Cell Phone Cozy Tutorial

I am very late to the whole cell phone thing.  I had one from college years, but finally returned it to my parents and was happily cell free for a while.  However, with the move and needing to communicate with my husband, we broke down and got our own cell phones.  I even send text messages to him.  It's great, like slipping notes in class behind the teacher's back.  I know, welcome to the 21st century, Chris.

When I made my purse, I realized that I would lose my phone in the bottom and never find it when I needed to.  I saw Larissa's adorable wool cozy on mmmcrafts, and wanted to make one to coordinate with my purse.  I took pictures as I went, so now you can make one too. 

You will need:

• Larger scraps of fabric
• Fusible fleece.
• Coordinating thread.
• Twill tape.
• Sewing supplies.

Step One.  Determine the size you need, and cut your pattern pieces.  My cell phone is approximately 3" by 5".  So I doubled the width, and added 1/2" for seam allowance, and then added 1" for the height.  Thus, I needed two rectangle pieces of fabric that were 7" by 6".  Cut a rectangle of fusible fleece that is slightly smaller than your two rectangles.  I cut mine 6.5" by 5".  Finally, cut your twill tape to length.  I used 16" because I wanted to be able to tuck the cozy inside my purse.  So to recap, you need:

• Two rectangles, one for the outer piece and one for the lining. (Mine are 7" by 6").
• One smaller rectangle of fusible fleece.  (Mine is 6.5" by 5").
• 16" of twill tape for a leash.

Step Two.  Prepare your outer piece.  I wanted to include the scraps left over from my purse, so I pieced this outer piece together.  Totally up to you.  Just be sure your final piece is the correct dimensions.

Notice that the fleece is smaller...this allows the seams to not be too bulky. If you do piece the outer rectangle, quilt the top to the fleece by some quick "stitch in the ditch" seams. 

Step Three.  Assemble the cozy.

Be sure to clip the corner as shown.  This will reduce bulk and help you have a sharp corner.  Turn right side out. 

You can baste the tape by sewing a short seam 1/8" from the top.

Step four.  Prepare the lining.  Take your lining piece, and sew a seam along the long edge.

Turn the outer piece wrong side out, and tuck the lining inside, so that the right sides are together.

Be sure to trim those loose threads!

To close the lining, tuck the open end in 1/4".

Sew the edge closed with a seam 1/8" from the edge.

Step five.  Final touches.

You could just stop here, but I like to secure the lining by sewing along that top edge.  Plus, it's fun to have that lining poking up don't you think?

This little number has been a life saver.  I always can find my phone when I need it.  Now to get faster at texting....

Featured on Craft Gossip, and IShare Crafts. 
Linked to Someday Crafts, and Somewhat Simple.