Many years ago, in May 2014 I made a couple of glasses cases from a delightful free tutorial by Hillside Quiltworks. Needless to say the glasses cases are looking tired and worn so I decided to replace them like-for-like. Unfortunately I was unable to locate Hillside Quiltworks or the tutorial online so I decided to get creative and create my own tutorial based on their very functional design. And here it is....
1. You will need two 6" x 7" rectangles of fabric (one for the outer and one for the lining). You will also need one 5½“ x 6½” rectangle of lightweight batting/wadding.
2. Firstly, print the Patchsmith's Glasses Case pattern piece. When printing ensure you select 'Actual Size' on the print screen (sometimes referred to as scaling set to 'none' or 'print at 100%'). Use the print-size-check-box on the pattern piece.
3. Optional: Add embroidery/applique to the front of the glasses case making sure to position your chosen design on the right side of the outer fabric rectangle, ¾"-1" in from the right-hand edge of the fabric and at least 1½” up from the bottom edge of the fabric. (I added a heart to my glasses case using the quick-fuse applique method once I had placed the batting to the back of the outer rectangle thus quilting and appliqueing the heart in place at the same time.)
4. Next pin the wadding centrally onto the wrong side of 6" x 7" outer rectangle. This should result in you having a ¼” border of fabric all the way around the wadding rectangle.
5. Quilt the wadding and outer rectangle as desired. (I quilted simple straight lines avoiding the appliqued heart.)
6. Once all quilting is complete, place the template printed side up, onto the right side of the quilted rectangle and cut out along the top edge to create the curved edges.
7. Next pin the lining and outer fabric right sides together and trim the lining to match the outer quilted section.
8. Mark a 2½" opening centrally along the bottom edge. Using a ¼” seam allowance stitch all the way around the unit leaving the opening unstitched. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the opening to ensure the stitching does not come undone when turning right side out.
9. Carefully trim the corners on the diagonal ensuring you do not to cut through the stitching. Turn the glasses right side out through the opening, taking care when pushing the corners out. Press firmly and press the opening closed (this will be stitched closed at the same time as top-stitching the glasses case together at Step 11). Use pins/clips/glue to hold the opening closed. (If you prefer you can whip stitch the opening closed.)
10. Fold the glasses case in half, lining sides together as shown. Pin or clip to secure.
11. Finally, starting at the top left-hand back edge top-stitch along the back, down the right-hand side and along the bottom as shown. The front curve is left unstitched.
And there you have it – the perfect little glasses case to gift or to keep. I told you it was quick and it gets even quicker the more you make.
Until next time....
