Eyeglasses Case from Recycled Umbrella Fabric

I was asked to make an eyeglasses case 👓 that would be sturdy, practical, and above all easy to clean. The first idea that came to mind was to use recycled umbrella fabric ☂️, as it is usually waterproof, lightweight, and highly durable.

To make the most of the material, I aligned two umbrella panels and marked the dimensions needed for the exterior of the case. With the remaining pieces, I cut two bias strips diagonally, which I used to finish the sides of the case.

Both the outer fabric and the flannel lining were cut into two separate pieces. This was not a construction choice but a necessity, as the available materials were not large enough to allow cutting a single piece folded in half. If I had had enough fabric, I could have avoided the seam at the bottom of the case, making the construction even simpler.

Since this case will be used in more demanding conditions, I chose to add foam to give it a firmer structure and provide better protection for the glasses. For everyday use, a standard stabilizer would have been sufficient. Once the case was finished, I realized that adding stabilizer to the outer fabric as well would have resulted in an even more consistent finish.

For the closure, I used two small sections of a broken tape measure. I first saw this solution on the @catherinesews channel and thought it was a very creative and functional idea for this type of project. In addition to reusing a material that would otherwise be thrown away, it creates a simple and effective opening and closing system.

✂️ Materials Used

• Recycled umbrella fabric
• Flannel scrap
• Foam
• Recycled tape measure

📏 Measurements

Outer Fabric

22 × 10 cm (2 pieces) or 42 × 10 cm (1 folded piece)

Lining

18 × 10 cm (2 pieces) or 38 × 10 cm (1 folded piece)

Stabilizer

22 × 10 cm (2 pieces) or 42 × 10 cm (1 folded piece)

Tape Measure

7.5 cm (2 pieces)

As soon as this case was delivered, I was immediately asked to make a second version, this time in a smaller size. For that one, I used a sturdier outer fabric and a thinner stabilizer, adapting the materials to the requirements of the project.