I wanted a case for all my games to keep in the house, so I could store their plastic boxes out-of-sight, but all the cases I found online would only hold 8. This isn't meant for travel, since it holds so many games. However, you can alter everything about this pattern; making it smaller, adding handles, adding ties instead of Velcro, or making it more folio-styled with a zip, etc.
I used leftover fabric from a pair of trousers, and I ransacked an old pencil case for the plastic. I didn't use exact measurements. I did most of it by eye, so it's a bit wonky, but the potential for making something really professional-looking is there, if you take more care than I did. It was also my first project of this nature. I only things I've ever made before is a pair of curtains, and a cosmetic case with a zip.
What you need:
~ very basic sewing skills
~ a sewing machine
~ standard sewing notions, like thread, scissors, pins, etc.
~ fabric, the amount dependant on size of project.
~ bias tape or fabric for the edges, or anything to decorate it.
~ plastic for the games slots, if you want, but can use fabric.
~ Depending on size, detail, and skill, about 6 hours/weekend?
~ a presser foot that will work with plastic
~ patience!
I used leftover fabric from a pair of trousers, and I ransacked an old pencil case for the plastic. I didn't use exact measurements. I did most of it by eye, so it's a bit wonky, but the potential for making something really professional-looking is there, if you take more care than I did. It was also my first project of this nature. I only things I've ever made before is a pair of curtains, and a cosmetic case with a zip.
What you need:
~ very basic sewing skills
~ a sewing machine
~ standard sewing notions, like thread, scissors, pins, etc.
~ fabric, the amount dependant on size of project.
~ bias tape or fabric for the edges, or anything to decorate it.
~ plastic for the games slots, if you want, but can use fabric.
~ Depending on size, detail, and skill, about 6 hours/weekend?
~ a presser foot that will work with plastic
~ patience!
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I want to mention that I used a 'button foot' on my machine, because when I first tried to sew the plastic on, it kept sticking to the foot and wouldn't move. I'm not sure if I was just doing something wrong with the standard foot or what, so I switched to the only other foot I had on hand. It worked fairly well, but there's a trick to using it; because the foot is about 2 inches long and slides , you have to start sewing with the length of the foot in front of the needle. As you sew, it slowly starts moving towards the needle, but then the needle runs out of room and gets stuck, so before that happens, with the needle in the fabric (down), lift the presser foot lever, and push the sliding bit back to the front. It's annoying, but more skilled people might know a better way. I really don't know much about sewing. An alternative to such a time-consuming process would be to use fabric and a standard foot.
So to start: Plan your project.
How many games do you want it to hold?
What style?
What colors do you want to use?
Things to help improve the overall look:
~ use a cutting matt with a rotary cutter
~ pre-wash your fabric and iron it.
~ Slow and steady, especially when sewing those seams.
~ If you mess up and sew a wonky seam, tear it out with a seam ripper and do it over. I messed up quite badly, and re-did it. It was worth the effort!
For the project here, you need two pieces of fabric, whatever size you like, as long as the pieces are identical in size. Figure out how many rows you want, and how many games on each row. As you can see from mine, it's quite large... When closed, it's 23cm wide x 9cm long x 4cm deep. If you want it more travel-sized, make it smaller.
If you want it more substantial, you can add a lining; padding for quilts or foam maybe? I used bits of an old pencil case that had slight padding so I added this, as you will see later, but it's optional. If you choose a thick fabric (like upholstery fabric, denim, etc.), that should be enough protection anyway.
So have the fabric cut to size. Then cut your plastic. If you're using fabric, then I would use a piece with edges folded in (width-ways) and even maybe use the iron-hemming stuff to seal it (iron-hemming stuff: I think it's called fusible tape and you put it between two pieces of fabric, or a folded piece, then iron it, then the tape melts, hence you've magically hemmed the material). If using plastic, cut to exact size needed, no folding.
If the fabric has two sides (a nice and a bad one), lay one piece of fabric with the nice side up. Then lay out your cut pieces of plastic/fabric onto the fabric, placing it where you want it. Use pins to secure it, keeping in mind to pin it perpendicularly to the way you're sewing, so you don't break your needle or so the pin into the fabric!
Get ready to sew!
1. Sew the lengths, then the sides. An easy way to do this without cutting in between each different rectangle, is to sew, then when you reach the end, just move the needle and sew again, When you're done, then you can cut each thread in between. Mind you, I used a triple stitch, which is stronger, so if you're only using a single stitch, you might want to reverse-stitch at the end of each rectangle (to keep the thread from ripping out if someone yanked on the plastic). Note: I also used the 'stretch/elastic' setting, because the corduroy and plastic kept bunching. Experiment and see what works best for you.
2. I also sewed on the velcro, top and bottom
So to start: Plan your project.
How many games do you want it to hold?
What style?
What colors do you want to use?
Things to help improve the overall look:
~ use a cutting matt with a rotary cutter
~ pre-wash your fabric and iron it.
~ Slow and steady, especially when sewing those seams.
~ If you mess up and sew a wonky seam, tear it out with a seam ripper and do it over. I messed up quite badly, and re-did it. It was worth the effort!
For the project here, you need two pieces of fabric, whatever size you like, as long as the pieces are identical in size. Figure out how many rows you want, and how many games on each row. As you can see from mine, it's quite large... When closed, it's 23cm wide x 9cm long x 4cm deep. If you want it more travel-sized, make it smaller.
If you want it more substantial, you can add a lining; padding for quilts or foam maybe? I used bits of an old pencil case that had slight padding so I added this, as you will see later, but it's optional. If you choose a thick fabric (like upholstery fabric, denim, etc.), that should be enough protection anyway.
So have the fabric cut to size. Then cut your plastic. If you're using fabric, then I would use a piece with edges folded in (width-ways) and even maybe use the iron-hemming stuff to seal it (iron-hemming stuff: I think it's called fusible tape and you put it between two pieces of fabric, or a folded piece, then iron it, then the tape melts, hence you've magically hemmed the material). If using plastic, cut to exact size needed, no folding.
If the fabric has two sides (a nice and a bad one), lay one piece of fabric with the nice side up. Then lay out your cut pieces of plastic/fabric onto the fabric, placing it where you want it. Use pins to secure it, keeping in mind to pin it perpendicularly to the way you're sewing, so you don't break your needle or so the pin into the fabric!
Get ready to sew!
1. Sew the lengths, then the sides. An easy way to do this without cutting in between each different rectangle, is to sew, then when you reach the end, just move the needle and sew again, When you're done, then you can cut each thread in between. Mind you, I used a triple stitch, which is stronger, so if you're only using a single stitch, you might want to reverse-stitch at the end of each rectangle (to keep the thread from ripping out if someone yanked on the plastic). Note: I also used the 'stretch/elastic' setting, because the corduroy and plastic kept bunching. Experiment and see what works best for you.
2. I also sewed on the velcro, top and bottom
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I got a janome and when I started, I was scourign the instruction manual every two seconds. I think the only things you need to know that you can't find in the manual is that heavier fabrics need bigger thread and needles. :P Mostly, I don't have ANY special skills, and I really think with patience, anyone can make this. if you got to http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/
she has amazing tutorials on bag making, which has been a revelation. I think the biggest changes I've made to the way I sew (since this really amateur post) is getting a cutting mat, rotary cutter, and keeping my iron on hand to press first.
I'm making a bag for a friend for xmas, and I'm amazed how it's turned out!
Just don't worry, you can do anything you put your mind to! Cheers :) Christina