How to make a glasses case

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one case)

• Main fabric (cotton, canvas or linen) — about 30 × 25 cm (12 × 10 in)
• Lining fabric (flannel or brushed cotton — something soft) — the same amount
• Fusible batting — the same as the main fabric
• Snap or magnetic fastener — 1 set

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Accessories” → “Glasses case” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the finished width, height, flap depth and flap corner radius. Presets cover standard, large and sunglasses.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the body including the flap curve, and mark the fold line.
2. Cut
   Cut one main and one lining.
3. Fuse the batting
   Press the batting onto the wrong side of the main fabric. Press straight down rather than gliding the iron, or the batting shifts.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the layers together

1. Place main and lining right sides together and sew around, leaving an 8 cm (3 in) gap.
2. Clip the flap curve every 5 mm and trim the allowance to 5–7 mm — with batting in there it will not turn otherwise.

4-2. Turn and topstitch

1. Turn through the gap and press with a cloth and a light hand so the batting is not crushed.
2. Topstitch 5 mm from the edge all the way around.

4-3. Fold and stitch the sides

1. Fold up from the bottom at the marked line, leaving the flap above.
2. Stitch both sides 3 mm from the edge. Increase the presser foot pressure or turn the handwheel by hand — it is thick.
3. Backstitch at both ends of each seam.

4-4. Add the fastening

1. Put the glasses in, fold the flap over and mark where it lands.
2. Fit a snap, or a magnetic fastener if you want to open it one-handed.

✏️ Measure your actual glasses. Fold them and measure the thickest point — the hinge — and add that to the width. With batting, add another 5 mm. Cases that are too tight scratch the lenses going in.

5. Tips & variations

• Brushed lining: the surface the lens touches. A soft napped fabric cleans as well as protects.
• Sunglasses are bigger: larger lenses and springier arms. Use the sunglasses preset or add a centimeter of width.
• Also a pencil case: the same construction at a different size.