How to make a fan sleeve (uchiwa case)

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one case, standard size)

• Outer fabric (quilted cotton, canvas or heavy cotton) — about 40 cm × 60 cm
• Lining fabric — the same amount
• Hook-and-loop tape, 2.5 cm wide — 6 cm
• Optional: webbing for a shoulder strap, 2.5 cm wide — about 120 cm

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” → “Fan sleeve (uchiwa case)” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the fan width and height, the handle width, how far the handle sticks out, the top corner radius and the ease. Presets cover standard, large and compact.
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. Measure your fan
   Measure the width and height of the fan face and the width of the handle. Jumbo fan sizes vary between makers, so measure the actual fan.
2. Trace the pattern
   Trace the body. The tab at the bottom is where the handle passes through. Do not forget the rounded top corners.
3. Cut the pieces
   Cut 2 in the outer fabric and 2 in the lining. Quilted fabric frays fast, so zigzag the edges as soon as you have cut them.
4. Transfer the notches
   Mark the two notches at the base of the handle tab. Those are the stopping points for the seam.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the outer and lining separately

1. Place the two outer pieces right sides together and sew all the way round except the top edge, which is the opening.
2. Clip the inner corners where the handle tab meets the body, so the corners turn out cleanly.
3. Sew the lining the same way, but leave a 10 cm opening in the bottom for turning.

4-2. Join outer and lining

1. Turn the outer right side out and slip it inside the lining, which stays wrong side out. The two are now right sides together.
2. Sew around the top opening. Match the side seams of the outer and lining before you pin.
3. Pull everything through the opening you left in the lining.

4-3. Shape it and topstitch

1. Close the opening with ladder stitch and push the lining down inside the case.
2. Press into shape. With quilted fabric, use a pressing cloth and a light touch so you do not flatten it.
3. Topstitch 5 mm from the opening edge all the way round. The lining stops rolling out and the opening keeps its shape.

4-4. Add the closure

1. Sew hook-and-loop tape to the inside of the opening, centered. Catch only the lining so the stitching does not show on the outside.
2. For a shoulder strap, catch webbing in the side seams at the top. Doing it during step 4-2 makes it much stronger.
3. Slide the fan in and check that the handle comes out easily.

✏️ Make the handle tab about 5 mm wider than the actual handle. Cut to the exact size, it snags every time you use it. Too wide and the fan slides down through it — 5 mm to 1 cm of clearance is the sweet spot.

5. Tips & variations

• Quilted fabric is ideal: a fan with a bent corner is a ruined fan. Use something with enough body to cushion it.
• Skip the clear window: it is tempting to show the design, but light and rubbing will fade it. The point of a case is to cover.
• Two fans at once: double the width and stitch a divider down the middle to carry two fans separately.