Handmade Glasses Case Tutorial

Everyone has glasses – either sun, reading or in my case, just for plain old seeing, so this is the gift for everyone.

What you will need:
2 pieces of outside fabric – 6 inches long X 5 inches wide
2 pieces of outside band fabric – 2 1/2 inches long X 5 inches wide
2 pieces of lining fabric – 8 inches long X 5 inches wide
2 pieces of warm and natural batting – 8 inches long X 5 inches wide
4 inch piece of twill tape or any ribbon that you can stamp on
1 fabric ink pen for stamping
alphabet stamp set
any trim that you may want (rick rack, ribbon, etc.)
1 set of hook and loop (velco) 3/4″

1. First you will attach the contrasting band fabric to the top of the main fabric. You do this by placing right sides together at that top and sewing with a 1/4 inch seam. This will make your outside fabric piece 7 1/2 inches long and 5 inches wide to match the lining and batting pieces. Do this for both outside pieces. You don’t have to have a contrasting band, so you could just make your outside pieces 7 1/2 X 5 inches instead. It’s up to you.

2. Press each of the seams you have just sewn.


3. Lay outside fabric on top of warm and natural batting and pin loosely. Decide what pattern you want to use to quilt the fabric to the batting. I just chose a simple vertical line pattern each 1 inch apart. I drew the lines with a water soluble marker and stitched along those lines.

4. Once you have quilted each outside piece it will look like this.

5. This is where you can add an trim you may want along the seam. I added a piece of rick rack along the seam, but I have put ribbon on others and it is cute too.

6. Now for the fun part – stamping “glasses” on the twill tape. You don’t have to use twill tape, but that’s what I prefer. You can also use ribbon. I use a textile marker to ink up the alphabet stamps and stamp right on the tape. It doesn’t require heat setting and since this probably won’t go through the washer, I think the stamped letters will last long enough!


7. Just pin the twill tape with the word glasses where you want it and zig zag stitch all the way around.

8. Now, place both pieces of outside fabric right sides together and pin. Sew around 3 sides, leaving the top open. I use a 3/8 inch seam. Cut the bottom corners at a diagonal and set aside leaving it inside out.


9. Place the 2 pieces of lining fabric together and pin. Sew around all three sides leaving the top open as well. I use a 3/8 inch seam as well, but try to go just a bit past it towards the 1/2 inch seam to make the lining just a bit smaller than the outside fabric. That allows it to fit in snug and not bunch too much when sewing it all together. Does that make sense? Email me with any questions you have about that step. Clip the corners at the diagonal and turn right out. This is when you are going to add the 2 pieces of velcro – one to each right side of the lining. Find the center and mark it and then mark 5/8 inch down from the top in the center. This is where the top of the velcro will go and attach it with a straight stitch going around all four sides. Now, attach the other piece to the opposite right side of the lining so that it faces the piece you have just sewn in.

10. Now place the lining inside the outside fabric right sides touching. This means that the outside fabric is still right side in and the lining fabric is right side out. Line up side seams and pin all they way around the top.
11. Sew around the top edge using a 3/8 inch seam. Leave a 2 inch opening (I usually do this on the back side with out the “glasses” tag on it in case there is an slight imperfections – ha, I always have these!).


12. Now, turn it right side out through the opening. Stuff the lining back inside the outside fabric and press the top seam.

13. Pin the opening closed. Using a close top stitch, stitch all the way around the top, sewing the opening closed as you do this.

14. You are done!

You might also enjoy browsing through the Handmade Gift Guide. Kids can get a head start on making handmade gifts with my e-book Gifts Kids Can Make.