November 29, 2011 by Kirstin

leather iPhone case tutorial

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isly-gifts-for-guys-handmade-leather-wallet-tutorial-8-finished

Can I tell you something? I have had a total blog crush on Melissa Esplin at I Still Love You ever since I discovered her blog. Seriously, love. this. girl. And I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that she’s here today with a Gifts for Guys tutorial for a leather iPhone case-

I think that for every DIY project suitable to give as a gift to a guy there must be at least 80 million for girls. It’s sad, no? I’m just thrilled to be able to participate in this gift for guys series!

Nearly 4 years ago, Chris got his first iPhone. The 3G. Remember that one? He needed a case badly, but wasn’t too thrilled about the options at that time. I helped Chris by designing a case for him and, yes, nearly 4 years later he still uses it! It has only worn better with time and it works with the new anatomy of the 4.

I’ve made and published a couple of cases (1.0 + 2.0), but both have been very much on the feminine side of things.

This is a great gift (especially if you know that the giftee is getting a new phone or iPod touch!) for Christmas regardless of age. I’ve included an additional pattern piece to make the phone double as a wallet. When gifting, stick an iTunes gift card in there for added awesomeness.

This tutorial can easily be adapted to be used with industrial felt or vinyl. If you’d like to go a cheaper/also eco-friendly route, head on over to an upholstery shop & ask for leather scraps. Oftentimes they’ll have scraps large enough for this kind of project. They can’t do anything with those scraps & usually discard them. Let’s get started!!

• S U P P L I E S •

leather/felt
scissors
pattern
thread + needle
clear tape
awl
hammer

Print the attached pattern & cut out. Tape generously to the wrong side of the leather.

Punch while patterns are taped using the hammer and an awl. You’ll want to be sure to do this over a scrap of wood.

Should look like this on the right side of the leather.

Once holes are punched, cut out pattern pieces from the leather and match up. I flipped the leather inside out for the pocket for variation.

Thread your needle with thick thread (I used waxed linen thread). Sew between the two layers on the first hole and leave a 2-3 inch tail.

Sew in and out through each hole all the way around. Double back.

Once you get back to the start point, tie a square knot between the layers of leather. Trim ends and tuck between the leather.

With scissors or a rotary cutter & ruler, trim down edges to desired width. I like mine at about a quarter of an inch.

Give to a manly guy!

Click the download button below to download the printer-friendly version of this tutorial & the pattern pieces.

Also, check out I Still Love You for more refashions, printables & tutorials than you can shake a stick at. Each year I offer a Christmas gift packaging for readers to download! Check them out here: 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007. Be sure to subscribe to ISLY for more crafty goodness!

This tutorial/freebie is free for personal use and should not be distributed/republished without my consent. Altering the file NOT ALLOWED. If you would like to use this tutorial for commercial purposes, please email me. Thanks!

Don’t forget to stop by I Still Love You today! You can check out her calligraphy skills (maybe if enough of us email her she’ll do a class in Denver?), her gorgeous graphic design skills, her parties (dinos for Penelope? LOVE), or her sewing for herself!. I also love her tutorials, and I’d take her entire wardrobe (especially if I could look that cute in it)- go check out ISLY!