I made up a quick sunglasses case for myself at the end of July, and thought I would post it here as a tutorial. Turns out, the more I thought about posting it the more I thought that there must be a better way than the flat, very soft case that I made in about 15 minutes. It had no shape and no intrigue, and worst of all I don’t think it would do a spectacular job of taking good care of my sunglasses either! Since I’m super good at procrastinating (and really busy with the kids this summer) I gathered up all of the sunglasses cases that I could find and lined them up on my cutting table Sunday night. Too late into the night to mention, I came up with the Sunny Glasses Case! It is really simple to make, mostly because I’ve done all of the trial and error through 6 or 7 versions so you don’t have to!
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Once you’ve finished one, you can likely make another in about 1/2 hour or less. Which makes it a super quick gift, and it can be made for almost anyone. Men, Women and children of all ages would enjoy a safe place to stash their sunglasses. Bonus, it doesn’t look like it only took half an hour to make (woot!) and – added bonus – you can use up some of your large scraps to make it! And, just in case you think I’m crazy posting a sunglasses case tutorial when Fall is approaching my part of the world, I do wear my sunglasses a lot in the winter. And these would make great stocking stuffers if you are inclined to start gifts now! As I was making these I came up with 4 useful options for making the case. Option 1 makes for a regular case with Velcro closure. Option 2 has a button & elastic closure and a swivel clip, this is so my oldest can attach it to her school backpack and (hopefully) keep her sunglasses unscratched and un-lost! Option 3 is mine, I added a magnetic closure to the flap. Option 4 is for my husband, who wanted it to be able to attach to his car’s visor. * Update: Don’t feel like sewing a Sunny Glasses Case yourself? Buy one from a licensed seller! Check out the sellers list. Are you a shop owner? You can buy a Sunny Glasses Case seller’s license as an instant download. *
This tutorial covers all 4 ways of creating the Sunny Glasses Case. Follow the main instructions for Option 1. The other options use the same directions with additional steps. These are listed below the directions for Option 1. You will need:
- 11″wide by 10″h scrap of your main outer fabric and lining fabric
- 10″x10″ scrap of fusible fleece
- 5″x9″ plastic canvas (I used size 7 mesh)
- The pattern pieces – Click on this link to download the printable pdf: Sunny Glasses Case pattern pieces
- Other Helpful Things: School Glue Stick, Point Turning Tool or Chopstick, Water Soluble (or other) fabric marker, Pins
- Option 1 & 4 Only – 5″ loop Velcro and 2.5″ hook Velcro
- Option 2 Only – Button Closure + Swivel Clip: Button, Hair Elastic or 4″ piece of Round Elastic, Swivel Clip with 1″ D-ring, Fabric for strap: 5″x4″
- Option 3 Only – Magnetic Closure: 1 Magnetic Snap
- Option 4 Only – Car Visor: 1 piece of 1″ wide elastic, 9″ long
Materials for Option 1
Before you begin:
- Print out all 3 pages of the pattern piece pdf on letter size (8.5″ x 11″) or A4 paper. Important: Do not select “fit to page” when printing, make sure you print at the original size. Once you have printed the pages, measure the 1″ test square on page 1 to ensure the pattern is the correct size.
- Cut Outer and Lining, Fusible Fleece and Plastic Canvas as per the pattern pieces. Make sure to line the pattern pieces up on the fold where necessary. I found the easiest way to cut the plastic canvas was to precut my pattern piece, trace the edges with a permanent marker onto the canvas, and then cut it out.
- If you want to piece your fabric together (I have added a small contrast piece on the closure edge of the flap), do this first and then cut your outer fabric. Topstitch after fusing your fleece for a “quilted” look.
- Mark the “Velcro” and “Flap” marks (as indicated) onto the right side of the Outer fabric with a water soluble fabric marker. Be sure to mark the “Flap” marking on each edge of the Outer fabric.
Cut Materials for Option 1
Option 1 – Velcro Closure:
(1) Iron Fusible Fleece (centred) on the wrong side of your outer fabric. (2) Use your glue stick to glue the loop side of your Velcro to the rounded edge of the lining. Centre it 1/4″ above the bottom of the curve. (3) Stitch along both long edges of your Velcro, you do not need to stitch the short sides. (4) Round the corners of the hook side of your Velcro. Use your glue stick to centre it on the “Velcro” mark on your outer fabric. Stitch all 4 sides neatly. (5) Place your Outer and Lining fabrics right sides together. Pin around the curve between the “Flap” marks and the straightest edge (see photo). (6) With the fleece side up, use the edge of your fused fleece as a stitching guide. Do not stitch ON the fleece, stitch BESIDE it. Stitch the straightest edge from point to point. Stitch around the curve, begin at one “Flap” mark and end at the other. 
(7) Trim the excess Velcro & clip the curve where the Velcro is – you do not need to clip the entire curve. (8) Clip your seam allowance at both “Flap” markings. Clip up to but NOT through the seam threads. (9) Turn everything right side out through the openings. (10) Pin the straightest edge and top-stitch approximately 1/8″ away from the edge. (11) Pin the large curve between the “Flap” marks. Do not stitch – we will do this later. (12) Make sure the un-sewn seam allowances are lying flat on the outside (see photo). (13) Draw a line across the outer fabric between your “Flap” markings. Topstitch along the line. 
(14) Insert your plastic canvas between the lining and the fusible fleece. Centre it from side to side. It should be in approximately 1/4″ from each fusible fleece edge. Use two pins to secure the plastic canvas in place. (15) Almost done! With the outer right sides together, fold the bottom of the glasses case up. The point should meet up with the top of the “Flap” marking. Pin along the edge. (16) We are going to finish the case with a French Seam. Stitch a scant 1/4″ seam on both sides of the case along the raw edges. (17) Trim the seams you just finished to approximately 1/8″ on each side. Flip the bottom of the case right side out. (18) Finish the case by stitching around the edges with a generous 1/8″ seam. Start at the bottom on one side and end at the bottom on the other. Do not stitch across the bottom edge. Done! 
For Options 2,3 and 4, follow the Step numbers as outlined for each Option. Example: STEP (1). (2.1a)… means – follow STEP (1) above, then follow (2.1a) as outlined in the Option 2 instructions.
Option 2 – Button Closure + Swivel Clip:
My oldest picked the Monkey Bizness – Market Stall fabric used in her sunglasses case when I placed my latest Warp & Weft order. I love how it turned out, the print is just the right scale for this project! 
STEP 1. (2.1a) Make the strap. Iron your fabric in half lengthwise to make a 2″x5″ piece. Unfold and iron each edge into the centre, refold. Top-stitch each edge. (2.1b) Fold the strap around your D-ring. Stitch as close as you can to the ring – it might help to use a zipper foot. Set the strap & clip aside. STEP 5. (2.5a) Fold your elastic in half, centre it at the closure end of the case. Pin it between the outer and lining, 1/4″ in from the edge, with about 1/2″ of elastic (folded) on the “inside” of the case and the rest sticking out. (I have completed Step 6 in this photo) STEP 6, Note: Double-stitch over the elastic when you reach it. STEPS 8-14. (2.14a) Pin and Baste strap in place on outer fabric, centred as per the photo. Trim excess strap to match the seam allowance. STEPS 15-18. (2.18a) Place your glasses in the case and sew the button on where appropriate. Done! 
Option 3 – Magnetic Closure:
STEP 1. (3.1a) Attach the bottom piece of your magnetic snap centred on the Velcro mark you made on the outer fabric. (3.1b) Attach the top of the snap to the lining 1″ away from the curved flap edge. Be sure to interface behind the lining snap. (I used a scrap of fusible fleece.) STEPS 5-6. STEPS 8-18. Done! 
Option 4 – Car Visor:
STEPS 1-14. (4.14a) Centre your elastic piece across the fabric as shown in the photo. Baste the edges with a 1/8″ seam allowance. Trim the excess elastic. STEPS 15-17. (4.17a) Make sure the elastic is along the back of the case when you turn it inside out. This is important when stitching the next step. STEP 18. Done! 
There you have it! One (or 20!) easy, customizable gifts for everyone in your life. Take a minute to post a photo to the Thread Riding Hood Facebook page, we’d all love to see your creation! 
Don’t feel like sewing a case yourself? Check out these Licensed Sunny Glasses Case Sellers.
Are you a seller that would like to buy a Licence to Sew and Sell the Sunny Glasses Case Pattern? If you are interested in selling cases made with this pattern you can buy a license here and receive an instant pdf download!
As usual, please feel free to use my patterns/tutorials for your personal projects and gifts and for charitable fundraising events. Please do not sell anything made with this pattern unless you have purchased a Seller’s License. Please contact me for more information: sherri (at) threadridinghood (dot) com
That looks really really nice. The print is perfect too!
Thanks mom! I have saved the bicycle fabric for a couple of years now waiting for the perfect project… 🙂
This is a great sunglass case! I love it!
Thanks Laura! It is easy to do too! 🙂
HI Sherri,
I love the Sunny Glasses Case, and have saved it and the pattern. I noticed that there were places that looked like the intent was to show other pictures, but I couldn’t see any. Will they be up later?
Thanks,
xo Linda
Hi Linda – So sorry! You came in in the middle and got my jot notes! The right stuff is up now. What you saw was WordPress publishing something when I didn’t know it! 🙂
Love the hair elastic for the button. Who would have thought?
True! I’ve picked that one up along the way from another tutorial. I can’t remember who showed it to me or I would have linked to it. It’s really great because you can get them in so many colours!
Sherri
Love the glasses case I need some and was just checking if I could find idea’s… Thank you.
Antoinette
Hooray, I’m glad you found it! I really like this one, it’s one of my favorite things that I have figured out how to make this year. 🙂
This is so cute!! I just finished making a plain old one just 30 minutes ago when my friend sent me this link. back to the cutting table LOL thank you
Hooray! I’m glad you made one Debbie! And it sounds like it went quickly! I’d love to see if you have a chance to post it on my Facebook page?
I make book bags and hobo bag purses and I’m going to make these to match. Thanks for a great idea.
Hi Cherie, I’m glad you like it! Matching cases is a great idea as well. I thought this might be a perfect pattern to use for selling, so I have a seller’s license for sale for it if you were going to make them for a shop! 🙂
What a great — and useful — tutorial! Thanks so much!
I’m glad you like it Angela! I’d love to see it if you make one 🙂
I’m loving your blog. Your tutorials are so logical and pictures nice. Thank you so much for sharing your gifts. I haven’t made this yet, but plan to. I made the free diaper bag tutorial and found it very simple to follow and I love how my bags turned out (I’m on my second one and plan to make more).
Hi Alysun. Thank you so much for your amazing comment! I am so happy that you enjoy the tutorials – I sometimes wonder if they are written logically enough because few people comment on it – thanks so much for taking the time! 🙂 I’m so glad you like your diaper bag. It’s been my go-to bag for a few years now. If you have time to share a photo I’d love to see it/them!
Love this! I just made one and I’m going to be making a bunch of these for gifts. Thanks for the tutorial!
I’m so glad you like it! Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know 🙂
i just finished your eyeglass case. I love it! The instructions and pictures were fantastic. I was a little confused reading ahead but step-by-step they made perfect sense. My only criticism (on mine) is that the lining fabric is a little loose. Perhaps because I used a flannel?
I’m glad you like it Penny! I know what you mean about the lining. It does tend to be loose around the bends in the case. I’d make it a bit smaller all around, but then I don’t think it would fit around the outer. I would guess that a layer of medium interfacing or fusible fleece on the lining would help a bit. I’m re-visiting the pattern in the near future and I’ll see if I can come up with something.
Thank you for generously providing this free pattern! I needed a quick gift for my niece who just got glasses, and this was perfect!
That’s great news, Maureen. Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know! I’m so glad it worked out. I’ve got to make a few more this year as well, since Spring and the sunshine are coming soon (I think!)
Great tutorial! I love the name of your blog. Thank you!
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment Nanette! I so appreciate it! I’m glad you like the tutorial. It’s one of my favorites 🙂
Just whipped a glasses case up to slip into a package-must’ve taken about 15 minutes all told (even with cutting!). Just wanted to say that I *loved* the way you have the print set up, I really liked your logo placement (so did my 2 year-old!), and I appreciated that the pattern pieces included your website-I always scribble the name of the pattern-maker on the pieces, so credit goes where it’s due. Thank you for the lovely pattern!
Oh wow Jules! So fast! You are amazing 🙂 I think you’ve beaten my best time by 15 minutes! I’m so glad you like it and the pattern pieces too! Thanks so much!
Found a link to this on Pinterest. Made one for daughter #1, now daughter #2 wants one. 🙂
Thanks for sharing the pattern and detailed tutorial!
kim
Great! That’s wonderful Kim! I’m so glad you like it 🙂
Hi!
I’m trying to make this case with magnetic buttons and I can’t decide where to put it. There is no mark for that on your pattern. I hope it will turn out ok, but please consider updating your pattern. Thank you!
Hi Rita. Hope your case turned out well 🙂 You can find the placement for the magnetic snap 3.1b – “Attach the top of the snap to the lining 1″ away from the curved flap edge.”
Hiya, thanks for the lovely pattern! quick question – in step 3.1b, is the 1″ dimension to the edge of the magnetic snap or to the center of it? thanks again!
I just made one and I put the snap at the edge of the 1″ mark. Perfect
I’m glad it worked for you! Wonderful! Thanks Karen 🙂
Great tutorial and nice pattern. It is very generous of you to share this with the world! I just made a nice case for my daughter’s new glasses.
I’m glad you could use it Sue! I love how quick they are to make 🙂
Hi, you mentioned that you could not remember where you had seen the idea for elastic hair bands being used as button loops. I thought I would let you know that this site has the elastic being used as button loops back in 2011. recyclethis.co.uk/20110613/how-can-i-reuse-or-recycle-lots-of-hair-elasticsbandsscrunchiesc
You will find it in a comment under “bookstorebabe”
You have beautiful things on your site.
Thanks so much Elizabeth! I really appreciate your finding that info. Much appreciate tracking down the original!
Just made my first and love it! I also noticed the excess fabric in the lining, because of how the case is folded up. My 2nd is ready to be sewn, and I’m going to attempt to address that. Thanks for a great pattern!
Hello Sherri 😉
First let me congratulate you on this incredible full, step by step , complete, and so awesomely photographed tutorial. You are very talented. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.
I am very interested in making this eyeglass case but, being very limited in my sewing skills and having no plastic canvas I was wondering if it’s ok to skip the canvas? I realize that the eyeglass case will not be as sturdy as yours but it could accommodate me for now. And, it would give me some practice 😉
I hope you can reply, if you are not too busy. Again thank you so much for sharing your skills and knowledge.
;))
Hi Joanne. I’m so glad you like it! The canvas really gives the entire case it’s stability – so if you are not using it, you should substitute it with something similar so the case will hold its shape. If you don’t have the plastic canvas try using an inexpensive vinyl placemat or a piece of Sew-In foam (ie. ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable).
Thank you so much for your reply. I finally did use some plastic as you suggested and it made a world of difference.
This was my 1st try out with plastic and it turned out pretty good. There’ some minor imperfections which I hope I will be able to rectify on my next “try-out” 😉
However the case is way too big though for my glasses and I am not sure how to correct that. In your tutorial you don’t mention the width of the seam allowances. Could it be corrected through that?
I apologize for any inconvenience that I create with all my questions. But again thank you so much for all ! 😉
Hi Joanne. Thanks for asking! Much of the seam allowance is following the line of the interfacing. I’ve checked and it is mentioned throughout as well. Hope that helps!
PELTEX (the thicker kind) would work great for this in place of the plastic canvas.
Great idea LaRue! Thanks for letting us know!
Hello Sherri,
I am at #5 try out and still cannot understand correctly step # 8. You say (8) Clip your seam allowance at both “Flap” markings. Clip up to but NOT through the seam allowance.
How can I NOT clip through the s.a and still make it flat? Sorry if this is a silly question but I cannot go around this .
Hope you can help me. Thank you 😉
Hi Joanne! I totally understand, it turns out I should not have written “NOT through the seam allowance”. It should say “NOT through the seam.” Clip the seam allowance to the seam, but do not clip through the seam threads. Hope that helps!
Wow that was quick 😉 Hope this is going to work. This is what I had been doing but thought that maybe I was doing something wrong because when it’s time to fold the bottom of the case up where the point should meet at the top flap marking and when it’s time to sew it this is where it all falls apart. It always looks like the fabric has “ripped”. It’s kind of hard to explain.
I’ll just keep working at it until I get it 😉
Again thank you very much for your help and quick reply
Thanks Joanne. Do you backstitch at the beginning and end of the large curved seam? I also use fray stop on the raw edge sometimes and trim it well to help with that. Let me know how it goes!
Good idea 😉 I don’t know if I will have time to redo one as I am leaving for a month, in two days. But when I do return and hopefully succeed at it I will definitely will let you know. Again ty ;))
Great pattern, I did my first one but have a question, I made mine using cork for the outer fabric so I omitted the fleece and instead just used SF101 on the lining fabric, when I was done my lining fabric looks lose on the inside but when I sewed it, it was matched up evenly. I didn’t use any pins like in your photos because I was using cork. Any tips for making one with cork?
I assumed the seam allowance is 1/4″ correct? I didn’t see it in the instructions but probably missed it. Thanks for the pattern and appreciate any tips for a cork version!
Hi Brandy. Good question! I know what you mean about the lining being loose. A layer of fusible fleece on the lining helps a bit. Also, you can hack the pattern and take a wide “bite” or dart out of the bottom of the folded lining area to alleviate the extra as well. I have not worked with cork as yet, so I’m not sure what else to tell you about that. The seam allowance is mostly following the edge of the interfacing, or is mentioned where you need it. Hope that helps!
Great tutorial. I was looking for something more than a “sleeve” for my new sunglasses. I didn’t have the plastic canvas so instead I used 2 layers of heavy Fast 2 Fuse instead (since I have a whole bolt of it) and it came out just right for me. Thanks for this pattern and instructions I will definitely be making many more.
Hi Diane, I’m so glad it worked out well. I love using plastic placemats as well. Works great! Thanks for letting us know!
Thank you for a great pattern. Just made a lovely case for my glasses out of a few scraps! Now my hubby wants one
This is a great pattern – fits large sunnies just right! I used the very small velcro dots for closure, used a bit of fabric glue to secure these. Also, I used Peltex instead of the plastic for shaping – worked well. I plan to do some more, with embroidered names/initials!
Wonderful idea Paula! That would be amazing!