iPod keychain case tutorial

I wanted to make small cases for an upcoming plane trip to Sydney, so my girls and I can take our MP3 players to listen to some music or audio books. We currently all have MP3 players, but I'm aware that a case I sew is likely to outlast the electronic gadget itself, so I found the dimensions of iPods, and made cases that will fit these in, so we're prepared for if and when we have to upgrade!!

They're also just a useful little pouch that could be used for a mobile phone, or any other small objects, snacks  etc!!

So here's how to make your own:

First you need your materials.  I wanted to use some denim, after starting last week to use up a pair of jeans I got from the charity shop for 50c!

The back pockets are already gone and transformed to pot holders!

For this project - I used the back of one of the legs! and some other scraps of fabric I had.

So here's what you need:

2 pieces outer fabric, 15 x 10cm (6 x 4")

2 pieces inner fabric, 15 x 10cm (6 x 4")

1 strip inner fabric for decorative strip  15 x 6cm (6 x 2.5")

1 strip inner fabric for keychain loop 15cm x 4cm (6 x 1.5")

1 zip, 15cm (6") or longer

1 keychain ring

buttons for monogram letter

First put the decorative bits on your outer fabric.

Draw the letter outline centrally on one outer piece using a pencil, then stitch the buttons into place along the lines:

Fold the outer edges of your decorative strip of inner fabric in and press. Then pin and topstitch to the centre of your other outer piece of fabric:

Now you add the zip.

Place the zip face down centrally on one of your outer pieces of fabric - which is face up.  I used a zip that is much wider than the fabric - just let the edges hang over - you will trim them later.

Then using the zipper foot attachment on your machine, stitch the zip in place:

Then turn the zip over and topstitch the outer fabric to the zip to hold in place.

Now take on of your inner pieces of fabric. You are going to join this to the same side of the zip.

Lay the inner fabric down, right side facing up. Lay your outer fabric plus zip face down on top of this with the zip in between the layers and pin along the narrow edge at the top as shown here:

Again using the zipper foot, stitch these pieces together along the narrow strip you just pinned:

Then open it out and top stitch the inner fabric to the zip:

Now you attach the other two rectangles of fabric to the other side of the zip.

First, lay the 2 pieces plus zip you just stitched, right sides facing up with the zip also lifted up - the free edge at the top. Then place your other piece of outer fabric face down on this and pin the edge to the other side of the zip:

Machine stitch where you pinned - again using your zipper foot. And once again flip the fabric over afterwards and topstitch to the zip.

Then to the final inner piece of fabric:

Lay this final piece down right side facing up, and then your other 3 pieces plus zip on top, with the zip facing down between the layers.

Pin along the top, and stitch into place:

And once again, turn the final piece over and topstich to the zip.

Now to the keychain tag.

Take your final strip of inner fabric.

Fold in half lengthways and iron:

Then open this out and fold the outer long edges to the centre fold and press again:

Then finally fold the whole thing in half lengthways so the raw edges are hidden, and press.

Topstitch along both long edges, and put this with your keychain ring:

Push this fabric strip through the ring and fold the strip in half. Then pin the edges to one side of an outer piece of your case like this:

And stitch securely in place with several rows of machine stitching:

You're nearly done!

Time to stitch it all together around the edges.

Fold the case so both outer pieces of fabric are together - right sides facing, and both inner pieces of fabric are together - right sides facing.

Make sure the zip is OPEN - this is very important!!

Then pin around all the edges, leaving a gap of around 5cm (4") for turning it out at the end:

Machine stitch around all four edges - remembering to leave the gap open, and running extra stitches over both ends of the zip.

Trim the corners and the ends of the zip:

Now turn it all right sides out through the gap you left:

Use your scissors or a chopstick to push the corners out fully.

Then handstitch the opening closed:

All done!

Your case is ready for use!

I made 3 - so we're all set for our trip now! They fit in our MP3 players, earphones and even the USB charger so we can charge them up again for the return flight!

Perfect to clip to my keys, and keep everything together and easy to find!

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

I hope you liked this tutorial. 

There are many more on my tutorials page too!