Introduction: Emergency IPod Sock- at Last, a Use for Stray Socks!

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About: I love to design and make things; and am currently developing a variety of small consumer products.
What to do when you want to go out with your trusty iPod (or small digital camera, for that matter) and a case is not available? Fear not. In 5 or 10 minutes, you'll be on the road, iPod safe and warm in your new Emergency iPod Sock!

I thought I'd be using mine for about a week. Until I tried to buy a case...

I bought a 4th generation iPod, the last with Firewire, so I could boot a Mac from it (works great), do diagnostics; and use it on machines with USB 1.0. The box arrives from Apple, I crack it open and behold the delicate, highly polished surfaces. "What a 60 Gig beauty, says I. How'm I gonna get this to work, with no case??" And so, being a resourceful Instructables addict, I set to work. Rummaging about the house. For the stuff you'll find in the next step.

If you're impatient, and have a fast connection, watch the video.


Step 1: Materials:

You'll need:

- 1 sock
- 2 rubber bands 1/8 inch (~3mm) wide. The kind comes on the newspaper should be fine.
- 1 "twisty" in the color of your choice.
- 1 iPod, (or a small digital camera or your favorite Altoid box gadget).

Step 2: Precision Layout

I'll give you credit for using a clean sock.
- Lay it out flat.
- Set your iPod down on top of it, at the toe end.
- Put the second rubber band on the open end, and slide it down to about an inch above the iPod. This one gets just 2 wraps, it holds the opening closed.

Step 3: Roll Your Own.

- Turn the cuff inside-out.
- Pull it all the way to the end.

I haven't tried it yet, but this is a good time to add some foam, preferably something dense that won't crumble, like neoprene, in between the layers. It'll giver more protection from bumps and drops.

Step 4: The Finishing Twist.

- One more fold into thirds, (or try rolling it up).
- The twisty goes on next. The exact position does not matter too much. I like mine close to the bottom of the tube, snug up against the toe of the sock where the other rubber band is.
This leaves a little bit of a tail, which I like to use for pulling my iPod out of the inside pocked of my jacket.

- Tie a half hitch (same as the first part of tying your shoe), pull it tight.
- Bring the ends around to the other side, twist it a couple of times, and tuck in the ends.
(photo 3)
- Look at all of the photos for more hints.

Finito!'

This is a quick and dirty project that saved my new iPod from certain doom. It's not recommended in lieu of a hardshell case, though now that I have a hard case (from Contour), I'm thinking of protecting it with my trusty Emergency iPod Sock.

If you make your own, please let me know, and post a pic of it in your comment!