunglasses case, in the hope that we will be wearing our shades in the very near future!
What you need is:
2 matching fabrics - one main and one lining. Part of the lining will be turned down so you will be able to see them both - a lovely touch I think!
Fabric interfacing such as this
Matching button
Popper
Two Crafty Brownies Sewing Essentials (link)
What you do is:
Take the approximate measurements of your sunglasses when closed. Mine measure 15cm x 6cm.
To the length measurement (15cm), add 1cm (0.5cm seam allowance to each side), 2cm (space for the button and popper) and 5cm (for a 4 - 4.5cm overlap). New length measurement is 23cm.
To the width measurement (6cm), add 1cm (0.5 seam allowance for each side) and 3cm (wiggle room to take into account the ‘depth’ of the sunglasses. New width measurement is 10cm.
Cut 2 panels of the main fabric, 2 panels of the lining fabric and 2 panels of the interfacing using the measurements you have worked out above, so 23cm x 10cm. If your fabric has a pattern, work out if you would like it to go widthways or lengthways. It didn't matter too much with the fabric I chose as the design goes both ways.
Place a piece of interfacing underneath a panel of the lining with right side of the lining facing up. If the interfacing is iron-on, make sure the ‘adhesive’ part faces the wrong side of the lining. Then place a panel of main fabric on top of the lining, with right sides facing. If your lining has a pattern or design which has a 'right way', you need to think about which way to place it because it will be turned down over the main fabric, meaning that the pattern could appear upside down. If this is the case, ensure that your lining is placed over the interfacing with the pattern facing the 'wrong way'.
Join them together by machine sewing at the top short edge.
Repeat this step with the remaining 3 panels.
Open up the seams and press with a hot iron.
Place these long panels on top of each other, right sides together matching the lining/stiffening to lining/stiffening and the main fabric to main fabric. Pin and then sew a 0.5cm seam allowance all the way round leaving a 5cm gap at the bottom of the lining fabric.
Snip the 4 corners, to make them pointy when turned the right way round.
Turn the case the right way round, using the gap, poking out the corners using a blunt pencil or similar object.
Press with a hot iron.
Close the gap by hand or machine.
Now tuck the lining into the main fabric, poking the corners together.
Optional: Using matching thread (to main fabric and lining) top stitch the top opening all the way round. This is tricky!
Turn down the top edge of the case by 4 - 4.5cm, so that the lining fabric can be seen on the outside of the case. At this point make sure your sunglasses fit into your case with space at the top for the popper. Adjust your 'turn down' if necessary.
Slip stitch the turned down edge to the main case.
Sew a decorative button to the top edge of the case.
Sew a popper to the inside top edges of the case, making sure the 2 parts of the popper match so your case closes properly.
Pop your sunglasses into your case and prepare to look stylish, when you pull it out of your bag when the sun shines!
There are lots of possible variations on this project:
Rather than a decorative button and popper, sew a button to one inside edge of the case and make a buttonhole on the opposite side.
Make an upcycled version, by using preloved fabric, such as denim from a pair of jeans and the lining fabric from a preloved shirt.
Of course, you can add embellishments, such as ribbon and lace, lots of buttons, sequins and more.
You can also use this tutorial to make a case for a normal pair of spectacles, even adding a cord from one side to the other, meaning it can be hung around your neck. Never lose your glasses again!
I have made sunglasses cases for all the family. The kids are very pleased with them and loved looking through my fabric stash to choose their matching fabrics!
Enjoy your weekend and I hope the sun shines for you wherever you are in the world lovelies!
Lucy xxxxxxxxxxxx
Great tutorial Lucy! Love the last pic of your sunglass-ed children....they look so cool!!
Posted by: Meredithe | Sunday, 19 June 2016 at 03:02 AM
PS Hope the sun is shining for your weekend xx
Posted by: Meredithe | Sunday, 19 June 2016 at 03:03 AM
Thanks Meredithe! Lots of love xxx
Posted by: Two Crafty Brownies | Sunday, 19 June 2016 at 11:46 AM
An excellent tutorial! I love the photo of your littlies with their sunglasses - they are so cute. We have some sunshine at the moment (8.30 Monday morning) but some dark clouds are creeping in ........
Posted by: Anne Donald | Monday, 20 June 2016 at 08:24 AM