Everyone has a mobile (cell) phone nowadays and cases get tatty pretty quickly what with all that in-out wear and tear, so here’s a quick guide to making a new one.
They use so little fabric and are quick to make that they would make a great present, especially if you personalise it like I have done, with a name and motif.
Here’s how: –
Cut out your motif leaving a little fabric around all sides.
Iron a small pieces of interfacing to the reverse of the motif.
Pin the motif onto the fabric you are going to make the case out of.
Drop the feed dogs, remove the presser foot and free-machine embroider the motif to the base fabric. In this instance, I just followed the curly white lines with white thread.
(You can use Bondaweb or similar to fuse the motif to the base fabric if you would prefer the no-sew option.)
Trim away the excess fabric from the motif, cutting close to the stitching.
Repeat the process for the back and add any other details at this point too – I also embroidered the name of the recipient using the machine.
Measure your ‘phone and add a seam allowance, then cut your appliquéd sections, lining and wadding to the same size.
Sandwich a layer of wadding between the lining and main fabric and pin together. Baste through all three layers.
With lining pieces facing out and motifs facing in, pin front to back.
Stitch around the sides and bottom, leaving the top open.
Trim the seams and finish neatly by enclosing in a thin ribbon.
Turn out the right way.
A strip of bias binding is then stitched all the way around the top opening edge to enclose the raw edges.
This will be winging its way to Italy in a few weeks when I have finished the matching yarn bag.
The wooly sheep motif is ideal for a yarn addict like Tajana, but you could easily adapt your design to suit other hobbies or passions.
Maybe a fish motif for a keen fisherman, or a cat/dog for an animal lover?
What would you choose to put on the front if you were making a phone case as a gift?
August 12, 2015 at 12:18 pm
Absolutely adorable!
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August 13, 2015 at 8:30 am
Thank you! You’re still reading blogs then, just having a break from writing posts?
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August 13, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Yup..still reading, just not writing. It’s camping season and we’re headed out on our last trip. I should be back to writing next week!
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August 12, 2015 at 2:17 pm
That is soo cute, I need to make one for my phone! I would probably put a sewing machine or something on it. These are really cute!!
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August 13, 2015 at 8:29 am
It’s quite nice to have a personalised one isn’t it, reflecting your own tastes or hobby?
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August 12, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Lovely make and as always a lovely clear tutorial. That sheep is so cute 🙂
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August 13, 2015 at 8:27 am
Thanks Bekki, it wasn’t so much a tutorial as documenting what I did as I went. I made it up as I went along and, luckily, it turned out ok!
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August 13, 2015 at 8:46 am
That’s often the best way 🙂
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August 12, 2015 at 4:08 pm
You make sewing look so easy. I can’t follow a straight line with my machine let alone a curvy one. 🙂
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August 13, 2015 at 8:25 am
Well crochet is your area of expertise where sewing is mine. I ought to be able to sew in a straight line with over forty years of practice!! Thank you for your lovely comment:)
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August 12, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Love it!! I bet Tajana can’t wait for it to arrive 🙂
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August 13, 2015 at 8:22 am
No, but the main gift exchange will take a lot longer so it will be a while!
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August 12, 2015 at 9:17 pm
I suppose that I’ve chosen the wrong wadding when I tried to sew a phone case…. Well,I’m happy my attempt went wrong because yours is simply adorable!!! I LOVE IT!!! THANK YOU!!! 💗💗💗
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August 13, 2015 at 8:21 am
Hope you don’t mind me sharing it with everyone:) I’m also (just a tiny bit) glad you couldn’t make one because I wouldn’t have had the chance to make this one otherwise, and I really enjoyed doing it!
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August 13, 2015 at 9:01 am
I don’t mind at all!! I’m so glad to see what’s coming my way but,please,be patient for yours. I’m going to fetch the blue yarn on Monday and than will need something like two weeks to knit the shawl. Well,it can be knitted in much less time,but I’d like to feel cozy with it because it is easy to make mistake with the pattern…
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August 13, 2015 at 9:13 am
I’m just excited that you’re making me a shawl, but please don’t give up all your time to make it, you must have much more important things to be getting on with. I’m making yours in between other projects – I think you’ll love next Wednesday’s blog post, it’s my favourite so far I think. A LOT of love and effort has gone into it, but it was worth it:)
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August 13, 2015 at 9:34 am
I’m so excited about the exchange and am so sorry that I didn’t have the yarn at mine to start the shawl. But it will be here soon! Do not worry,me too, I’m working on your goodies between other projects and have a lot of fun 😊 my bags are proceeding well (I made another one yesterday but has ti be FO…) and I’m ona a half way for the first scarf for the family boys… 😊 There’s plenty of time for everybody. Just left my BM’s gifts as last because I’d like to be very focused on them 💗
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August 13, 2015 at 7:52 am
Your stash must be amazing – I love all the fabrics you choose for your little projects! Great tutorial 😀
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August 13, 2015 at 8:34 am
Thanks Ali, although my stash isn’t anything compared to years ago. When I split from my ex in 2003, I literally threw everything out and started afresh – new house, new furniture, new car. Of course, I regret some of it now, particularly twenty years of paper patterns and a roomful of fabric, but it’s what I needed to do at the time:)
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August 14, 2015 at 8:05 am
I wonder what happened to it all? But at least you all look really happy and that’s want counts 😃
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August 13, 2015 at 10:30 am
These are great, a real stash buster! x
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August 13, 2015 at 10:32 am
They really are – I ought to make a hundred out of a tiny proportion of my stash and put them in my Folksy shop as stocking fillers!
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August 14, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Much more manageable project than my current one. Will definitely use your guide to make my next phone case. I would choose a rose as I love flowers.
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August 15, 2015 at 9:41 am
How sweet, was it tricky to do the top edge binding? I’ve never appliquéd by machine but would like to have a go after seeing this. Seriously, I’m going to have to chuck you off my blog reader as my list of wants has increased ten-fold since I found you. Lol
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August 15, 2015 at 7:04 pm
This is so very cute! The little lambies are just the sweetest things… I need one of these for me and all my girls. Thanks for sharing!
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August 15, 2015 at 7:05 pm
You’re welcome! I’d love to see any that you make:)
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August 15, 2015 at 11:37 pm
What a good idea to use a motif rather than a patterned fabric. It’s b-ewe-tiful 😀
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August 16, 2015 at 12:00 pm
The motif is cut from the patterned fabric that I’m making her knitting WIP bag out of. Thought they could match – but not too much:)
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