Making an Eyeglass Case to go with that Ava Bag

I like having a soft eyeglass case in my bag. One that is easy to get into when I need my glasses, and they are so easy to make too!  Today, I am going to show you how to make a nice one for yourself.  

I start by cutting out a square from my pattern paper.  You can use any paper you have around the house. I cut a 6 1/2" square and then I took a spool of thread and used the rounded edge to draw a rounded edge on each of the corners.  You don't have to do this, I just like the rounded edges.  I pinned the pattern on each piece of fabric I was going to use, cut it out, and then lastly pinned it on a piece of thin cotton batting and cut it out of that too.

Next, I put the batting between the 2 pieces of fabric and made sure the corners lined up nicely before I begin sewing.

I basted all three layers together around the entire square, using the edge of my presser foot to guide me.

I had some ribbon that was about 1" width that looked pretty with this fabric, so I lined it up along the edge of the 3 layers and sewed it about 1/16" from the edge.  You can see from this picture that where I am sewing is inside the edge of the foot.  That is because the ribbon wasn't that wide.  You can use a wider ribbon if you like.  I just wanted a simple, narrow, binding around my case.

Note that when I first placed my ribbon onto the case, I did so halfway down one side.  I did not start sewing on the ribbon on a corner of the square.  You'll see why in a second.

This is why you don't start sewing the ribbon on the corner of your case - especially if you have rounded edges like I do.  When you get to that rounded corner is when you get your dander up.  You'll have to stop and start, raise the presser foot (with your NEEDLE DOWN or you'll really have a mess!), twist the layers and the ribbon around the corner, trying not to sew over any creases.  I hate corners.  Thank goodness there are only four.  

When you have sewed all the way around and are back to where you started, sew about 1" of extra ribbon past where you started.  

Once you have finished sewing on your ribbon, flip it towards the inside.  Then, remove the basting stitches from the 3 layers that will be showing under the ribbon.

Turn over your square and it will look like this.

Pin the ribbon to the inside, making sure that all 3 layers of your square are tucked in nicely.  You may have to put some extra pins in the corners as you work your way around the curves.

Now, when you start sewing, you probably want to sew from the good side so that the seam looks even and straight on the side that you see.  The problem here is that your pins are on the wrong side, or at least mine were.  So, when you get ready to sew, flip your pins around so that they are easy to remove, or if you are really good at this, just put your pins on the right side when you are pinning down your ribbon.  I will tell you this, though - it really is faster and easier just to flip them as you sew because it is easier to pin down your ribbon from the wrong side initially.  Make sense?

See!  Now doesn't that look pretty?!!

Next step is to fold your square in half and pin it together, leaving an opening at the top and around one corner.  Begin sewing just under the opening and along the bottom edge of the ribbon (kinda like stitch-in-the-ditch).  Sew around to the end of the fold and secure the end by going back and forth a few times.

Nice case, eh?

And it goes perfectly with the purse I made for my sister-in-law, Marcy!  I'll keep the glasses, though.  I need them to read, and sew, and work on the computer, and, and, and ...

Happy Sewing!