Make a Felt Phone Case

Cellphones are capable of so many things, from calling, texting, to playing games and listening to music. To keep your phone in tip top shape, however, you need to take good care of it. One of the most fragile parts of a cellphone is the screen. It is easily scratched and cracked. A cellphone case is a great way to protect your phone, but why buy one when you can make one using some felt and thread?

Steps

Making a Basic Felt Case

  1. Make your template on a sheet of paper and cut it out. Trace your phone onto a sheet of paper. Draw a rectangle around your phone, leaving {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} space on all sides.[1] When you are done, cut the rectangle out.
    • If your phone is very thick, you may need more than {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of extra space.
  2. Trace your template twice onto a sheet of felt, and cut the felt out. This will be enough to make a front and back for your phone. If you'd like to make a lining for your phone, trace the template two more times onto a different felt color.
    • To make a flap that closes over your phone, cut one of the rectangles a few inches longer. How much longer you cut it depends on how large you want the flat to be. For an extra touch, cut the flap at a curve.
  3. Consider adding some embellishments. Glue or sew on buttons or other felt shapes to make your case more interesting.[2] If you added a flap, you may want to add a button to the front of your case, and a button hole in the flap so that you can open and close it.
    • Layer different felt shapes and make your case look like your favorite character or animal.
  4. Pin the pieces of felt together along the bottom and sides. If you added any designs, keep them on the outside. The phone case will have the seams on the outside.
    • If you added a flap, make sure that the bottom edges match up.
  5. Slide your phone inside and adjust the fit. You want the case to have a snug fit. Move the pins around until the case fits snugly around your phone. Once you have the fit you like, take your phone out and set it aside.[1]
  6. Sew the bottom and the sides of the case, using the pins as a guide. You can match the thread color to the felt, or use a contrasting color. For a more interesting look, use two lines of stitching on each side.[2] Remove the pins as you sew.
    • To make a strap for your case: cut a piece of ribbon, and fold it into a loop. Pin the cut ends to the upper left or right corner, between the two pieces of felt. Sew right over it as you stitch around the case.
  7. Trim the seams, if necessary. Depending on how thick your phone is, you may have very wide seams. For a clean look, trim the seams down to 2 millimeters from the stitching.[1] For a more interesting look, trim the seams using pinking shears.[2]
  8. Slide your phone into the case. Because of how soft your case it, it will protect your phone against scratches and dents.

Making a Case with Pockets

  1. Cut two pieces of wool felt, twice the height of your phone, and {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} wider. To make your case more interesting, consider using two different colors of felt. This way, one color will be on the inside, and the other color will be on the outside.
    • You are making the felt pieces twice the height of your phone because you will be folding them in half.
  2. Take one of the pieces of felt, and make a mark on the right edge, {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} down from the top edge. Draw a line connecting this mark to the top left corner.[3] This will make a front pocket for your case.
  3. Cut along the line you drew. If you want to have a pocket on both sides, fold the felt rectangle in half, first, then cut through both layers of felt[4] This will create identical pockets on both sides of the case. Discard the triangles you cut out, or save them for another project.
  4. Place the cut felt it on top of the uncut felt. Make sure that all the sides align. The cut piece of felt will go on the outside, and make the pockets.
  5. Fold both pieces of felt in half and secure the sides with sewing pins. The uncut piece of felt will now be sandwiched in between the cut piece of felt. You will end up with a rectangle that is the same height as your phone.
  6. Slip your phone inside the case, and adjust the fit as needed. You want the case to be snug around your phone. Move the pins around until the case fits snugly around your phone. Once you are happy with the fit, slip your phone out.
  7. Sew around the edges of your case, using the pins as a guide. Pull the pins out as you go. You can match the thread color to your case, or use a contrasting color. You can sew this by hand, or on a sewing machine.
  8. Trim the side seams, if needed. Depending on how thick your phone is, you may need to cut down the seams. For a cleaner finish, cut them to within 2 millimeters of the stitching. For a more interesting finish, trim them using pinking shears.
  9. Slide your phone into the case and use it. You can slide other items into the side pocket(s), such as credit cards and paper money.

Tips

  • For a more unique touch, sew your case using embroidery thread and the blanket stitch instead.
  • Add more decorations if you like. For example, a bow or hanging pieces. Just be careful to choose things that won't scratch the phone.
  • Make your case look like your favorite character or animal.
  • This tutorial can also be used to make cases out of other materials, such as fleece or leather.
  • Try to use chalk when tracing your template onto the felt. This way, you can just wipe it off when you are done making the case.[5]

Warnings

  • Felt is soft, and can get fuzzy after a while. If the felt starts to pile, simple pull or trim the piles off.

Things You'll Need

  • Felt in colors of your choice
  • Sewing machine or needle and thread
  • Scissors
  • Paper
  • Pen
  • Ruler

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.lanaredstudio.com/2012/07/phone-case-diy.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://thecraftymummy.com/2012/08/felt-iphone-case-tutorial/
  3. ↑ http://www.poppytalk.com/2012/12/diy-wool-felt-iphone-sleeves.html
  4. ↑ https://scissorsandsage.com/2015/03/02/diy-felt-iphone-6-sleeve/
  5. ↑ http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/make-and-decorate/crafts/toaster-pastry-ipod-cozy
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