How to Sew an Eyeglass Case

African Accents Needlepoint Eyeglass Case
Althea DeBrule
Project Overview
  • Total Time: 1 hr
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $10

If you have a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses that you want to protect and keep clean, learn to sew your own eyeglass case. This project is easy for beginner sewers and should only take about an hour or less to complete. You can customize the fabric to your taste. And you might even be able to create the case with fabric scraps you have lying around, depending on their size. Plus, an eyeglass case can make a great personalized and functional gift.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Measuring tape
  • Marker
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Sewing machine
  • Iron and ironing board

Materials

  • 9-by-9-inch piece of heavyweight fabric for the outside
  • 9-by-9-inch piece of fleece, terry cloth, velour, or other soft fabric for the lining
  • Matching thread

Instructions

  1. Cut the Outer Fabric and Lining Fabric Pieces

    Use a measuring tape or ruler to measure a 9-by-9-inch square on both fabrics. Add a slight curve to one side (as shown in the photo), so your case will have a small lip at the top. Cut out the squares.

    outer fabric and lining for DIY eyeglass case
    Debbie Colgrove
  2. Pin and Stitch the Curved Side

    Pin the right sides of the fabric pieces together along the curved edge. Stitch using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, sewing across the entire curved side.

    joining the right sides of the fabric
    Debbie Colgrove
  3. Grade the Seam

    Grade the seam (i.e., trim it), leaving the outer fabric's seam allowance a bit wider ​than the lining fabric's seam allowance.

    grading the seam
    Debbie Colgrove
  4. Press the Seam

    Press the seam as it was sewn, and then press as shown in the photo. This will allow for a crisp turn on the top edge of the eyeglass case. Then, understitch (stitch a line close to the edge) on the lining side.

    completed understitching
    Debbie Colgrove
  5. Stitch a Side

    Find the longer side that meets the curved side you just stitched. Stitch about 1 inch down the edge of that side, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance.

    sewing an inch down a side
    Debbie Colgrove
  6. Stitch the Edges

    Open the fabric, and lay it right side up. Then, fold lining to lining and outside to outside, matching the edges. Stitch around the edges, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. But leave a 2-inch opening on the long side of the lining.

    sewing the edges
    Debbie Colgrove
  7. Finish the Eyeglass Case

    Trim the seams, and turn the case right side out through the opening you left in the lining. Take care to turn out all of the corners. Slip stitch the lining closed. Finally, push the lining into the outer fabric, and press the case.

    eyeglass case
    Debbie Colgrove