Homemade Camera Bags

Sew a cloth case to protect your camera.

Keeping your cameras and electronic gadgets organized while you are on the go is important for keeping them safe from scratches and other damage. Sew homemade camera bags to slip into a tote bag, purse or your car's glove compartment using a small amount of fabric. This is a great sewing project for a beginner. Incorporate sewing homemade camera cases into a teen or tween sleepover activity for an inexpensive take-home party favor.

Things You'll Need

• Camera
• Measuring tape
• Outer fabric, 1/4-yard
• Lining fabric, 1/4-yard
• Low-loft cotton batting, 1/4-yard
• Scissors
• 1/8-inch wide elastic, small amount
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• 1-inch flat button

Instructions

1. Measure around the smallest perimeter of your camera using a measuring tape. Divide this measurement in half and add 1 inch. This is your width measurement. Measure around the longest perimeter of your camera and add 2 1/2 inches. This is your length measurement.

2. Measure and cut one rectangle each from the outer camera case fabric, the lining fabric and low-loft cotton batting. Cut a 3-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic.

3. Lay the batting on your work surface. Place the outer fabric on the batting with the right side up. Fold the elastic in half, creating a loop. Pin the ends of the elastic to one short edge of the outer fabric, with the loop lying on the fabric. Place the lining fabric over the outer fabric, with the wrong side up and the elastic loop sandwiched in between. Pin all the layers together.

4. Sew around all four edges, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave a 3-inch opening on the short end opposite the elastic. Trim the batting as close to the stitches as possible. This will eliminate bulk between the layers. Do not trim the fabric. Turn the stitched layers right side out through the 3-inch opening. You now have a rectangle with an elastic loop on one short end and a small opening on the other short end. Iron the rectangle, but do not iron over the elastic loop. Top-stitch across the short end with the opening, as close to the edge as possible. This will finish the end and close the opening.

5. Lay the rectangle with the lining side up. Measure the depth of your camera and add 2 inches. Using this measurement, measure down from the short end with the elastic loop. Pin to mark. Fold the top stitched short end up to the pinned mark, with the lining inside. Pin the long edges together. This forms a pouch with a flap at the top and an elastic loop on the top edge of the flap. The folded edge is the bottom of the bag.

6. Sew the pinned edges together as close to the edge as possible. Start at the bottom edge of the bag and sew up one long edge, around the flap edges and down the other long edge of the bag. The folded bottom is not sewn.

7. Place your camera in the camera case. Fold the flap over to the front of the bag to close. Using the elastic as a guide, mark the placement of the button on the bag's front, using a straight pin. Remove the camera. Hand stitch a 1-inch flat button to the front of the camera case. Place the camera back in the camera case. Close the flap and place the elastic loop over the button to secure.