My husband and I bought some pricey sunglasses before we left for our honeymoon two years ago. I was hoping that a higher price would equal quality and I’ve found that to be true. However, since my over-sized sunglasses do not fit into the protective sunglass cases sold in stores, mine are often tossed into my purse without protection, resulting in some lens scratches.
I’ve decided that making my own sunglass case is the best solution for keeping them around a little longer. Better late than never, I suppose. :-/
Here is what you will need to make your own case:
8” x 8” fabric for outside*
8” x 8” fabric for the lining*
2- 8” x 8” fusible fleece*
3” x 6.5” fusible interfacing (I used Craft Fuse)
3” x 6.5” fabric for the sunglasses
9” zipper
Simply Notable sunglasses template
*Make the pouch kid-sized by starting with a 7″x7″ pieces.
Standard tools include a sewing machine, thread, ¼” foot, zipper foot, cutting mat, rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, scissors, Clover Wonder Clips, and an iron. See my post on Top 12 Tools for the Beginner Quilter for more info regarding tools.
Iron the fusible fleece to the outside and lining pieces. Cut those pieces in half so that you are left with four pieces that measure 4″x8”.
Iron the fusible interfacing to the sunglasses fabric. Print the Simply Notable sunglasses template onto printer paper or cardstock. Cut out the sunglasses template of your choice. Trace the sunglasses shape onto the interfacing with a water soluble pen and cut it out with a sharp pair of scissors. (If using the aviators, you will just cut out the lenses).
Sew the sunglasses onto one of the front pieces. You will want to use a basting/craft spray if your interfacing is not double sided.
For the framed glasses, the applique should be centered from side to side, but about 1/4″ closer to the top than the bottom. I used a blanket stitch to secure the sunglasses onto the front. You may choose to sew close to the edge for a raw edge applique instead. Here is what it will look like on the back of the front piece.
If you are using the aviator template, you will blanket stitch the lenses first. Then draw the wire frame between the lenses using your water soluble pen. I sewed directly on the line with a straight stitch. Repeat a second time to make the line thicker.
Here is what it will look like on the back of the front piece.
Follow the instructions from my Pencil Pouch Tutorial to sew the zipper onto the outside and lining pieces. After you have sewn the case and flipped it right side out, iron the entire thing and then hand-sew your opening shut.
Not all sunglasses are created equal, so why should your sunglasses case be? You can make one as unique as you in an hour or less!
July is UV Safety Month. It is a great time to educate yourself and your family about eye protection and skin cancer prevention. The American Cancer Society recommends wearing sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB absorption to protect your eyes from damage cause by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Sunglasses will also reduce glare while driving, protect your eyes from dust and debris, and reduce headaches from eyestrain (if you get migraines like I do). Having a great pair of sunglasses is really a small price to pay for protecting your eyes. For more information on UV Safety, visit www.cancer.org.
Leave a Reply